This publication, produced in the context of the Regional Programme for West African Marine and Coastal Conservation (PRCM), is a successor to a 2005 volume entitled “Environmental management of offshore oil exploitation and maritime oil transport.” The book helped us to better understand the environmental and socio-economic issues and options created by the emerging offshore oil and gas industry. This new edition takes things a step further, by making positive propositions as to how the offshore oil and gas industry could contribute to sustainable development in our region. This book provides an overview of what has gone right and wrong with oil and gas development worldwide, with particular emphasis on the West African regional situation and national energy and sustainable development plans. It is designed to help governments and civil societies of the WAMER to reconcile issues associated with oil and gas development with national development priorities.