372:
44:
765:
779:
409:, the state-run Saudi oil company. In April 2019, the company first published its profit figures since its nationalization nearly 40 years ago in the context of issuing a bond to international markets. The bond prospectus revealed that Ghawar is able to pump a maximum of 3.8 million barrels (600,000 m) per day—well below the more than 5 million barrels (790,000 m) per day that had become conventional wisdom in the market.
360:
348:
336:
51:
718:
In April 2010, Saad al-Tureiki, Vice-President for
Operations at Aramco, stated, in a news conference reported in Saudi media, that over 65 billion barrels (10.3 km) have been produced from the field since 1951. Tureiki further stated that the total reserves of the field had originally exceeded
608:, the largest coal mine in the world, produced 85.3 megatonnes (84,000,000 long tons; 94,000,000 short tons) of coal (down from over 100 megatonnes (98,000,000 long tons; 110,000,000 short tons) in 2015) at 8,800 British thermal units per pound (20,000 kJ/kg) or 1.746 exajoules (4.85
402:. Measuring 280 by 30 km (170 by 19 mi) (some 8,400 square kilometres (3,200 sq mi)), it is by far the largest conventional oil field in the world, and accounts for roughly a third of the cumulative oil production of Saudi Arabia as of 2018.
1137:
753:(OOIP), with about 60 billion barrels (9.5 km) recoverable (1975 Aramco estimate quoted by Matt Simmons). The second figure, at least, was understated since that production figure has already been exceeded.
532:
10 m). In 2009, it was estimated that Ghawar produced about 5 million barrels (790,000 m) of oil a day (6.25% of global production), a figure which was later shown to be substantially overestimated.
437:
Arab-D limestones with exceptional porosity (as much as 35% of the rock in places), which is about 280 feet (85 m) thick and occurs 6,000 to 7,000 feet (1,800 to 2,100 m) beneath the surface.
1385:
442:
is the
Jurassic Hanifa formation, a marine shelf deposit of mud and lime with as much as 5% organic material, it is estimated that 1% to 7% is considered good oil source rock. The
501:
are located on Ghawar's east flank, corresponding to the 'Uthmaniyah production area. Ghawar was discovered in 1948 and put on stream in 1951. Some sources claim that Ghawar
989:
594:) of 41.868 megajoules per kilogram (5.2753 kWh/lb)) the total thermal energy equivalent produced yearly by the oil field is roughly 7.955 exajoules (2.210
1035:
694:
of wind power, capacity factors for onshore wind installations like Gansu are typically much lower, ranging at 15-35% depending on local factors. Per 250000
1382:
923:
669:
if the sun were shining at peak intensity at all times), but given a more realistic capacity factor of 25%, it would produce 17.778 petajoules (4.938
108:
1097:
1008:
1075:
474:, an indication that an oil reservoir may be trapped underneath. Oil was indeed found, in what turned out to be the southern reaches of Ghawar.
562:, using seawater at a rate said to be around 7 million barrels (1,100,000 m) per day . Water flooding is said to have begun in 1965. The
1262:
1198:
1162:
947:
842:
486:
686:
approaching 8 GW with plans to ramp up to 20 GW. A 20 gigawatt power plant at 100% capacity factor could deliver 630.7 petajoules (1.752
1049:
351:
482:
478:
433:
tectonic activity, as the northeast margin of Africa began to impinge on southwest Asia, enhanced the structure. Reservoir rocks are
1428:
43:
1418:
632:
in fiscal 2017, equivalent to roughly 6.2 kilotonnes (6,100 long tons; 6,800 short tons) of uranium metal or 4.46 exajoules (1.24
848:
566:
was about 32% in 2003, and ranged from about 27% to 38% from 1993 to 2003. By 2006, North
Uthmaniyah's water cut was about 46%.
1115:
339:
1423:
1306:
972:
1363:
559:
470:
and Ernie Berg noted a bend in the Wadi Al-Sahbah dry riverbed. Measurements confirmed that the area had undergone
363:
865:
1027:
837:
1403:
730:
stated that the oil production from Ghawar reached 66 Bbo in 2007, and that the remaining reserves are 74 Bbo.
