Since the 3rd edition of this publication, emphasis within the petroleum industry has shifted from exploration to appraisal and development of existing hydrocarbon resources. This change is reflected in this new 4th edition, which has been significantly expanded to accomodate additional material. The centrepiece of the book, however, remains a series of descriptions, in stratigraphic order, of the depositional history and hydrocarbon related rock units of the North Sea.

"This book is the outcome of a two-day short course held annually in London, and is based on the manual distributed to the participants. The book falls into three broad sections. The first is a summary of the history of exploration in the North Sea, followed by a review of the structural framework and pre-Permian development of the region. The second section is a series of descriptions in stratigraphical order, of the depositional history and hydrocarbon-related rock units from the Permian to the Tertiary. The last section brings the material together with a discussion of the various exploration plays - why the oil and gas is where it is, what of the future?" --

A cross-border approach to exploration, appraisal and development is important in mature basins such as the North Sea, where the ‘low hanging fruit’ have long gone. This approach emphasizes the need to see the basin as one geological entity, in order to maximize economic recovery and prepare the area for the energy transition. This volume offers an up-to-date, ‘geology-without-borders’ view of the stratigraphy, sedimentology, tectonics and oil-and-gas exploration trends of the entire North Sea basin, along with the challenges associated with differences in data continuity and nomenclature across median lines. This volume includes overviews of cross-border play statistics, lithostratigraphic naming conventions and exploration performance through to new facies models for cross-border areas. As such, this volume will be a valuable reference for every geoscientist working in the North Sea for years to come.