One of Japan's major energy companies is making a significant investment in at least 20 UK offshore oil and gas fields.

BBC: JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration buys UK assets

And its newly discovered offshore fields of oil and natural gas may turn out to be bigger than those in the North Sea in the 1960s.

ECONOMIST: Brazil

Energy industry experts predict the EU will import 90 percent of its oil and 80 percent of its natural gas within 20 years as onshore and offshore fields become mature.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Energy Squeeze

The latest memorandum of understanding, signed by Tehran and CNOOC, China's biggest offshore oil producer, would involve the exploitation of the North Pars fields and the construction of Iranian liquefied natural gas facilities, whose products would then be exported to China.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Securing America's energy needs