Oil Discoveries Research Articles

Architecture and exploration target areas of the Senegal Basin, West Africa

The recent discovery of large oil and gas fields in the deep-water of the Senegal Basin has drawn global attention. Despite this, several exploration wells in this area fail, which can be primarily contributed to a lack of understanding of the basin's structures and hydrocarbon accumulation conditions. This study examines these characteristics utilizing gravity, seismic and drilling data, and finally makes a comparison with the Cote d’Ivoire Basin, a typical transform margin basin in the South Atlantic. The results suggest that the Senegal Basin, influenced by multiple transform faults and a weak Paleozoic basement, experienced three evolutionary stages: rifting, transitional, and drifting. Each stage contributed to the development of distinct depositional sequences - syn-rift sequences, sag sequences, and continental margin sequences, respectively. The Triassic - Early Jurassic rifting stage predominantly formed continental deposits, like fluvial, lacustrine, and deltaic deposits, in the syn-rift sequences. The Middle-Late Jurassic transitional stage, influenced by transform faults, witnessed the formation of marginal ridges or submarine uplift zones. These zones, in conjunction with landward high terrains, formed a restricted environment promoting the development of source rocks in the sag sequences. During the drifting stage, three types of reservoirs, namely platform carbonate rocks, deltas, and slope-floor fans were formed. Notably, large-scale hydrocarbon reservoirs have been found in the deltas and the slope-floor fans both in the Senegal Basin and the Cote d’Ivoire Basin. The Upper Jurassic - Aptian platforms exhibit thick carbonate rocks and organic reefs on their edges, suggesting substantial potential for hydrocarbon exploration in the Senegal Basin.

United States Oil Discovery, Regulation and Economic Employment 1859 -1918

ان اكتشاف النفط في الولايات المتحدة الامريكية عام 1859م ،ساهم في تطورها التقني وتفوقها الصناعي والاقتصادي، اذ عملت شركاتها النفطية لاسيما شركة (ستاندرد اويل ) التي طورت وسائل استخراجه وتكريره وتصديره ،والتي احتكرت هذه الصناعة حتى العام 1911م ,عندما امرت المحكمة العليا بتفكيك الشركة الى عدة شركات ,على اثرها ظهرت (خمس شركات امريكية عملاقة ) سيطرت على الصناعة النفطية في العالم حتى بداية الخمسينيات من القرن العشرين ،وساهمت في تطوير الاقتصاد الامريكي بزيادة الايرادات المالية من خلال تصدير النفط الى جميع دول العالم ،وجاء بحثنا الموسوم ((النفط في الولايات المتحدة الامريكية الاكتشاف والتنظيم والتوظيف الاقتصادي 1859- 1918 )) ليسلط الضوء على الصناعة النفطية واهميتها بالنسبة للاقتصاد الامريكي ،وقد اقتضت طبيعة الدراسة ،ان يقسم البحث الى اربعة مباحث ,تضمن المبحث الاول ((بداية اكتشاف النفط في الولايات المتحدة الامريكية ))،وتناول المبحث الثاني ((تأسيس شركة ستاندرد اويل 1870- 1911)) ،وجاء المبحث الثالث بعنوان (( شركات النفط الامريكية الخمس العملاقة )) ،وتضمن المبحث الرابع ((الاهمية الاقتصادية للنفط في الولايات المتحدة الامريكية حتى نهاية الحرب العالمية الاولى ))،اعتمد البحث على العديد من المصادر الاجنبية والعربية تم تثبيتها في نهاية البحث .

Unequal ground: oil booms and income inequality in the USA

AbstractThis paper examines the impact of oil price and quantity shocks on income inequality in the USA. Using micro income data, we construct measures of pre‐tax money income inequality at the state level for the period 1980–2017. We find that a $10 increase in oil price increases inequality, measured by the ratio of pre‐tax income of the 90th percentile to 10th percentile (p90/p10), by 3.8 percentage points in states with high levels of oil endowments per capita. The increase in capital income to households at the top of the distribution drives the observed change in inequality. In addition to price shocks, we study the impact of quantity shocks that arise from oil discoveries. Quantity shocks have no effect on the overall income distribution.

