The distribution of proven oil reserves by major regions of the world is shown in Table 13.
This distribution (Table 13) it happened gradually. It has changed more than once as the largest oil and gas basins were opened in South-West Asia, North and West Africa, in foreign Europe (North Sea), in Latin America, as well as in the USSR (Volga-Ural, West Siberian) (rice. 0). But even among them, the richest oil and gas basins located in the province of the Persian Gulf basin, which includes the waters of this gulf and adjacent parts of the Arabian Peninsula and the Iranian Plateau, took first place. With proven reserves equal to almost 100 billion tons, this province alone concentrates more than 1/2 of the world's reserves, forming, as they sometimes say, the main pole of oil and gas potential of our entire planet. This is largely due to the fact that half of the world’s 30 known giant (unique) oil fields are located here, i.e. those that had initial reserves of more than 500 million and even over 1 billion tons (the largest of them are Gavar in Saudi Arabia, Agha Jhari in Iran and Al Burkan in Kuwait).
Although oil fields (50 thousand in total) are now known in 102 countries, the superconcentration of oil resources in the Persian Gulf province also determines the top ten countries in terms of proven oil reserves, the composition of which is shown in Table 14.
Since the late 80s. XX century There is a relatively new trend in the world of increasing proven oil reserves. It lies in the fact that the growth of these reserves now occurs not so much through the discovery of new oil and gas basins, but through additional drilling at existing fields. Examples of this kind include Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and many other countries. Although, of course, new oil basins continue to be discovered in the world both on land and in offshore areas (the Caspian Sea and the Caspian Sea).
Natural gas is distributed in nature in a free state - in the form of gas deposits and fields, as well as in the form of “gas caps” above oil fields (associated gas). Gases from oil and coal deposits are also used.
Table 14
TOP TEN COUNTRIES BY PROVEN OIL RESERVES
Rice. 9. The largest oil and gas basins in the world
General geological resources of natural gas in various sources are estimated from 300 trillion m3 to 600 trillion and above, but the most common estimate is 400 trillion m3. Explored (proven) reserves of natural gas by 2004 reached 175 trillion m3. Their distribution by major regions of the world and leading countries is shown in Tables 15 and 16.
Table 15
DISTRIBUTION OF PROVEN NATURAL GAS RESERVES AMONG LARGE REGIONS
Table 16
TOP TEN COUNTRIES BY PROVEN NATURAL GAS RESERVES
An analysis of Table 16 shows that 27% of the world's proven natural gas reserves are in Russia (its geological reserves are estimated at 215 trillion m3). Of the 20 giant gas fields in the world with initial reserves of more than 1 trillion m3, 9 are located in Russia. Among them, the world's largest Urengoyskoye, as well as Yamburgskoye, Bovanenkovskoye, Zapolyarnoye, Medvezhye and Kharasoveyskoye are located within the West Siberian oil and gas province (Table 1 7).
Table 17
THE LARGEST GAS FIELDS IN THE WORLD
* Offshore field.
** In development stage.
Uranium is very widespread in the earth's crust. However, it is economically profitable to develop only those deposits that contain at least 0.1% of the useful component: in this case, obtaining 1 kg of uranium concentrates costs less than $80. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at the beginning of the 21st century . explored (confirmed) uranium reserves available for extraction at this price were estimated at 3.3 million tons. They are concentrated in approximately 600 deposits in the territories of 44 countries.
Australia ranks first in the world in terms of proven uranium reserves. Kazakhstan follows with a slight margin. Third place belongs to Canada. These three states account for 1/2 of the world's uranium reserves. In addition to them, the top ten countries in terms of proven uranium reserves also include (in descending order) South Africa, Brazil, Namibia, Russia, Uzbekistan, the USA and Niger.
Metal (ore) resources are also widespread in the earth's crust. Unlike fuel deposits, which are always genetically associated with sedimentary deposits, ore deposits are found in deposits of both sedimentary and, to an even greater extent, crystalline origin. Geographically, they also often form entire ore accumulation belts, sometimes as gigantic as the Alpine-Himalayan or Pacific.
The most widely represented ores in the earth's crust are iron and aluminum.
General geological reserves of iron ore, according to various estimates, amount to about 350 billion tons, and explored ones - 150 billion tons. Although these reserves are known in almost 100 countries, the bulk of them are concentrated in relatively few of them (Table 18).
Table 18
TOP TEN COUNTRIES BY EXPLORED IRON ORE RESERVES
In addition to the countries included in Table 18, Canada, France, Venezuela, and Great Britain also have significant reserves of iron ore.