395:
371:
140:
78:
691:
605:
1433:
1083:
749:
When appraised in the 1970s, the field was assessed to have 170 billion barrels (27 km) of original
723:
617:
443:
1101:
1265:[Aramco: "Ghawar" is still strong with "100" billion barrels] (in Arabic). 2010. Archived from
895:
695:
1170:
521:
1339:
1266:
690:
10 kWh) of electric output per year. However, once again due to the weather-dependency and
738:
17:
591:
698:
will be replaced per year at full deployment, which is equivalent to 7.327 petajoules (2.035
727:
477:
Historically, Ghawar has been subdivided into five production areas, from north to south: '
8:
1057:
770:
743:
391:
88:
525:
1295:
803:
683:
654:
508:
Saudi Aramco reported in mid-2008 that Ghawar had produced 48% of its proven reserves.
1326:
Arabian
American Oil Company Staff (February 1959). "Ghawar Oil Field, Saudi Arabia".
1248:
1234:
1302:
968:
798:
650:
364:
Total Wells at Ghawar. Blue wells are waterflood injectors, red are production wells.
551:
Ghawar also produces approximately 2 billion cubic feet (57,000,000 m) of
1335:
1389:
1290:
1050:"Saudi Arabia Energy Data, Statistics and Analysis - Oil, Gas, Electricity, Coal"
942:
733:
679:
662:
471:
383:
1123:
813:
707:
587:
1412:
784:
548:. Average daily extraction was 3.8 million barrels (600,000 m) per day.
494:
467:
422:
155:
142:
123:
110:
742:, suggested that production from the Ghawar field and Saudi Arabia may soon
653:
in India, covering 57 square kilometres (22 sq mi) and boasting a
1358:
750:
545:
463:
406:
399:
176:
1012:
993:
1297:
Twilight in the Desert - The coming Saudi oil shock and the world economy
598:
10 kWh), or 2,210,000 gigawatt-hours of thermal energy equivalent.
552:
439:
375:
Map of the approximate size, shape, and location of the Ghawar Oil Field.
1354:
869:
792:
629:
430:
1216:
536:
As of 31 December 2018, total reserves of 58.32 billion barrels (9.272
563:
517:
451:
447:
418:
387:
808:
540:
10 m) of oil equivalent including 48.25 billion barrels (7.671
502:
498:
434:
1325:
924:"The Biggest Saudi Oil Field Is Fading Faster Than Anyone Guessed"
1183:
A.M. Afifi, 2004 AAPG Distinguished
Lecture, chart reproduced in
778:
644:-type reactors, but much less in more widespread reactor designs.
896:"Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Global Medium Term Note Programme"
637:
586:
10 short tons) production figure per year and the conventional
490:
1370:
1217:"Tech Talk - Current Oil Production and the Future of Ghawar"
795:, residential compound built atop the central part of Ghawar
641:
544:
10 m) barrels of liquid reserves have been confirmed by
520:
produced between 1948 and 2000, came from Ghawar. Cumulative
1328:
Bulletin of the
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
706:
The Ghawar oil field is thus the largest single supplier of
1249:"Top 10 Largest Wind Farms in the World - Earth and Human"
1235:"Top 10 Largest Wind Farms in the World - Earth and Human"
320:
Upper/Middle
Jurassic, Upper/Lower Permian, Lower Devonian
505:
in 2005, though this is denied by the field operators.
620:, the largest uranium mine in the world, produced 16.1
1199:"Peak oil isn't dead: An interview with Chris Nelder"
1056:. US Department of Energy. 2008-08-01. Archived from
1344:
Still the basic public reference for Ghawar geology.
760:
1294:
1263:"أرامكو: "الغوار" ما زال قويا بـ"100" مليار برميل"
1404:Map of oil and gas infrastructure in Saudi Arabia
990:"Trouble in the World's Largest Oil Field-Ghawar"
1410:
1100:. Oil Patch Asia. 3 October 2013. Archived from
967:. Great Britain: Portfolio Penguin. p. 20.