Components of Society in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

The Arabian Gulf region is considered the first settlement center for the Arabian Gulf community, in terms of the natural extension of the population and their descent from closely related tribes, and similar in characteristics, customs, traditions and tribal customs. After disagreement, rivalry, division and competition over pastures and trade or wars broke out between them, these societies began looking for places to distance themselves from. The Utub tribes descended from the Arabian Peninsula and dispersed on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, in search of trade, fishing, and the search for pearls in the depths of the sea. After the discovery of oil, the Arabian Gulf region became an attractive environment for labor, and was the focus of attention of Arab and Asian countries. And the foreign ones, and the original community mixed with the expatriates and formed a large percentage of the population and took privileges and rights. The system of naturalization and affiliation differs from one country to another in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. It may be easy to obtain Saudi citizenship and difficult to obtain Kuwaiti citizenship. During this, we will present the research by reading each Arab Gulf societies.

The Political Dynamics of Oil Discovery and the Resource Curse in Namibia

The Political Dynamics of Oil Discovery and the Resource Curse in Namibia

Experimental investigation of the sequence injection effect of sea water and smart water into an offshore carbonate reservoir for enhanced oil recovery

This study explores enhanced oil recovery (EOR) strategies, with a focus on carbonate reservoirs constituting over 60% of global oil discoveries. While “smart water” injection proves effective in EOR for carbonate reservoirs, offshore application challenges arise due to impractical volumes for injection. To address this, we propose a novel continuous injection approach, systematically investigating it on a laboratory scale using the Iranian offshore reservoir, Sivand. Thirty-six contact angle tests and twelve flooding experiments are meticulously conducted, with key ions, potassium, and sulfate, playing pivotal roles. Optimal wettability alteration is observed at 4 times potassium ion concentration in 0–2 times sulfate concentrations, driven by ionic strength and charge interactions. Conversely, at 3–5 times sulfate concentrations, the optimal contact angle shifts to 2 times potassium ion concentration, suggesting a mechanism change linked to increasing sulfate ion ionicity. A significant wettability alteration, evidenced by a 132.8° decrease, occurs in seawater with a twofold concentration of potassium ions and a fivefold concentration of sulfate ions. Micromodel experiments introduce an innovative alternation of smart water and seawater injections. The first scenario, smart water followed by seawater injection, reveals negligible post-seawater injection oil recovery changes. In contrast, the second scenario yields a maximum recovery of 7.9%. The first scenario, however, boasts superior overall sweep efficacy, reaching approximately 43%. This research expands understanding of smart water and seawater injection in EOR, presenting a viable solution for optimizing offshore carbonate reservoir recovery. The insights contribute to evolving EOR methodologies, emphasizing tailored strategies for varying reservoir conditions.

Evaluation of tieback developments for marginal oil fields with timing flexibility

The average size of new oil discoveries on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) is steadily decreasing. As standalone developments are often not economically viable for marginal fields, tiebacks to existing production facilities are considered in many cases. At the same time, many production facilities in mature production areas have spare capacity due to depleted reservoirs. In this paper we evaluate tieback development concepts for a marginal field having the choice between two hosts with different characteristics. We develop a model that allows to (1) evaluate the tieback development concepts; (2) determine the optimal choice of host facility for the field operator; and (3) optimize the timing of development taking into account oil, gas price and CAPEX uncertainty using a real options approach. In order to be able to reflect how the capacity constraints of a host affects the production potential of the field over time, we incorporate a production optimization model as part of the methodology. We apply the model to a real case on the NCS. We identify characteristics that drive the optimal choice of hosts. Specifically, we show how lifetime extension, reduction of CAPEX and additional spare capacity individually and in combination affect the competitiveness of one host over another therewith, providing valuable insight for tariff negotiations and portfolio planning. Apart from that we find that timing flexibility is of high importance in case of high downside risk. This makes our approach particularly relevant for marginal oil field development which are often characterized by prominent uncertainties.