Bauxite is the main aluminum-containing raw material, consisting mainly of aluminum hydroxides. Their deposits are found in sedimentary rocks and are mostly associated with areas of the weathering crust, located within the tropical and subtropical climatic zones. The main bauxite-bearing provinces include the Mediterranean in Europe, Guinea in Africa, the Caribbean in Latin America and North Australia. General geological resources of bauxite are usually estimated at approximately 250 billion tons, and their proven reserves are 20–30 billion tons. The countries with the largest reserves of bauxite are: Guinea, Australia, Brazil, Jamaica, India, China, Guyana, Suriname. The alumina content in bauxite is approximately the same as the iron content in iron ores, so bauxite reserves, like iron ore reserves, are always estimated by the ore, and not by its useful component.
The situation is completely different with ores of other ferrous, non-ferrous and alloying metals. Since the metal content in them is usually very low (from 1 to 10% or less), their reserves are always estimated not by the ore, but by the metal contained in it. At the same time, the world's proven reserves of chromium and manganese ores amount to 5–6 billion tons, copper, zinc, lead – from 100 million to 600 million, and tin, tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt – from 1 million to 10 million tons.
Among non-metallic minerals, table and potassium salts, phosphorites, and sulfur stand out for their large reserves.
Statistical sources make it possible to compare the mineral resource potential of economically developed Western countries, developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Western countries hold first place in proven reserves of gold, manganese and chromium ores, as well as uranium, lead and zinc. The share of developing countries is particularly large in reserves of oil (more than 80%), bauxite (77%), tin and diamonds (60–65%), and copper (53%). Countries with economies in transition stand out for their large reserves of natural gas and iron ore (50%). All three groups of countries have reserves of nickel, molybdenum, and silver in approximately equal proportions.
Of the countries with economies in transition, Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine are the richest in mineral fuels and raw materials.
Venezuela is one of the leading countries in oil production in the world (one of the top ten producing countries of this natural resource). In 2006, it ranked sixth in net oil exports in the hemisphere. More than three-quarters of the country's total export earnings come from the oil sector.
According to the annual Statistical Review of the World Economy, conducted by the British oil company BR, Venezuela has become the leader in reserves of the above-mentioned natural resource, even surpassing Saudi Arabia. At the end of 2011, the country's proven reserves amounted to about 295.6 billion barrels - this is 18% of the world's reserves.
Main oil basins of Venezuela
There are four oil basins on the territory of this state:
- Maracaibo;
- Apure;
- Falcon;
- Oriental.
Experts note that the crude oil produced in these fields has a density of at least 20 degrees (in American Petroleum Institute degrees). This allows this natural resource to be classified as heavy oil in accordance with international standards.
In this regard, the majority of the oil that is produced in Venezuela must be processed in special enterprises, both within the country and abroad.
PDVSA produces more than half of its oil volumes in the Maracaibo Basin.
The Oriental Basin fisheries are not very developed compared to others.
Major oil fields in Venezuela
The following deposits of this natural resource have been discovered on the territory of the above country:
- The Bolivar shelf is part of the Maracaibo oil and gas basin. It consists of three deposits: Tia Juana, Lagunillas, Bochaquero. It was opened in 1917. Geological here was estimated at 8.3 billion tons. It should be noted that in 2008, approximately 120 million tons of oil were produced here.
- Bombal is located in Gabon. This deposit was discovered in 1962. Its geological reserves were estimated at 1.6 million tons. In 2010, about 48 thousand tons of this natural resource were produced here. Bombal is operated by the American oil company Harvest Natural Resources.
- Carabobo-1 – located in the Orinoco oil belt (eastern Venezuela, Anzoategui state). This supergiant deposit was discovered in 2006. Geological oil reserves here were estimated by experts at 8 billion tons. The development license is held by two oil companies, Petrobras and PDVSA.
- Tukupita is located in Gabon. The deposit was discovered in 1945. The recoverable reserves of the above natural resource are 2.2 million tons. The development license is held by the American oil company Harvest Natural Resources.
- Junin-1 - located in the Orinoco oil belt. This field, which was discovered in 2006, consists of four oil deposits. Geological reserves of this natural resource amount to 6 billion tons.
- Junin 3 is located in the state of Guriko. Recoverable oil reserves are estimated by experts at 2.5 billion tons. The Russian company Lukoil has a license to develop the field.
- Junin 4 is located in the state of Guarico. This deposit was discovered in 2006. Two companies, such as CNPC and PDVSA, have a license to develop it. Geological reserves of the above natural resource are about 5.7 billion tons.
Oil projects in Venezuela
The government of Venezuela is creating special national programs that are designed to increase the proven reserves of the above natural resource in the country by 235 billion barrels. PDVSA, acting on behalf of the state, will have a 51% or higher stake in all national projects. In total, there are 4 such programs in the country, one of which is located in the oil belt, the rest are gas projects.
