The Arab Spring and the Oil Industry
What has been the impact of recent political developments in North Africa on the oil and gas industry? The challenges facing the oil and gas industry in North Africa in…
Middle East
The search for oil in Oman
The Beginning In the Omani desert, a few miles inland from Nafun, lies a groundwater seepage in the Wadi Jurf. On approaching this spring, you can see streams of glistening…
The Great Burgan field, Kuwait
In 1991, the US-led Operation Desert Storm drew the occupying Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. The retreating Iraqis set fire to over 700 Kuwaiti oil wells, half of which were…
From Pirates to Prada
As the United Arab Emirates celebrates its 40th anniversary, we take a look at the making of modern Dubai. With its glittering seven-star hotels, gravity-defying architecture and shopping malls complete…
All Eyes on the Middle East
The Middle east has been a cornerstone of the oil and gas industry for over a hundred years. Oil was first found in the area in Iran in 1908, while…
Shaping the Future of Geoscience in the Middle East
The Middle East plays a pivotal role in the oil industry, and so GEO 2012, the 10th Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition, promises to be an exciting event, with…
The Abu Dhabi Oil Discoveries
In the 1930s Abu Dhabi was a poor fishing village on the edge of the desert, but the discovery of oil has revolutionised the Emirate. It is thought to possess…
The King of Giant Fields
Since the petroleum industry began in the mid-nineteenth century, numerous oil fields have been discovered and over 70,000 oil fields are still in use. Nonetheless, not all fields were created…
Iraq’s overwhelming problems
According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy (2009), Iraq’s estimated oil reserves are now 115Bb, only surpassed by Saudi Arabia and Iran on a world-wide basis. Others present…
Kurdistan: Safe and Secure, with Billion Barrel Prospects
Where in the world can you still find undrilled billion barrel prospects? Iraqi Kurdistan is one answer. But what is it like to work in an area thought by many…
The Qatar Oil Discoveries
In January 1940 (now 70 years ago), with the discovery of the onshore Dukhan oil field, Qatar joined the Middle East’s oil club. In 1960 (50 years ago), Qatar’s first…
Paleozoic Tight Gas Plays in Jordan
Compared to the other Middle Eastern countries, Jordan does not have a significant position in terms of conventional oil and gas resources. According toOil & Gas Journal (21 December 2009),…