Where Are Saudi Arabia’s Oil Fields

Background

Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest producer and exporter of crude oil, with global market share of about 18% of total production and exports. Saudi Arabian oil fields are located both onshore and offshore in the Persian Gulf. Although the Kingdom’s fields have been explored recently, their origin dates back to the 1930s. Oil exploration and production are the prime sources of national income, making up over 90 % of the government’s income. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the estimated proven oil reserves of Saudi Arabia account for approximately one-fifth of world’s proven oil reserves.

Major Oil Fields

The major onshore oil fields of Saudi Arabia are the Ghawar and Safaniyah fields. These two fields contain over 50% of the total proven reserves. The Ghawar field is the world’s largest oil field with estimated recoverable reserves of 75 billion barrels. It is located in the Eastern Province and spreads over an area of 1,800 hectares. The Safaniyah field, located in a shallow water offshore the Northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia, contains reserves of about 18 billion barrels of oil. Other notable onshore oil fields include the Hasbah field, the Abu Sa’fah field and the Haradh field.
Offshore oil fields which are situated in shallow waters near the Persian Gulf include the Marjan, Zuluf, and Berri fields. The Marjan field is one of the largest offshore fields of Saudi Arabia. Located north of the Safaniyah field, it has a combined estimated reserve of over 10 billion barrels of oil. The Zuluf and Berri fields are two of the most prolific offshore fields in the region, with proven oil reserves of 10 billion and 7 billion barrels, respectively.

Exploration and Production

Saudi Arabia has the world’s most advanced oil exploration and production (E&P) technology. The state-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) is the main company responsible for oil production and exploration. Aramco has an extensive portfolio of over 40 petroleum exploration and development projects. It uses advanced seismic surveying technology to explore and develop potential oil reserves. Additionally, the company has an efficient transportation network that has helped in the development of the onshore and offshore oil fields.
Oil extraction methods used in Saudi Arabia are mainly horizontal drilling and artificial lift. Horizontal drilling is used to extract oil from the oil fields located onshore, while the artificial lift system is employed for extraction from offshore oil fields. This method is beneficial as it improves oilflow rates and reduces the cost of oil production from offshore.

Demand of Oil

The demand for Saudi Arabian oil has been increasing in recent years due to the rise in global oil consumption. According to EIA, the country produced 10.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2018. This quantity is expected to increase as the government is planning to increase the production capacity to 12.5 million bpd by the end of 2020.
The country’s strategic location in the Middle East has been an important factor in its booming oil exports. Saudi Arabia’s abundant oil and gas reserves, which are estimated at 265.4 billion barrels, make it one of the most important suppliers of energy in the world.

Environmental Impact

The exploration and production of oil can have a negative environmental impact. Oil spills resulting from offshore exploration activities can cause marine pollution, leading to water, air and soil contamination. In addition, oil exploration and production activities generate large amounts of carbon emissions which are harmful for the environment.
To reduce the environmental impact of oil production in Saudi Arabia, the government has adopted measures to restrict oil exploration in vulnerable areas such as national parks and marine reserves. Additionally, the government has implemented the “Efficiency and Conservation Program” which involves large scale energy efficiency projects such as efficient lighting, combustion engines and air conditioning systems.

Conclusion

Saudi Arabia is the world’s leading producer and exporter of crude oil. Its oil fields are located both onshore and offshore in the Persian Gulf. The major oil fields of Saudi Arabia are Ghawar and Safaniya in the Easten province. Offshore oil fields in shallow waters near the Persian Gulf include Marjan, Zuluf and Berri. Saudi Aramco is the state-owned company that is responsible for oil exploration and production. It uses advanced seismic surveying technology to explore and produce oil. The increasing global demand for oil has encouraged the Kingdom to increase its production. To minimize the environmental impacts of oil production, the government has put in place measures to restrict oil exploration in sensitive areas.

Jose Richard

Jose M. Richard is a journalist and author based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With over a decade of experience in journalism, Jose has written extensively on Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region. Jose is passionate about promoting understanding of the region and its people, and his work has been recognised with international awards.

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