Orinoco Magna Reserva Project
The project's resources amount to about 70 billion tons of oil. It includes 27 blocks, which are located in the central part of the state.
The project covers an area of 55 thousand square meters. m. It consists of 37 large fields of heavy and super-heavy oil. Development licenses belong to the following companies:
- Gazprom (Ayacucho-3);
- Lukoil (Junin -3);
- BP (Carabobo Western);
- Rosneft (Carabobo-2,3,4);
- Belorusneft (Bojaca-1,2,3,4, Gura Este, Lagomedio, Junin-1);
- Petronas (Boyaca-5);
- CoconoPhillips (Ayacucho-1);
- PetroVietham (Junin-2);
- ChevronTaxaco (Bare);
- ENI (Junin-5)
- PDVSA (Carabobo East, Junin South).
- Sinipec (Junin-8);
- ONGC Videsh Limited (Junin North).
Oil exploration and production
Venezuela nationalized its oil industry back in 1976. The state-owned company PDVSA (Petroles de Venezuela) is engaged in exploration and production in the country alongside foreign oil producers.
Experts note that in 2006, the above company produced approximately 1.6 million barrels of crude oil in one day.
The Venezuelan government is stunning with its plans: to double oil production by 2019, that is, to 6 million barrels per day.
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Oil and gas provinces of the world
There are about 160 known oil and gas provinces in the world, of which 2 are classified as unique, 9 are giant and about 30 are large. The basins of the Persian Gulf for oil and Western Siberia for gas are unique. The common features of these basins are the huge areas and volumes of sedimentary cover and their association with platforms. Oil and gas bearing strata of Cretaceous age. Contain about 50% of the largest and giant deposits.
The provinces are gigantic: Gulf Coast, Mexican, Permian, Western Interior, North Sea-German, Sahara, Maracaib, West Africa, Volga-Ural. Their area is 300 thousand - 2.0 million km2, the volume of sedimentary cover is 400 thousand. — 6.0 million km3. Confined to platforms, they contain 25% of the largest and giant oil and gas fields.
Large provinces have an area of 30-560 thousand km2, the volume of sedimentary cover is 100 thousand - 1.5 million km3, and contain 15% of the largest deposits. There are no giant deposits within their boundaries. Small provinces are located within intermountain basins, epiplatform orogens, small intraplatform basins, aulacogens and grabens. Their areas are insignificant (5-200 thousand km2), the volume of sedimentary cover is small (70-450 thousand km3). The conditions for preserving the deposits are poor. Less than 10% of the largest deposits have been discovered in this group.
Characteristics of the structure and oil and gas potential of each province are given in the textbooks: “Oil and gas bearing provinces of the USSR”, Oil and gas bearing basins of the globe” (authors N.Yu. Uspenskaya., Z.A. Tabasaransky, 196b); A.A. Bakirov, G.B. Ryabukhin, 1969; A.A. Bakirov, G.B. Ryabukhin, N.M. Muzychenko et al., 1979; AND ABOUT. Brod, V. G. Vasiliev, I. V. Vysotsky et al., 1965). Information on the distribution of oil and gas provinces by continent and country and the scale of oil and gas production is given in tables 1 and 18. Figure 12 shows a diagram of the location of oil and gas provinces on the territory of the USSR.
Table. Oil and gas bearing provinces (basins) of the world.
