The total remaining hydrocarbon resources of the Norwegian Continental Shelf are assessed to be of the order of 10 billion Sm3 o.e. In addition, approximately 1 billion Sm3 o.e. have been produced to date. As much as half of the estimated resources are yet to be found. This means that by the turn of the century the Norwegian Continental Shelf will still be one of the world's most attractive exploration areas.Large variations in crude oil prices are expected throughout the 90's reflecting a varying supply/demand relationship. The expected increase in the European gas market will increase the demand for Norwegian gas in the coming decade. Such scenarios and resource estimates provide strong economic incentives for increased exploration activity on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. A consistent allocation policy adds to this attractiveness. As a consequence, increased competition between the oil companies is expected.Exploration geologists and geophysicists will be challenged to develop new play concepts and to search for subtle traps near existing and planned infrastructure. In the long term, the development of new field concepts will reduce the size at which fields are economic, also in areas lacking infrastructure.Another challenging task will be to establish a new major oil province, which is required if a significant production level is to be maintained after the turn of the century. Regional mapping on the Vøring plateau outside Mid-Norway indicates large structures which may contain giant oil and gas fields. Exploring the Vøring plateau, with water depths up to 1500 m, currently covered with sparse seismic data and lacking well control, poses new challenges to the petroleum explorationist and technologist alike.The remaining resources will be increasingly difficult to find. Successful exploration will require explorationists who can fully integrate the increasingly detailed use of available computer technology. Integrated exploration involves the application of interactive seismic interpretation, processing, modelling and inversion, sequence stratigraphy, sediment facies analysis, log evaluation and geochemical and structural-geological modelling.Rapid advances in 3D techniques, with multi-source, multi-streamer and multi-vessel seismic surveying, require powerful in-house computer capacity to handle the vast amounts of data provided, and to extract the information contained in the data. Methods such as pre-stack depth migration and inversion techniques, aimed at defining complex subsurface structures and extracting lithological information from seismic data, combined with increased emphasis on quantitative geological methods, are gaining importance in the interpretation process.In a time when there is rapid development of so many new exploration tools, the biggest challenge in future exploration will be for the individual geologist and geophysicist to be able to utilise, combine and understand the vast amount of information available. Developments in deviated and horizontal drilling, combined with downhole sensor technology, will increase subsurface data control. Motivation, creativity and skill will still be key factors in deciding which companies will be successful in exploring the remaining resources on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.