A Critical Examination of the Role of Auditing as a Means of Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in Petroleum Revenue Management Activities in Ghana: Proposed Intervention

Oil discovery by some nations has become a resource curse rather than a blessing due to misappropriation, mismanagement and corruption in the management of petroleum revenues due to abuse of political power by public officers in partnership with other stakeholders within the oil industry, national and international alike. Auditor General's Annual Reports, Reports of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) and CSOs reports among other literature have established that public resources such as oil revenue are mismanaged. Weak institutions, Finance Minister's discretionary powers under Act 815, lack of political will, weak legal and policy enforcement regimes among others are to blame for the lack of transparency and accountability leading to corruption. The study establishes that effective auditing plays a significant role in exposing the weak links to ensure transparency and accountability to mitigate corruption, particularly corruption auditing is best suited for petroleum revenue management activities. The study provides that transparency and accountability for effective corruption control and oversight, auditing and enforcement requires a multifaceted approach, stakeholders such as Supreme Auditing Institutions, external and internal audits system, citizens active participation, PIAC and CSOs such as Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas (CSPOG) and Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), good political will by government, strong legislature and judicial system as well as the support of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) such as World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) including Donors and multinational petroleum companies are all needed on deck to tackle successfully the monster called petroleum revenue misappropriation, mismanagement and corruption. And ensuring that the government, public officials and other stakeholders uphold to best practice when it comes to PRMA.

Characteristics of Deepwater Oil and Gas Distribution along the Silk Road and Their Controlling Factors

Deepwater regions have emerged as pivotal domains for global oil and gas exploration and development, serving as strategic alternatives to conventional resources. The Silk Road region is distinguished by its abundant oil and gas reserves and stands as a leading arena for worldwide exploration and development in the oil and gas sector. Since 2012, a series of atmospheric fields have been discovered in the deep sea of the Luwuma Basin and the Tanzania Basin, with cumulative recoverable reserves reaching 4.4 × 1012 and 8.3 × 1011 m3, including multiple oil and gas fields ranking among the top ten global discoveries at that time. Profound advancements have been achieved in the exploration of deepwater oil and gas reserves along the Silk Road. However, deepwater oil and gas exploration presents challenges, such as high development costs and risks, leading to certain areas remaining underexplored and exhibiting a relatively low level of exploration activity, thereby hinting at considerable untapped potential. Deepwater sedimentary basins along the Silk Road predominantly adhere to a distribution pattern characterized as “one horizontal and one vertical”. The “horizontal” dimension refers to the deepwater basin grouping within the Neo-Tethys tectonic domain, primarily extending from east to west. Conversely, the “vertical” dimension denotes the deepwater basin grouping along the East African continental margin, predominantly extending from north to south. Recent discoveries of deepwater oil and gas reserves validate the presence of foundational elements within Silk Road basins conducive to the formation of substantial oil and gas reservoirs and the establishment of efficient migration pathways. Despite these achievements, exploration activities in deepwater oil and gas resources along the Silk Road remain relatively limited. Future exploration endeavors in deepwater regions will predominantly focus on identifying structural and lithological traps. In the deepwater areas of the Bay of Bengal, the emphasis is on lithological traps formed by Neogene turbidite sandstone deposits. In the deepwater regions of Pakistan, the focus shifts to lithological traps emerging from Neogene bio-reefs and river-channel sandstone accumulations. Along the deepwater coastline of East Africa, the focus is on lithological traps formed by nearshore Mesozoic–Cenozoic bio-reefs and seafloor turbidite sandstone formations. Within the deepwater regions of Southeast Asia, the primary objective is to locate large structural-type oil and gas fields. Analyzing the characteristics of oil and gas discoveries in deepwater areas aims to enhance the theory of the control of the formation of deepwater oil and gas, providing valuable insights for predicting future exploration directions.