|
Continents |
Oil and gas provinces |
|
|
Eastern Europe |
1. Baltic (Kaliningrad region) |
|
|
2. Timan-Pechorskaya (Komi Republic) |
||
|
3. Pre-Uralskaya (Bashkortostan) |
||
|
4. Volga-Ural (Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Orenburg region) |
||
|
Russia, Kazakhstan |
5. Prikaspiyskaya (Astrakhan, Volgograd) |
|
|
Russia Ukraine |
6. Ciscaucasia-Crimean (Stavropol region) |
|
|
7.West Siberian (Tyumen region, Tomsk region) |
||
|
8. East Siberian (Irkutsk region, Krasnoyarsk region) |
||
|
9. Lena-Vilyuiskaya (Yakutia) |
||
|
10. Predverkhoyanskaya (Predverkhoyansk trough) |
||
|
11. Far Eastern (Saholin Island) |
||
|
Eastern Europe |
Zap. Ukraine |
12. Predkarpatska |
|
Ukraine, Belarus |
13. Dnieper-Donetsk |
|
|
Azerbaijan, Georgia |
14. Transcaucasian |
|
|
15. North Caucasus (Kuban, Terek) |
||
|
Turkmenistan |
16. Western Turkmen |
|
|
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan |
17. Turanskaya (Amu Darya) |
|
|
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan |
18. Tienshan-Pamir |
|
|
Western Europe |
Germany, England, Norway, Holland |
19. North Sea-German |
|
20. Anglo-Parisian |
||
|
21. Aquitaine |
||
|
Germany, Czechoslovakia |
22. Rhine |
|
|
23. Thuringian |
||
|
24. Ronskaya |
||
|
25. Adriatic |
||
|
26. Sicilian |
||
|
Romania, Poland, Bulgaria |
27. Predkarpatska |
|
|
Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia |
28. Pannonian |
|
|
29. Transylvanian |
||
|
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, part of Turkey, UAE |
30. Gulf Province |
|
|
Syria, Israel |
31. Province of the Middle and Near East |
|
|
Iran, Afghanistan |
32. Group of basins of the Iranian Plateau |
|
|
33. Ordos |
||
|
34. Songliao |
||
|
35. Sichuan |
||
|
36. Dzungarian |
||
|
37. Tsaidamskaya |
||
|
38. Taiwanese |
||
|
India, Pakistan |
39. Indian |
|
|
40. Gangetic |
||
|
Bangladesh |
41. Bengal |
|
|
Mongolia |
42. Group of Gobi basins |
|
|
Algeria, Morocco |
43. Saharan |
|
|
44. Libyan |
||
|
Angola, Nigeria, Gabon |
45. West African |
|
|
46. Central Atlas |
||
|
47. Western Atlas |
||
|
Australia |
Australia |
48. East Australian |
|
49. Western Australian |
||
|
50. South Australian |
||
|
Indonesia |
51. Indonesian |
|
|
New Zealand |
52. New Zealand |
|
|
North America |
53. Western Canadian |
|
|
54. Eastern Canadian |
||
|
55. Western Inner |
||
|
56. Eastern Inner |
||
|
57. Perm |
||
|
58. Rocky Mountain Basin |
||
|
59. Californian |
||
|
60. Pre-Appalachian |
||
|
61. Atlantic |
||
|
62.North Alaskan |
||
|
63. South Alaskan |
||
|
Mexico, USA |
64. Mexican (Sirte) |
|
|
Cuba, USA |
65. Caribbean Sea Basin |
|
|
South America |
Venezuela |
66. Venezuelan (Orinoco) |
|
Colombia |
67. Colombian (Magdalenian) |
|
|
Venezuela |
68. Maracaibskaya |
|
|
Trinidad, Venezuela, Brazil |
69. Venezuela-Trinidad |
|
|
70. Lower Amazonian |
||
|
71. Upper Amazonian |
||
|
Brazil |
72. Maranhao |
|
|
73. Pacific (Guayaquil) |
||
|
74. Titicaca |
||
|
Bolivia, Argentina |
Bolivian-Argentinean |
|
|
Argentina |
76. Patagonian |
Production World's largest oil basins
Proven oil reserves as of 2010.
World gas reserves are estimated: general geological 400 trillion cubic meters; explored - 150 trillion cubic meters and distributed: North America - 6.5 trillion cubic meters (4.4%); Latin America – 7.3 trillion cubic meters (5%); Foreign Europe – 5.2 trillion cubic meters (3.5%); CIS – 56.7 trillion cubic meters (38.7%), RF – 48 trillion cubic meters (33%); Middle East and Africa - 55.4 trillion cubic meters (37.8%), the rest of Asia - 96.5 trillion cubic meters (6%) .
World oil production is 3.5 billion tons, gas production is 2400 billion.
cubic meters per year.
Proven natural gas reserves as of 2010. in cubic meters (cub.m.).
The largest natural gas basins in the world for 2010 ᴦ.
Uranium (U), the metallic chemical element gained fame due to its use in nuclear weapons and atomic energy.
Explored reserves uranium in the world amount to 2.3 million tons.
(production price is $80 per 1 kg). The largest proven uranium reserves are found in Australia (approx. 466 thousand tons, more than 20% of world reserves), Kazakhstan (18%), Canada (12%), Uzbekistan (7.5%), Brazil and Niger (7% each). South Africa (6.5%), USA (5%), Namibia (3%), Ukraine (3%), India (approx. 2%). A large deposit of uranite is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
China, Germany and the Czech Republic also have significant reserves. After the recent discovery of rich uranium deposits in Canada, this country ranked first in the world in terms of uranite reserves. In Russia, industrial uranium reserves are concentrated in Eastern Transbaikalia.
With an annual requirement for nuclear power plants of 58 thousand tons.
Largest oil fields in the world
proven reserves may last for 40 years.