657:of 2255 MW would produce 71.11 petajoules (1.975
1355:Articles on Ghawar and analysis on its reserves
1289:
1160:
1184:
1073:
940:
1163:"Ghawar Oil Field: Saudi Arabia's Oil Future"
835:
1138:"Ghawar Oil Field - Hydrocarbons Technology"
987:
962:
1340:10.1306/0BDA5CB1-16BD-11D7-8645000102C1865D
1196:
1025:
1006:
1285:
1283:
901:. Saudi Arabian Oil Company. April 1, 2019
612:10 kWh) of thermal energy equivalent.
511:
1082:. Vol. 7, no. 4. Archived from
405:Ghawar is entirely owned and operated by
1028:"Bank says Saudi's top field in decline"
943:"Finding Ghawar: Elephant Hid in Desert"
831:
829:
590:of crude oil (per the definition of the
370:
1280:
1116:"Saudi Arabia's Giant Ghawar Oil Field"
1069:
1067:
860:
858:
450:package of rocks including impermeable
421:above a basement fault block dating to
14:
1411:
1375:(source of most data in this article).
1301:. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
1098:"Top Ten Highest Producing Oil Fields"
558:The operators stimulate production by
826:
673:10 kWh) of electricity per year.
649:The largest solar farm in the world,
352:Regional cross section through Ghawar
340:Ghawar Field map and regional setting
1161:Justin Williams (19 February 2013).
1064:
918:
916:
890:
888:
886:
866:"The Ghawar Oil Field, Saudi Arabia"
855:
636:10 kWh) of thermal energy at a
524:through early 2010, has exceeded 65
50:
851:from the original on March 2, 2006.
24:
1319:
956:
719:100 billion barrels (16 km).
678:The largest wind farm as of 2021,
516:Approximately 60–65% of all Saudi
25:
1445:
1383:World-beater Ghawar a field apart
1348:
992:. Energy Bulletin. Archived from
913:
883:
661:10 kWh) of electricity at a
569:
235:Year of current production of oil
1038:from the original on 2006-08-13.
777:
763:
358:
346:
334:
220:3,800,000 barrels per day (~1.9
49:
42:
1429:Saudi Aramco oil and gas fields
1392:, 2008 article in Saudi Aramco
1255:
1241:
1227:
1209:
1190:
1177:
1154:
1142:www.hydrocarbons-technology.com
1130:
1108:
1090:
1042:
868:. Gregcroft.com. Archived from
838:"The Elephant of All Elephants"
1419:Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
1026:Adam Porter (April 12, 2005).
1019:
1000:
981:
934:
836:Louise Durham (January 2005).
274:48,250 million barrels (~6.583
13:
1:
1371:Saudi Aramco official website
1197:Brad Plumer (13 April 2013).
1007:Donald Coxe (31 March 2005).
988:Glenn Morton (24 July 2004).
819:
941:Rasoul Sorkhab (June 2011).
606:North Antelope Rochelle Mine
7:
756:
724:International Energy Agency
713:
640:of 200MWh/kg achievable in
618:McArthur River uranium mine
10:
1450:
1424:Oil fields of Saudi Arabia
1076:"The King of Giant Fields"
1009:"Has Ghawar truly peaked?"
457:
412:
1054:Energy Information Agency
357:
345:
333:
328:
316:
288:
270:
243:Current production of gas
242:
234:
217:Current production of oil
216:
211:
203:
195:
187:
182:
172:
102:
94:
84:
74:
66:
37:
32:
27:Oil field in Saudi Arabia
58:Location of Ghawar Field
1074:Rasoul Sorkhab (2010).
522:extraction of petroleum
512:Extraction of crude oil
302: cu ft (3,100
137:(Centre approximation:
739:Twilight in the Desert
376:
289:Estimated gas in place
271:Estimated oil in place
256: cu ft/d (57
1364:Terrorists and Ghawar
1185:Rasoul Sorkhab (2010)
1120:Global Resources News
1060:on 13 September 2008.
963:Ali Al-Naimi (2016).
696:standard tons of coal
592:ton of oil equivalent
493:. The major oasis of
374:
1251:. 13 September 2021.
1237:. 13 September 2021.
1126:on 11 December 2014.
728:World Energy Outlook
462:In the early 1940s,
317:Producing formations
771:Saudi Arabia portal
736:, in his 2005 book
429:million years ago;
417:Ghawar occupies an
392:Al-Ahsa Governorate
196:Start of production
152: /
120: /
1434:Oil field disputes
1388:2016-03-04 at the
1167:Energy and Capital
1104:on 2 January 2014.
