Originally submitted as thesis, Utrecht. Includes bibliographical references.

Chapter I. Introduction -- Chapter II. Oil and gas reserves -- Chapter III. Petroleum economics and law -- Chapter IV. Decision making in offshore exploration and production -- Chapter V. The influence of mining legislation; standpoint of the company -- Chapter VI. Influence of mining legislation; the government standpoint -- Chapter VII. The dutch offshore-mining legislation -- Chapter VIII. The offshore-mining legislation in other industrialized countries -- Chapter IX. Mining legislation in developing countries -- Conclusions -- Appendix I -- Appendix II -- Appendix III -- Appendix IV -- Appendix V.