The main stages of uranium production are the extraction of ore by underground or open-pit mining, enrichment (sorting) of ore and extraction of uranium from ore. In 2005, global uranium production reached approximately 39.3 thousand tons
Read also
Proven oil reserves as of 2010.
Item No. Country Proven reserves (barrel) Saudi Arabia 264,600,000,000 Canada 175,200,000,000 Iran 137,600,000,000 Iraq 115,000,000,000 Kuwait 104,000,000,000 Total. United Arab Emirates 97,800,000,000 … [read more]
Barents-Kara oil and gas basin- located in the western part of the Arctic Ocean, in the Barents Sea and the northern part of the Kara Sea.
Five fields have been discovered in this basin: Murmanskoye, Severo-Kildinskoye, Shtokmanovskoye, Ledovoye and Ludlovskoye.
Top 10 largest oil fields
The oil and gas basin was discovered in the late 80s of the 20th century with the discovery of the giant Shtokman field. The Triassic and Jurassic complexes are productive, while the Permian-Triassic deposits are the source oil complexes.
Resources are estimated at 5-30 trillion m³ of natural gas and 2-8 billion tons of oil.
see also
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Oil and gas basins of the world
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Characteristics of the West Siberian oil and gas province
The West Siberian oil and gas province occupies the territory of the West Siberian Lowland.
The first gas field, Berezovskoye, was discovered in 1953.
The platform of the West Siberian province is located on a foundation of Paleozoic age, represented by sandy-gyneous Meso-Cenozoic deposits, the thickness of which reaches 4000-5000 m.
The West Siberian oil and gas province includes several oil and gas regions:
§ Sredneobskaya;
§ Vasyuganskaya;
§ Frolovskaya;
§ North Tyumen;
§ Berezovo-Shaimskaya.
Middle Ob oil and gas region is represented by the Samotlor field, which is unique in terms of oil reserves.
The richest oil fields also include Mamontovskoye, Sovetskoye, Ust-Balykskoye, Pravdinskoye, and Zapadno-Surgutskoye.
Oil and gas potential has been established in the Tyumen, Vasyugan, Megion and Vartov formations. The main oil reserves are associated with deposits of the Vartovskaya and Upper Megion formations. In their section, more than 30 permeable sand layers are distinguished, of which almost 20 have proven industrial oil and gas potential.
Significant oil accumulations are contained in sandy and sandy-clayey formations of group “A” in the top part of the Vartovsky formation. Their thickness is variable, and are often replaced by clays and siltstones.
At the base of the sedimentary cover lies the Tyumen Formation (Lower + Middle Jurassic) with a thickness of 200-300 m.
It is expressed by interlayering of sandstones, siltstones, and clays. The Upper Jurassic within the Surgut and Nizhnevartovsk arches is represented by the Vasyugan and Georgievsk formations, consisting of alternating sandstones and mudstones with a thickness of 50-110 m.
The Megion and Vartov formations (Valanginian and Hauterivian-Barremian) are composed of sandstone layers separated by mudstones with a thickness of 265-530 m.
Oil from the Middle Ob region has a density of 0.854-0.901 g/cm3, sulfur content of 0.8-1.9%.
The highest sulfur content is in oils from fields in the Surgut region. All oils are low-paraffin, 1.9-5.3%.
North Tyumen gas and oil region includes more than ten fields, including the largest such as Urengoyskoye, Zapolyarnoye, Medvezhye.
Main features of the geological structure. The thickness of the sedimentary cover is more than 4000 m, but the lower part of the section has not been studied by drilling.
Lower-Middle Jurassic deposits are represented by alternating sandstones, siltstones and mudstones with a thickness of 220-445 m. Upper Jurassic deposits are composed of mudstones with a thickness of 100-150 m. The upper part of the Pokur formation is represented by clayey sands. The cover is Turonian-Paleogene clay with a thickness of 1000 m.
Huge gas reserves are concentrated in sandstones of Valanginian-Cenomanian age with good reservoir properties (porosity 26-34%, permeability up to 3000-6000 mD).
The gases of the Cenomanian deposits consist mainly of methane 98-99.6%.
In most fields there is virtually no condensate. Gases from the Valanginian deposit contain large amounts of heavy hydrocarbons up to 9.5% and methane up to 88.5%.
The Urengoy field is the largest in the world in terms of gas reserves.
It is confined to a gentle brachyanticlinal fold, the dimensions of which are 95x25 km. The gas reservoir is composed of interlayered sandstones, siltstones, and clays. The total thickness of gas-saturated reservoirs in the roof of the structure is 80-100 m. The porosity of the reservoirs is 20-35%, permeability 600-1000 mD.
