1.   The visits are intended to facilitate cooperation between the two former Cold War rivals in future space exploration activities.

2.   HAMILTON Oil is to extend its oil and gas exploration activities in Liverpool Bay, it was revealed last night.

3.   Acquisitions in Europe aside, Cairn is focusing its exploration activities on the Far East and Pacific Rim region, and is particularly hopeful for major discoveries in Bangladesh.

4.   Exploration activity in the Gulf of Mexico revived in recent years as new technology increased the certainty and reduced the cost of finding reserves.

5.   Investors still are concerned that drilling contractors and providers of related services could see narrower profit margins if exploration activity slows.

6.   More importantly, drilling would move Amoco closer to producing oil and gas and begin recouping the millions of dollars it had spent on leases and exploration activities.

7.   The money manager said record exploration activity in the Gulf of Mexico has created booming demand for companies that set up platforms and help oil exploration companies drill.

8.   The release was about Texas Gulf exploration activities in Canada.

9.   PETRONAS yesterday signed production sharing contracts with Amerada Hess of the United States and Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd for exploration activities in two blocks offshore Terengganu and Sarawak.