Antarctica covers approximately 14 million sq km (5,405,800 sq mi) and hosts an estimated 90% of the world's ice. Glacial ice covers about 98% of the continent, with an average thickness of 2,000 m (6,562 ft). Based on limited data, geologists have identified 21 sedimentary basins for the Antarctic and immediately adjacent areas. These include 6 onshore, subglacial basins and 15 offshore basins. Excluding 11 basins considered to have little or no potential, the other 10 basins contain an estimated 16.9 million cu km (4.05 million cu mi) of sediment having a potential hydrocarbon yield of 203 billion barrels oil equivalent. End_Page 55-------------------------