Control questions:
Name the reservoir properties of rocks.
2. What determines the porosity and permeability of rocks?
3. What types of porosity and permeability are there?
4. What is the elemental composition of oil.
5. Tell us about the physical properties of oil.
6. What are the main properties of natural gas?
7. Hypotheses of organic and inorganic origin of oil.
8. Characteristics of reservoir rocks.
9. Characteristics of rocks - tires.
10. What is migration and accumulation of oil and gas.
What types of migration and accumulation are there?
12. What types of deposit destruction are there?
13. The concept of natural reservoirs and traps.
14. The concept of deposits and deposits and their types.
Oil and gas and gas and oil basins
Contours of oil and gas potential. The concept of VNK, GNK. Methods for their determination.
16. Pressure and temperature in oil and gas formations.
17. Formation waters, their physical properties and commercial classification.
18. What is an oil and gas province and region?
19. Name the main oil and gas provinces.
It is difficult to imagine the modern world without a huge number of cars, planes and helicopters that help people move faster from one point of the globe to another. But for the smooth functioning of the transport system and not only it, fuel is needed, without which life on our planet will practically stop. Where is oil extracted, from which gasoline, kerosene and many other things are subsequently obtained, without which it is difficult to imagine our daily life? More information about the largest deposits of black gold on the planet and where they are located can be found here.
Chicontepec (Mexico)
Chicontepec is one of the largest oil fields in the entire globe in terms of reserves. Located in Mexico on the east coast of the country. The oil and gas basin belongs to the Gulf of Mexico. The field area is 4 thousand km² and includes the territories of the three states of Veracruz, Hidalgo and Puebla. Oil was found on this land back in 1926; the total modern reserves of the resource are from 19 to 22 billion. tons Also, Chicontepec has huge gas reserves, according to experts, somewhere around 1 trillion square meters.
Oil deposits are located everywhere throughout the field. Therefore, Pemex, which is developing Chicontepec reserves, decided to drill over 17 thousand wells to extract the resource in this area. Thanks to its giant deposit, Mexico ranks 4th in terms of oil reserves in the world. But it is not yet receiving the full benefit from its resources due to the fact that it has not been involved in developments in this direction for a long time.
Al Ghawar (Saudi Arabia)
Al-Ghawar is a super-giant or, as it is also called, a unique oil field located in Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf. According to experts, oil reserves here amount to 20 billion tons. Al-Ghawar is the largest developed black gold deposit in the world, measuring 280 by 30 km. It was opened almost immediately after the end of World War II in 1948.
Ghawar is the leader in oil production in Saudi Arabia, more than 50% of the total resource extracted in the country from its depths, and in the world as a whole, about 6% of the oil produced worldwide per day comes from here. Al-Ghawar is the breadwinner of the entire country. The field belongs to the state, and the national company Saudi Aramco is also working on its development. As reported from Saudi Aramco, Ghawar's reserves have dried up by half, and if production continues at the same volumes, the field's resource will last until the end of this century.
Greater Burgan (Kuwait)
Burgan or Greater Burgan is a unique oil field located in the south of Kuwait. Belonging to the Persian Gulf, its peculiarity is that it is located entirely in the desert sands. A third of all reserves of black gold in Kuwait are mined here; in numerical equivalent, fuel reserves amount to 13 billion tons. Oil production in Burgan began in 1946. The field is being developed by the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp. Recently, modernization has been underway at oil production enterprises in Burgan in order to maintain the pace of natural resource production. It is estimated that Greater Burgan can supply oil to consumers around the world for another half century.
Carioca Sugar Loaf (Brazil)
The oil field is located under the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, not far from the coast of Brazil. Belongs to the Santos oil and gas basin. It was recently discovered, especially when compared to other major oil reserves in the world in 2008. Resource reserves amount to 11 billion tons or 70 billion barrels black gold. Petrobras and several other companies are developing Brazilian deposits. Getting to the oil in Carioca Sugar Loaf is not so easy, you have to travel a distance of about 7 kilometers deep into the earth. The subsoil with fuel is located under a thickness of five kilometers of earth, and above them there is another two kilometers of myrrh ocean. Carioca's reserves are capable of meeting Brazil's fuel needs for several hundred years.
Safaniya Khafji (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait)
The field is located in the waters of the Persian Gulf, and is located on the territory belonging to the two Arab states of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Oil was first discovered under the water and earth here in 1951. Natural resource reserves amount to about 10.5 billion tons or 30 billion barrels. Also, the bowels of the earth are rich in gas in this place - 330 billion cubic meters. The extraction of natural resources in Safaniya Khafji is carried out by the Arabian company Saudi Aramco and the Kuwaiti company Kuwait Petroleum Corp.
