During the course of the conference, special emphasis was placed on paleoplates and paleogeographic reconstructions, paleoclimate recreation and modeling, global source rock distribution, depositional setting of organic-rich sediments, sequence stratigraphy, cyclostratigraphy, and molecular fossils.

Thirteen (13) papers are presented in this volume. The Conference (and this publication) focused on three main points:

1. Interest Trends in oil companies;
2. Reduction of risk in exploration;
3. Data and information transfers from oil companies to academia.