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veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

The truth is that even the experts can't agree on how much oil there is... so it is hardly a topic to debate here.

VS

rjbsd · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 53

Who owns the oil reserves in the Arabian Sea?

johnslat · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject:

Dear rjbsd,

Well, that's a matter of dispute in some areas:

"Persian Gulf Oil and Gas Exports Fact Sheet (U.S. Department of Energy)

Originally posted at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/pgulf.html

In 2002, the Persian Gulf countries (Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) produced about 25% of the world's oil, while holding nearly two-thirds of the world's crude oil reserves. OECD gross oil imports from Persian Gulf countries averaged about 10.6 million barrels per day (bbl/d) during 2002, accounting for 27% of the OECD's total gross oil imports. Besides oil, the Persian Gulf region also has huge reserves (1,923 trillion cubic feet -- Tcf) of natural gas, accounting for 36% of total proven world gas reserves.
GENERAL BACKGROUND
The Persian Gulf, also known as the Arabian Gulf, is a 600-mile-long body of water which separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula, and one of the most strategic waterways in the world due to its importance in world oil transportation. At its narrowest point (the Strait of Hormuz), the Gulf narrows to only 34 miles wide.

There have been, and continue to be, significant territorial disputes between Persian Gulf countries. Besides the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, and before that the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988, another important dispute is between the UAE and Iran over ownership of three islands -- Abu Musa, Greater Tunb Island, and Lesser Tunb Island, all strategically located in the Strait of Hormuz. The three islands were effectively occupied by Iranian troops in 1992. In 1995, the Iranian Foreign Ministry claimed that the islands are "an inseparable part of Iran." Iran rejected a 1996 proposal by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the dispute to be resolved by the International Court of Justice, an option supported by the UAE. In early 1996, Iran took further moves to strengthen its hold on the disputed islands. These actions included starting up a power plant on Greater Tunb, opening an airport on Abu Musa, and announcing plans for construction of a new port on Abu Musa. In September 2000, Iran stated its willingness to resume talks with the UAE on the dispute. In March 2000, Jane's Defence Weekly reported that satellite images of Abu Musa and the Tunbs did not show any evidence that Iran had fortified the islands militarily, or turned them into "unsinkable aircraft carriers capable of closing the (Hormuz) Strait during a crisis." On December 31, 2001, the GCC issued a statement reiterating its support for the UAE's sovereignty over Abu Musa and the Tunbs, declared Iran's claims on the islands as "null and void," and backed "all measures...by the UAE to regain sovereignty on its three islands peacefully."

In February 1991, Iraqi troops, before being expelled from Kuwait by coalition forces, dumped millions of barrels of oil into the Persian Gulf, creating an environmental crisis and also threatening desalination plants in the region. During the Iran-Iraq War, oil tankers were attacked in the Persian Gulf by both Iraq and Iran, leading in part to the U.S. decision in 1987 to "reflag" Kuwait tankers and also to increase U.S. naval forces in the Persian Gulf."

For more:

http://www.persiangulfonline.org/interestgroups/oilfacts.htm.

Regards,
John

rjbsd · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 53

Thank you John. In reference to the oil drying up, there are tons of new technology available now for deep sea drilling as opposed to the more shallow (1000 ft or less) offshore drilling we have been doing historically. So if the Arabian Sea has deep water reserves, and Saudi Arabia has control of that, there is really a huge potential out there.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Not to be a nitpicker, but the "Arabian Sea" is off the coast of Oman and Yemen over to India/Pakistan... not Saudi. I think you are referring to the "Arabian Gulf"... Cool

VS

BillCowher · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 131 Location: Up in the air!!!

rjbsd · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 53

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

....study geography ? I have never met any locals who have !

rjbsd · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 53

Geography is such a strong subject among American students... Rolling Eyes

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

There is a lot of similarity between the mindsets of KSA students and those from the USA !

johnslat · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

Not that I'm disputing your comparison - I think it may well be valid in some respects.

But I have to wonder - how many USA students have you taught?

Regards,
John

With Malice Toward None · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 250

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

To the Sage of Santa Fe I can only say TOUCHE - and the "E" should have a grave accent on it !

rjbsd · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 53

The only good think I see coming out of the wars in the Middle East is some of us are actually learning a little geography, woefully late, I must say.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

Dear rjbsd,

Well, that's how many of us learned a little about Southeast Asia back in the 60s and early 70s.

But it certainly seems to be way too high a price to pay for an education.

Regards,
John