Bolivar (Venezuela)
Several deposits are located on the territory of Lake Maracaibo, which in Venezuela is called the Bolivar shelf. These fuel deposits were discovered back in 1917. Today, according to expert estimates, oil reserves here are somewhere in the area 8.3 billion tons or 32 billion barrels. The development and extraction of resources on the Bolivar shelf is carried out by the company Petroleos de Venezuela; it works at a depth of up to five kilometers, extracting a valuable resource from the ground, and then selling it to all countries of South America.
Al Zakum (UAE)
Al-Zakum combines the Lower and Upper Zakum oil fields located in the United Arab Emirates. They belong to the richest oil basin - the Persian. Oil deposits were discovered in them almost simultaneously in 1965 in Nizhny, and two years later in Upper Zakum. Total reserves amount to 10.7 billion tons fuel. Mining is carried out by ADNOC. Natural resource deposits allow several more generations in the UAE to look forward to a prosperous future.
Samotlorskoe (Russia)
Europe's largest oil field is, not surprisingly, located in Russia. And to be more precise, in the swamps of Lake Samotlor in western Siberia, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug. According to some reports, oil reserves here amount to almost 7.1 billion tons or 15 billion barrels. The development of the wild nature, and with it the oil deposits in Samotlor, began in 1965; the natural resource is located at a depth of up to 2.5 km. This field is being developed by the national company Rosneft. Recently made a decision to drill about 600 new wells for oil production in the Samotlor field. An interesting fact: until recently, the oil deposits of Samotlor were not indicated on maps issued in the Russian Federation.
North/South Pars (Qatar, Iran)
Oil and gas field located in the territorial waters of Qatar and Iran. In the bowels of the earth is located about 7 billion tons of oil and it’s hard to even imagine 28 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. This field has been developed relatively recently since 1991. Today, the main oil producing companies here are Qatar Gaz and Petropars. The oil and gas produced by these companies in the depths of the two Parses is sent to European countries and India, bringing huge profits to the budgets of Qatar and Iran.
Kashagan (Kazakhstan)
The Kashagan field was discovered in 2000 and is located in the Caspian Sea. The basin belongs to the Caspian depression. The largest oil field in the world is on the lake. Fuel reserves are approximately 6.4 billion tons or about 40 billion. barrels. The extraction of natural resources began only in 2013 and in the next ten years will significantly improve the economic situation in Kazakhstan through oil exports to Asian and European countries. Work on oil production in Kashagan is carried out by a joint company called NCOC, in which the Japanese, Chinese, British, Dutch, Americans, French, Italians and Kazakh partners have various shares. Experts expect that when the work is fully established, Kazakhstan will break into the elite of oil-producing countries in the world.
Exploration of reserves and the beginning of oil production at all, without exception, the largest fields in the world started in different periods of the twentieth century. We bring to your attention the ten largest operating oil blocks in the world, selected according to the criterion of proven geological reserves. The rating included traditional deposits of liquid hydrocarbons, but did not take into account areas with tar sands and abnormally high density raw materials.
1. Ghawar (Saudi Arabia). Reserves - 12 billion tons of oil
Gavar is considered the largest oil field in the world, although, according to a number of estimates, the reserves of the site are exaggerated and are not the declared 12 billion tons, but about 9.6 billion tons. The block is located in the Persian Gulf basin. Ghawar is fully owned by the Saudi state, and the Saudi Aramco corporation acts as the operator of the field. The block's development indicators are classified by the Saudi Arabian government. In the country itself, the site is called the “Arab Formation.” The field was explored in 1948, and oil production started three years later. Pronedra wrote earlier that thanks to the development of such a large area, Saudi Arabia had the opportunity to influence the situation not only in the OPEC cartel, but also in the entire global oil industry.
2. Greater Burgan (Kuwait) - 11 billion tons
More than 5% of the world's proven oil reserves are concentrated in the Greater Burgan field, located in the southern part of Kuwait. The block includes three main areas - Magwa, Ahmadi and Burgan itself. The field's reserves account for three-quarters of the country's total oil reserves. Proven reserves amount to 10.7 billion tons. The block was opened in 1938. Commercial production at this field began in 1946. The development of Greater Burgan is being carried out by the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp.
3. Bolivar Costal (Venezuela) - 8.3 billion tons
The Venezuelan Bolivar Costal shelf block, which is being developed by Petroleos de Venezuela, includes the Bolivar, Bochaquero, Tia Juana and Lagunillas areas. Oil resources between these areas are distributed unevenly - most of the reserves are identified in Bolivar (4.3 billion tons), while Tia Juana, Bochaquero and Lagunillas account for 2, 1.6 and 1 billion tons, respectively. The block belongs to the Maracaibo oil and gas basin, which also contains about eight dozen more oil fields and four gas areas. The Bolivar Costal field was discovered in 1917, production began in 1921.
