Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids Country Notes

After many years (1930-1951) of unsuccessful exploration, oil was eventually found in 1956 at Karachuk. This and other early discoveries mostly consisted of heavy, high-sulphur crudes. Subsequent finds, in particular in the Deir al-Zor area in the valley of the Euphrates, have tended to be of much lighter oil.

The Syrian WEC Member Committee reports that proved recoverable reserves are 391 million m3 (2 459 million barrels). This level looks rather more convincing than the obviously very rounded estimates given by published sources: Oil & Gas Journal 2 500; World Oil, OPEC and BP 3 000 and OAPEC 3 150.

National oil output has declined fairly sharply in recent years, to 414 000 b/d in 2005, of which about half was exported. Syria's principal customers for its crude oil in 2005 were Germany, Italy and France; it is a member of OAPEC.