Saudi Arabia was the world’s largest producer and exporter of petroleum and other liquids in 2012, producing an average of 11.6 million barrels per day (bpd) and exporting an estimated 8.6 million bpd (net) said the US’ Energy Information Administration (EIA).
While Canada is the prime supplier of U.S. liquids imports, Saudi Arabia remains an important supplier, reiterated the EIA yesterday on its website.
In 2012, 16% of Saudi liquids exports were sent to the United States, accounting for 13% of total U.S. liquids imports.
The EIA also said although leading the world in exports, Saudi Arabia’s own liquids consumption is growing. Unlike the United States, Saudi Arabia uses significant amounts of oil for electricity generation, reaching as much as one million bbl/d during hot summer months. Electric demand has doubled since 2000 and is expected to continue its rapid growth.
Without initiatives to facilitate fuel switching and increase efficiency, growing volumes of oil—expensive in relation to other fuels—will be consumed domestically, the EIA said.
In addition to leading the world in production and exports, Saudi Arabia has an estimated 268 billion barrels of proved oil reserves—over 16% of the global total—and is the only country in the world with extensive spare oil production capacity, which can help cushion market disruptions.
While Saudi Arabia has about a hundred major oil and natural gas fields, more than half of its proved reserves are contained in eight fields. Saudi Arabia’s (and the world’s) largest oil field (Ghawar) alone contains an estimated 70 billion barrels of proved reserves, more than the proved reserves in all but seven other countries.
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