Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids Country Notes

In a regional context, this is one of the less well-endowed Middle East countries but its proved reserves are, nevertheless, quite substantial (5.51 billion barrels at end-2005, according to OAPEC). Other published sources of reserves data generally concur.

Three oil fields were discovered in the north-west central part of Oman in the early 1960s; commercial production began after the construction of an export pipeline. Many other fields have subsequently been located and brought into production, making the country a significant oil producer and exporter; it has, however, never joined OPEC or OAPEC. Production levels steadily increased over the years but peaked in 2001, subsequently falling to an average of
780 000 b/d in 2005. A high proportion of Oman's crude oil output is exported, mainly to Japan, Southeast Asia and China.