The Ambivalence of Urban Modernity and Marginality: The Making of Abadan Under the Anglo-Persian/Iranian Oil Company

The discovery of oil in Masjed Soleyman, Iran, in 1908 prompted the foundation of the British-owned Anglo Persian Oil Company (APOC), and the construction of a massive refinery in Abadan in the southwest. It also sparked astonishing industrial and urban development in the region. Within a span of fifty years following the discovery of oil, Abadan developed from a small tribal village to one of Iran’s major modern industrial cities. This study examines how the rapid modern transformation of Abadan under the management and control of APOC influenced the everyday lived experiences of the local population. As a typical colonial company town of the era, Abadan’s patterns of industrialization, urbanization, and modernization became archetypes for other oil cities in Iran and the Middle East. Shaped by dependence on a single commodity, the architecture and urban planning of Abadan reveals hierarchies of economic, social, and political domination. Using the oral histories of Iranians familiar with the period and the area, this research argues that early twentieth-century company towns in Iran such as Abadan served as rhetorical instruments, which foreign-owned companies and their hired architects and planners used to impose specific visions of modernity upon subaltern or indigenous populations.

«Золотой век» геологии и организация морских геологоразведочных работ в СССР

The features of the organization of geological exploration (GE) in the USSR at government and legislative levels in the “Golden Age of Geology” 1955-1985 are considered. The main achievements of the USSR are noted, including the discovery of the giant West Siberian oil and gas province and a large raw material base for the oil and gas industry on the shelf of the Western Arctic. The graphical dependences of the shares of Russia, the USSR-CIS and the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District in the world volume of oil and gas production for the period 1900-2022 are presented. The necessity for a radical increase in the volume of GE from state budget funds is substantiated. It is recommended to revive the fund for the reproduction of the country's mineral resource base.

The Legal Regime for Mineral Resource Ownership in Nigeria: an in-depth Analysis of Oil Discovery and Its Implications

The Legal Regime for Mineral Resource Ownership in Nigeria: an in-depth Analysis of Oil Discovery and Its Implications

Oil and Geopolitics in the Middle East: An Analysis

This paper revolves around the history of oil and geopolitics with a brief context of how oil has played its role in the Industrial Revolution. The study of major oil-producing states of the Middle East, its significance, and the study of oil and politics in the international system. After reading this paper there would be a brief awareness of how oil-producing states are influenced. Historically, the discovery of oil in the Middle East has transformed the geopolitical dynamics of the region, attracting the interest of major global powers. The establishment of oil-producing states has led to both cooperation and competition among nations, with oil serving as a geopolitical tool that influences alliances, conflicts, and foreign policies. Additionally, the region's reliance on oil revenues has shaped domestic politics, contributing to the rise of authoritarian regimes and political instability.

Book Review of A Brief History of Oil: From Technological Progress to Changing the World

In order to explore the connection between oil and economy, society and politics, and grasp the future development trend of the oil field, Vaclav Smil introduced the development history of oil from the perspective of economy, society and politics, and then discussed the problems encountered by human beings in oil exploration, production, transportation, refining and sales, and introduced the huge creativity gradually accumulated by human beings in the process of extracting and processing oil, which made crude oil the world's most important source of energy. A Brief History of Oil: From Technological Progress to Changing the World is a book by Vaclav Smil, which consists of 12 chapters in 5 parts. It mainly covers the advantages and disadvantages of oil; The composition of oil and the geological conditions of its extraction; The improvement of oil exploitation technology and the discovery of super-large oil fields; Discovery of recoverable crude oil, development of oil fields, the management of extraction, refining and transportation; Finally, it concludes with reflections on the future of oil under the new pattern of energy strategy. The feature of this work is to obtain analytical data by examining the relationship between petroleum and society, economy and politics, to provide support for the optimization of petroleum system, and to provide scientific reference for scientists, educators, and managers engaged in the petroleum industry.

