For instance, a major decline in global economic growth will lower crude oil prices which will impact investments in exploration and extraction of oil.

FORBES: GE Is Well Positioned To Ride Rising Global Energy Demand

Because big exploration, extraction and infrastructure investments required pots of capital, long-term contracts became an industry norm.

ECONOMIST: Shale gas should make the world a cleaner, safer place

The data is based on research into current and projected oil production levels, extraction costs, exploration projects that are underway or in the pipeline and growth projections for developed and developing nations.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Last week, a press release from big names like Larry Page, Ross Perot and James Cameron about combining space exploration with resource extraction made it all but obvious that somebody was going to announce some very ambitious plans surrounding asteroid mining.

FORBES: It's Official: Planetary Resources Announces Plans to Mine Asteroids

Chevron is also engaged in the exploration and production in neighboring Poland and Romania but has faced opposition from groups who argue that shale gas extraction, which involves hydraulic fracturing (fracking), has severe consequences on the environment.

FORBES: Chevron Digs Deeper Into Eastern Europe For Shale Gas