Panorama 97 at the french petroleum institute

Different events had an impact on the petroleum supply and demand balance: the reduction of petroleum stocks, especially in Usa, to anticipate the come back of Iraq and to reduce the costs of refining industry, the lightly increase of the american demand, the progression of Asian countries needs and the consumption rising up in ex USSR. For the natural gas industry, the technological progress is the first important point to notice. For petroleum industry, the reduction of atmosphere emissions gives constraints to control technology in exploration production in the aim of reducing costs and make more selective choices. (N.C.)