Kenya’s Mineral Landscape: A Review of the Mining Status and Potential Recovery of Strategic and Critical Metals through Hydrometallurgical and Flotation Techniques

Kenya is an East African country with the third-largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa. The demand for metals and minerals continues to increase due to urbanization, population rise, and new infrastructure growth in different countries. Kenya formally confirmed the discovery of oil and various minerals in April 2013, launching itself as a new player in Africa’s rapidly expanding extractive sector. This review paper highlights the mining status in Kenya and the role of hydrometallurgical and flotation processes in the recovery of deficit metals from ores and mine wastes. The nation’s 2030 Vision is anticipated to benefit greatly from the proceeds from the sale of oil, gas, and valuable metals. Because Kenya was originally mapped as an agricultural region, less mineral prospecting was done in earlier times. The country’s mining industry is now dominated by the manufacture of non-metallic goods, and it is largely neglected for minerals. One of the most serious problems for the mining industry in Kenya is the production of tailings that hold strategic metals. The material is already ground, which means the most energy-consuming process has been already applied, and chemical engineering processes like leaching are more feasible at this point. Hydrometallurgical and flotation recovery of valuable metals from wastes, high and low-grade ores, or tailings is essential. The resources will be preserved, which ensures sustainability in the growth of the mining industry.

Oil-source correlations and petroleum accumulation in oil sands in the Carboniferous Yanghugou Formation in the Shajingzi area, Ordos Basin, China

The south-central part of the western Ordos Basin is an important structural belt. Recent drilling of Well YT2 in the Shajingzi area of this belt has led to the discovery of oil sands in the Carboniferous Yanghugou Formation. In this study, Paleozoic source rocks and oil sands were sampled from the Well YT2 and analyzed for oil-source correlations. Geochemical data including saturate and aromatic biomarker compositions were used to investigate the genetic origins of oil sands. Saturated hydrocarbon biomarkers, such as n-alkanes, isoprenoids, tricyclic terpanes and C27-C28-C29 regular steranes, indicate that the oil and source rocks in the Ordovician Wulalike Formation are similar in terms of maturity, provenance and sedimentary environment. Aromatic parameters, such as dibenzothiophene/phenanthrene and alkyldibenzothiophene/alkyldibenzofuran ratios in the oil are similar to those in source rocks in the Carboniferous Yanghugou Formation and the Permian Taiyuan Formation. Moreover, retene is direct evidence that the oil has originated in part from the Yanghugou and/or Taiyuan formations. In addition, the modelled accumulation ages indicate that that the maturity of the two types of oil inclusions is consistent with the source rocks of the Wulalike, Yanghugou and Taiyuan formations during the charging times. The thrust faults runs through the Wulalike, Yanghugou and Taiyuan formations can provide pathways for oil migration. Therefore, the oil from the Yanghugou Formation has a mixed source from the Wulalike, Yanghugou and/or Taiyuan formations. This is the first documented discovery of Ordovician marine oil in the Ordos Basin.

Re-assessment of policy implementation on fish farming in achieving sustainable agribusiness and socio-economic development in southern Nigeria

