Oil discovery in the Arab region goes
back to the beginning of the last century. The
discovery was a turning point in the global
petroleum industry and a start of a long
journey of economic and social changes in
the Arab region making it the prime choice
for global oil companies. Old documentaries
showing oil exploration field teams in the
beginning of last century challenging the
depths of the Arabian Desert in quest for the
‘Grand Prize’ are still vivid in our minds.
The series of Arab oil discoveries started in
theArab Republic of Egypt with the discovery
of Gamasah Field in 1907, then Kirkuk Field
in the Republic of Iraq in 1927, followed by
Awali Field in the Kingdom of Bahrain in
1932, then Burgan Field in the State of Kuwait
in 1938 (the world’s second largest oilfield),
and Ghawar Field in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia in 1948 (the world’s largest oilfield);
in addition to other important discoveries that
have put the Arab region on top of the world’s
oil reserves.
For the past long decades, Arab countries
led by the OAPEC member countries have
achieved a lot with regards to increasing
hydrocarbon reserves significantly due to new
petroleum discoveries and their success in
developing and boosting their existing oilfield
production capacities. This matter has led to a
positive impact on stabilizing global oil and
gas supplies.
These successes are a result of God’s
blessings and the sincere efforts of those
working in the Arab petroleum industry in
cooperation with renowned international
companies with long experience in the
energy industry. These companies have
been working in Arab petroleum projects
according to oil contracts drawn in line with
international standards. They are Concession
Agreements, Production SharingAgreements,
and Technical Services Agreements. These
achievements have also been a result of
OAPEC member countries’ huge financial
investments in all stages of the petroleum
industry.
Data available at OAPEC Secretariat
General has shown that member countries
managed to achieve good results in 2013 in
the field of onshore and offshore exploration
and development with a total of 34 new oil
discoveries and 10 new gas discoveries. On
Arab countries’ level, Oman and Yemen have
also made oil discoveries which increased the
total up to 36 discoveries in all Arab countries
together.
Some of the significant oil discoveries in
member countries in 2013 included Algeria’s
oil discovery in Amqeed Basin (112 km
from Hassi Messaoud Field) with about
1.3bb reserves. Also, Qatar has made a new
gas discovery near the Grand North Field
in waters with a depth of 70m and reserves
estimated at 71bm³.
In 2013, member countries have
established a number of mega offshore oil
and gas projects including Saudi Arabia’s
Editorial
Oil Exploration Horizons in the Arab Region
in Light of Global Energy Developments
