Countries across the globe have been categorized based on the quantity of proven petroleum, natural gas and shale gas reserves available within their territories.
For ease of understanding, countries have broadly been classified into four categories:
- Very High Concentration
- High Concentration
- Medium Concentration
- Low Concentration
The following sections provide an overview of global proven reserves of oil, natural gas and shale gas resources.
WORLD PROVEN OIL RESERVES
Proven oil reserves across the world can be categorized based on estimated quantities of recoverable crude oil resources.
Very High Concentration Countries (267 Billion Barrels and Above)
- Venezuela
- Saudi Arabia
High Concentration Countries (110 – 267 Billion Barrels)
- Canada
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- United Arab Emirates
- Russia
Medium Concentration Countries (30 – 110 Billion Barrels)
- Libya
- Kazakhstan
- Nigeria
- China
- Qatar
- United States
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Algeria
Low Concentration Countries (Below 30 Billion Barrels)
Countries in this category include Angola, India, Ecuador, Azerbaijan, Norway, Sudan, Malaysia, Oman, Egypt, Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia, Argentina, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Germany, Turkey, Thailand, Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Austria, Spain, France, Israel, Morocco and numerous other oil-producing nations with comparatively smaller reserve volumes.
WORLD PROVEN NATURAL GAS RESERVES
Proven natural gas reserves are similarly classified according to estimated recoverable gas resources.
Very High Concentration Countries (Above 170 Trillion Cubic Feet)
- Iran
- Russia
- Qatar
- Turkmenistan
- United States
- Saudi Arabia
High Concentration Countries (52.7 – 170 Trillion Cubic Feet)
- Venezuela
- Nigeria
- Algeria
- Australia
- Iraq
- China
- Indonesia
- Kazakhstan
- Malaysia
- Norway
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Kuwait
- Canada
- Egypt
- Libya
- Netherlands
- Ukraine
- India
Medium Concentration Countries (9.1 – 52.7 Trillion Cubic Feet)
- Oman
- Azerbaijan
- Pakistan
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Thailand
- Peru
- United Kingdom
- Bangladesh
- Germany
- Poland
- Mozambique
- Colombia
Low Concentration Countries (Below 9 Trillion Cubic Feet)
Countries in this category include Chile, Bahrain, Sudan, Cuba, Italy, Tunisia, Denmark, South Korea, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Ghana, France, Tanzania, Jordan, Greece, Albania, South Africa and several other nations with relatively modest natural gas reserves.
WORLD PROVEN SHALE GAS & SHALE OIL RESERVES
Technically recoverable shale oil and shale gas resources have become increasingly important in the global energy landscape.
Top Ten Countries with Technically Recoverable Shale Oil Resources
- Russia
- United States
- China
- Argentina
- Libya
- Australia
- Venezuela
- Mexico
- Pakistan
- Canada
These countries possess significant unconventional hydrocarbon resources that have the potential to contribute substantially to future global energy supply.
SOURCES
- U.S. Energy Information Administration
- The International Energy Agency
DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this private circulation is not legal advice and should not be treated as such.
The information is sourced from public domain materials and is intended solely for private and non-commercial purposes.
No representation is made regarding the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information provided.
This disclaimer shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, and any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Republic of India.
