Last year, the Keathley Canyon area yielded three of the world’s top oil finds, bringing in high leasing bids and continued drilling activity.

Compared to the other Middle Eastern countries, Jordan does not have a significant position in terms of conventional oil and gas resources. According toOil & Gas Journal (21 December 2009), the kingdom’s known oil reserves are only one million barrels and that of natural gas is 213 billion cubic feet.

Discovered in 2000 at the Elm Coulee Field in Montana, Williston Basin’s Bakken Formation is currently the hottest onshore oil play in the U. S. and Canada.

Giant discoveries in the pre-salt play are expected to boost Brazil's production to almost 6MMbopd within 10 years.

The surprising discovery of some 600MMbo of oil in Tertiary carbonates in a mature basin has vitalized the Indonesian oil industry.

Afghanistan has just launched its very first licensing round. Three blocks with 6 proven oil and gas fields are up for grabs in the Amy Darya Basin next to Turkmenistan.

"Victoria is probably the largest undeveloped discovery on the Norwegian continental shelf," title Rune Hope said in a presentation he gave to the 3rdbiennial petroleum geology conference "Exploration Revived 2009" in Bergen in March. According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate it may contain at least 118 Bm3 of gas (4Tcf; 740MMboe), possibly more.

Iceland has announced their very first oil and gas licensing round. Some 40,000 square kilometres are offered on the Jan Mayen Ridge that lies between Norway and Iceland.

Altogether 93 applications were received when the APA and 20th licensing rounds were closed in October and November respectively, proving that there is still a strong interest in exploring for oil and gas both in mature and frontier areas offshore Norway.

A significant discovery of light oil in sandstones with excellent porosity has been made on the Tampen Spur in the North Sea. Prior to this find, the area was thought to be both gas-prone and to have poor reservoir parameters.

Interest in the West African country has increased with the success of a recent appraisal well. It suggests that the Jubilee field may contain over one billion barrels of oil.

Since announcing that it had become self-sufficient in oil in 2006, Brazil has continued to enjoy exploration success, with a number of exciting finds being announced in the last year, particularly in the deepwater Santos Basin.

The Edwards Limestone is a hot gas play in south Texas, while 110 km to the north, it is the primary water source for nearly 2 million people including the City of San Antonio, the site of this year’s AAPG Annual Convention.

Bid round offers 11 offshore blocks in underexplored.

Sonangol EP, the national oil company of Angola, recently announced a new licensing round for 2007-2008.