4. Upper Zakum (UAE) - 7 billion tons
According to various sources, the Upper Zakum oil block was discovered in the Persian Gulf in 1967 or 1969. Exploration work at the site was carried out after the discovery of another site - Nizhny Zakum with reserves of 2.2 billion tons, which was identified in 1965. However, the new block turned out to be much more generous with oil, the amount of which was estimated at 7 billion tons. Mining began in 1982. The block is being developed by a group of companies, including the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (a division of Zakum Development Co.), as well as ExxonMobil (USA) and the Japanese Japan Oil Development Co.
5. North/South Pars (Qatar–Iran) - 7 billion tons
In the waters of the Persian Gulf, on Qatari territory, the Shell corporation (Great Britain-Netherlands) discovered the North oil and gas field in 1971. Twenty years later, the South Pars site was discovered in the adjacent Iranian region. Both blocks were combined into one field, separated by a tectonic fault. The Qatar section is being developed by a number of companies, with Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Gaz coordinating this work. In turn, South Pars, notable for the fact that the cost of production there is extremely low due to the shallow occurrence of raw materials, is being developed by the National Iranian Oil Company and Petropars.
6. Kashagan (Kazakhstan) - 6.4 billion tons
In the northern part of the Caspian Sea, 80 kilometers from the Kazakh city of Atyrau, the Kashagan offshore field is located. Oil reserves in this block amount to 6.4 billion tons. Kazakh geologists adhere to more modest estimates - within 4.8 billion tons. The deposit includes three sections - Eastern (1.1–8 billion tons), Western (2.54 billion tons), South-Western (150 million tons). The development of the block, discovered in 2000, is carried out by the North Caspian Operating Company consortium, which includes Kazmunaigas (Kazakhstan), AgipCaspian Sea B.V. (Eni, Italy), Total (France), ExxonMobil (USA), Shell (UK-Netherlands), CNPC (China) and Inpex (Japan). The production of “black gold” started in September 2013, but was suspended due to a pipeline accident. Work resumed only in the fall of 2016.
7. Samotlor (Russia) - 6.2 billion tons
The largest oil field in Russia and the seventh largest in the world in terms of oil reserves, the Samotlor field is located in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, not far from Nizhnevartovsk. With proven recoverable reserves of 2.7 billion tons, geological reserves are estimated at 6.2 billion tons (there are statements about 7.1 billion tons). The block was opened in 1965, and development of the site began in 1968. To date, 70% of the deposit's resources have been developed, the remainder are classified as hard-to-recover deposits. The main part of Samotlor is being developed by Samotlorneftegaz, a Rosneft enterprise. Let us remember that the development of this field at one time became a real milestone in the development of the Soviet oil industry.
8. Daqing (China) - 5.7 billion tons
In the Songliao oil and gas basin, in the Heilongjiang province in northeast China, in the area between the Nunjiang and Songhua rivers, the Daqing field was discovered in 1959, the geological reserves of which reach 5.7 billion of raw materials. Mining of “black gold” in this block began in 1975. The development of the site was undertaken by Daqing Oilfield Company Limited, a division of PetroChina, which, in turn, is a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
9. Safaniya-Khafji (Saudi Arabia–Kuwait) - 5.5 billion tons
The Safaniya-Khafji gas and oil field, the ninth largest in the world in terms of geological reserves - 5.5 billion tons - is located in the northwestern part of the Persian Gulf, in the territories of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The southern zone of the block (Safaniya) was discovered in 1951, the second site was explored in 1960. Development of the mentioned parts of the block began in 1957 and 1960, respectively. Oil production at the field is carried out by Saudi Aramco (in the Saudi Arabian block) and Kuwait Petroleum (in Kuwait).
10. Gechsaran (Iran) - 5.2 billion tons
The bottom position in the top 10 largest oil fields in the world is occupied by Iranian Gechsaran, also located in the Persian oil and gas basin. The estimated volume of geological reserves of the block in the bay reaches 5.2 billion tons. The discovery of the site took place in 1928, the field has been in operation since 1940. Oil production from four dozen flowing wells is carried out by the state corporation Iran National Oil Company.
As it becomes obvious from the above data, the predominant amount of the largest liquid oil reserves is located in the Persian Gulf, the operators of these fields are Middle Eastern countries. It is noteworthy that, regardless of the scale of the resources of specific blocks, oil production in the fields is carried out in volumes that can differ tens of times.
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