1032:English Al-Jazeera
996:on 3 October 2016.
804:List of oil fields
684:nameplate capacity
655:nameplate capacity
377:
1173:on 31 March 2016.
965:Out of the Desert
799:Khurais oil field
651:Bhadla solar park
582:10 long tons; 2.1
369:
368:
324:
323:
16:(Redirected from
1441:
1374:
1373:
1343:
1313:
1312:
1300:
1287:
1278:
1277:
1275:
1274:
1259:
1253:
1252:
1245:
1239:
1238:
1231:
1225:
1224:
1213:
1207:
1206:
1194:
1188:
1181:
1175:
1174:
1169:. Archived from
1158:
1152:
1151:
1149:
1148:
1134:
1128:
1127:
1122:. Archived from
1112:
1106:
1105:
1094:
1088:
1087:
1071:
1062:
1061:
1046:
1040:
1039:
1023:
1017:
1016:
1015:on 1 March 2017.
1011:. Archived from
1004:
998:
997:
985:
979:
978:
960:
954:
953:
938:
932:
931:
920:
911:
910:
908:
906:
900:
892:
881:
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877:
862:
853:
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833:
787:
782:
781:
773:
768:
767:
766:
701:
689:
672:
660:
635:
627:
623:
611:
601:For comparison,
597:
585:
581:
577:
543:
539:
531:
497:and the city of
428:
396:Eastern Province
386:: الغوار) is an
362:
361:
350:
349:
338:
337:
326:
325:
308:
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298:
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280:
279:
262:
261:
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251:
226:
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207:2005 (Contested)
167:
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164:
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162:
157:
153:
150:
149:
148:
145:
135:
134:
132:
131:
130:
125:
121:
118:
117:
116:
113:
95:Offshore/onshore
79:Eastern Province
53:
52:
46:
30:
29:
21:
1449:
1448:
1444:
1443:
1442:
1440:
1439:
1438:
1409:
1408:
1390:Wayback Machine
1369:
1368:
1351:
1322:
1320:Further reading
1317:
1316:
1309:
1291:Matthew Simmons
1288:
1281:
1272:
1270:
1261:
1260:
1256:
1247:
1246:
1242:
1233:
1232:
1228:
1223:. 18 June 2012.
1215:
1214:
1210:
1203:Washington Post
1195:
1191:
1182:
1178:
1159:
1155:
1146:
1144:
1136:
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1131:
1114:
1113:
1109:
1096:
1095:
1091:
1072:
1065:
1048:
1047:
1043:
1024:
1020:
1005:
1001:
986:
982:
975:
961:
957:
939:
935:
930:. 2 April 2019.
922:
921:
914:
904:
902:
898:
894:
893:
884:
875:
873:
864:
863:
856:
834:
827:
822:
783:
776:
769:
764:
762:
759:
734:Matthew Simmons
716:
699:
687:
682:in China has a
680:Gansu Wind Farm
670:
663:capacity factor
658:
633:
628:10 kg) of
625:
621:
609:
595:
583:
579:
575:
572:
541:
537:
529:
526:billion barrels
514:
472:geologic uplift
460:
426:
425:time, about 320
415:
359:
347:
335:
329:External images
305:
303:
295:
293:
277:
275:
259:
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223:
221:
160:
158:
156:25.20°N 49.31°E
154:
151:
146:
143:
141:
139:
138:
136:
128:
126:
124:25.43°N 49.62°E
122:
119:
114:
111:
109:
107:
106:
62:
61:
60:
59:
56:
55:
54:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1447:
1437:
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1426:
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1399:
1398:
1397:
1377:
1376:
1366:
1361:
1350:
1349:External links
1347:
1346:
1345:
1334:(2): 434–454.
1321:
1318:
1315:
1314:
1307:
1279:
1254:
1240:
1226:
1208:
1189:
1176:
1153:
1129:
1107:
1089:
1086:on 2020-08-16.
