Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids Country Notes

Algeria

Proved recoverable reserves (crude oil and NGLs, million tonnes)	2 731
Production (crude oil and NGLs, million tonnes, 2005)	86.5
R/P ratio (years)	31.6
Year of first commercial production	1950

Indigenous oil reserves are the third largest in the African region, after Libya and Nigeria. The principal oil provinces are located in the central and south-eastern parts of the country, with the largest oil field being Hassi Messaoud, which was discovered in 1956. Substantial volumes of NGLs (condensate and LPG) are produced at Hassi R'mel and other gas fields. Algerian crudes are of high quality, with a low sulphur content.

For the present Survey, the levels adopted are those advised by the Algerian WEC Member Committee: 12 511 million cubic metres (78.7 billion barrels) of oil in place and 3 695 million cubic metres (23.2 billion barrels) of proved recoverable oil reserves.

Algeria has been a member of OPEC since 1969 and is also a member of OAPEC. It exported about 75% of its output of crude oil (including condensate) in 2005, mainly to Western Europe and North America.