ABSTRACT
This chapter describes energy-related developments in the Mediterranean Sea in order to assess, on the one hand, their importance in relation to the economic life of the riparian countries and the global energy picture, and, on the other, to provide a basis for the discussion of the interplay between economic, political and military factors. Offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production is a dynamic industry in which technological development is progressing at a fast pace. Although production is logically a result of exploration, we will describe current offshore production in the Mediterranean before dealing with exploration to give a better impression of the present situation and the potential future developments. The chapter considers the issue of oil transportation, and discusses the importance of the Mediterranean in connection with developments in the broader Mediterranean region. On the basis of the developments, the importance of the Mediterranean for international oil traffic appears destined to increase greatly, both in normal conditions and in an emergency.