1063:
1041:
1018:
999:
980:
973:
955:
933:
912:
882:
854:
824:
823:
821:
818:
817:
816:
814:Swing producer
811:
806:
801:
796:
789:
788:
774:
758:
755:
715:
712:
708:primary energy
704:
703:
675:
674:
646:
645:
624:10 pounds (7.3
614:
613:
588:energy density
578:10 tonnes (1.9
574:Taking the 1.9
571:
570:Energy content
568:
513:
510:
489:, Hawiyah and
459:
456:
414:
411:
367:
366:
355:
354:
343:
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331:
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3:
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1310:
1308:0-471-73876-X
1304:
1299:
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1292:
1286:
1284:
1269:on 2020-10-04
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974:9780241279250
970:
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949:
944:
937:
929:
928:Bloomberg.com
925:
919:
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897:
891:
889:
887:
872:on 2016-03-04
871:
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786:
785:Energy portal
780:
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772:
761:
754:
752:
747:
745:
741:
740:
735:
731:
729:
725:
720:
711:
709:
702:10 kWh).
697:
693:
692:intermittency
685:
681:
677:
676:
668:
664:
656:
652:
648:
647:
643:
639:
631:
619:
616:
615:
607:
604:
603:
602:
599:
593:
589:
567:
565:
561:
560:waterflooding
556:
554:
549:
547:
534:
527:
523:
519:
509:
506:
504:
500:
496:
492:
488:
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475:
473:
469:
468:Thomas Barger
465:
455:
453:
449:
445:
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436:
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424:
423:Carboniferous
420:
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365:
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186:
183:Field history
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133:
105:
101:
97:
93:
90:
87:
83:
80:
77:
73:
69:
65:
45:
36:
31:
19:
1393:
1359:The Oil Drum
1331:
1327:
1296:
1271:. Retrieved
1267:the original
1257:
1243:
1229:
1221:The Oil Drum
1220:
1211:
1202:
1192:
1179:
1171:the original
1166:
1156:
1145:. Retrieved
1141:
1132:
1124:the original
1119:
1110:
1102:the original
1092:
1084:the original
1079:
1058:the original
1053:
1044:
1031:
1021:
1013:the original
1002:
994:the original
983:
964:
958:
946:
936:
927:
903:. Retrieved
874:. Retrieved
870:the original
841:
751:oil in place
748:
737:
732:
726:in its 2008
721:
717:
705:
666:
600:
573:
557:
550:
546:Saudi Aramco
535:
515:
507:
476:
464:Max Steineke
461:
416:
407:Saudi Aramco
404:
400:Saudi Arabia
379:
378:
309:
299:
281:
263:
253:
227:
177:Saudi Aramco
161:25.20; 49.31
129:25.43; 49.62
70:Saudi Arabia
33:Ghawar Field
553:natural gas
440:Source rock
390:located in
159: /
127: /
103:Coordinates
1413:Categories
1394:Dimensions
1273:2010-04-10
1147:2023-06-05
876:2013-04-15
820:References
793:Udhailiyah
710:on Earth.
630:yellowcake
487:Uthmaniyah
448:evaporitic
431:Cretaceous
266: m/d)
230: t/a)
212:Production
665:of 100% (
564:water cut
555:per day.
452:anhydrite
419:anticline
388:oil field
204:Peak year
188:Discovery
1396:magazine
1386:Archived
1293:(2005).
1080:GeoExPro
1036:Archived
950:Explorer
905:April 4,
849:Archived
845:Explorer
809:Peak oil
757:See also
714:Reserves
499:Al-Hofuf
435:Jurassic
312: m)
284: t)
173:Operator
85:Location
495:Al-Ahsa
483:Shedgum
479:Ain Dar
458:History
413:Geology
292:110,000
147:49°19′E
144:25°12′N
115:49°37′E
112:25°26′N
98:Onshore
89:Al-Ahsa
67:Country
1305:
971:
638:burnup
503:peaked
491:Haradh
446:is an
427:
384:Arabic
380:Ghawar
75:Region
18:Ghawar
1357:from
899:(PDF)
642:CANDU
528:(1.03
246:2,000
1303:ISBN
969:ISBN
948:AAPG
907:2019
843:AAPG
744:peak
722:The
667:i.e.
481:and
444:seal
238:2019
199:1951
191:1948
1336:doi
518:oil
485:, '
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