Agricultural productivity has remained central to the gross domestic product (GDP) in Nigeria for several decades. However, the decline in the agricultural sector after the discovery of oil and gas resources is a serious challenge. The government has initiated several policies to rejuvenate agricultural productivity. Little attention has been given to the exploration of policy implementation for fish farming and aquaculture as an integral part of agribusiness in the country. The World Bank asserts that the yearly demand for fish is 3.4 million metric tons (i.e., 40%) is locally produced and the remaining 60% is supplied through importation of fish. Therefore, the primary objective of this paper is to re-assess policy implementation to explore and expand the potential of fish farming in Nigeria to address abject poverty and high unemployment rates. This can be achieved when a shift of attention is given to small- and medium-scale businesses, and consequentially achieve sustainable agribusiness and socio-economic development in the country. This study used library-based research and content analysis as its methodology, wherein secondary data were used to review different aspects that can foster fish farming in the country. The findings from the content analysis of the study demonstrated that in order to achieve domestic production and stop the importation of fish, there is a need for the establishment of nothing less than 400,000 fish farming across the country. The paper highlighted various types and techniques for breeding, rearing, and harvesting fish by strengthening their effectiveness and efficiency. This study emphasized the vital importance of technology, such as reliable energy facilities, solar energy, and solar irrigation, in reducing the cost of diesel in powering generators to maximize fish investment. The limitations of this study are highlighted, and SWOT analysis (i.e., strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) in fish farming is elaborated. It is suggested that the implementation of policies to support farmers in general and fish farmers in particular, such as the provision of credit loans and other fish feeds for sustainable agribusiness and socio-economic development, occupies a central climax of this research.

A REVIEW OF ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY METHODS USED IN THE FIELDS OF KAZAKHSTAN

Application of enhanced oil recovery methods in Kazakhstan has been ongoing for decades alongside the continued discovery of new oil and gas fields in the Pre-Caspian Basin. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the hydrocarbon reserves and production, and the status of the petroleum industry in Kazakhstan, with a focus on the EOR methods and projects being applied to recover those reserves. A summary of the specific EOR methods in use was prepared, and existing enhanced recovery projects in Kazakhstan were reviewed and their successes and challenges were investigated. The performance of these projects in the context of EOR performance indicators such as capillary number and mobility ratio, as well as operational and environmental issues, were examined. Recommendations for current and potential applications of EOR in Kazakhstan were also discussed. The widespread application of thermal EOR methods, in use for decades in Kazakhstan’s older fields, was found to be successful, with very favorable impacts on mobility ratio from the addition of thermal energy to the reservoirs. Miscible EOR methods in Kazakhstan have had more limited success, with some significant challenges due to high concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the injected gas. Polymer injection started in the late 1960s, achieving good results. A recent polymer injection pilot project has shown some promise, with a favorable impact on mobility ratio and oil production, although the project has not yet been expanded beyond two polymer injectors. These results indicate the huge potential of existing and future EOR projects. This review is the first compilation of Kazakhstan’s existing oil and gas reserves, production, and EOR project performance, and should be seen as a guide to the existing applications of EOR methods in Kazakhstan.

A Fresh Look at the South Australian Onshore Otway Basin (Insights from Dem's Petroleum Systems Model Project)

The Otway Basin is one of the best known Mesozoic rift basins that span the southern coastline of Australia and has both on and offshore gas production and oil discoveries. 104 petroleum and 6 geothermal wells have drilled since the 1890s. In 1987 Katnook 1 discovered economic gas in the Penola Trough (the most significant hydrocarbon province in the SA part of the basin to date), further drilling led to more discoveries and construction of a processing plant.

Qatar's Magical Land: An Ecocriticism Study on the Representation of Nature in Dreamers Music Video by FIFA World Cup

Abstract
 Qatar, as the host of the World Cup 2022, has released a music video to enliven the euphoria. The music video is believed to indirectly present several issues including environmental issues. This research aims to examine the depiction of nature in the Dreamers music video by Jungkook and Fahad Al Kubaisi for the official soundtrack of FIFA World Cup 2022. This paper uses ecocriticism interest which takes an earth-centered approach to a literary study by looking at the role nature plays in a given work proposed by Cheryll Glotfelty. The result of the study shows that the music video contains some nature representations which are the existence of pearls as Qatar’s main income source before oil discovery, the whale shark as the country's representation to signified its new image, and the white snowy tree emphasizing a climate change that has been a serious concern in the Arab world.
 Keywords: Ecocriticism, Music Video, Qatar, Representation, World Cup 2022