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Production of crude oil

By OECD on Apr 17, 2007
Viewed 1690 times

Overview Table Columns Comments

Million tonnes

Oil production

The Middle East and North Africa are exceptionally well-endowed with energy resources, holding 61% of the world’s proven oil reserves. Current oil production is relatively low in comparison to these reserves and further development of them will be critical to meeting global energy needs in the coming decades.

Definition

Crude oil production refers to the quantities of oil extracted from the ground after the removal of inert matter or impurities. It includes crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and additives. Crude oil is a mineral oil consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons of natural origin, being yellow to black in colour, of variable density and viscosity. NGLs are the liquid or liquefied hydrocarbons produced in the manufacture, purification and stabilisation of natural gas. Additives are non-hydrocarbon substances added to or blended with a product to modify its properties, for example, to improve its combustion characteristics (e.g. MTBE and tetraethyl lead).

Refinery production refers to the output of secondary oil products from an oil refinery.

Comparability

In general, data on oil production are of high quality. In some instances, information has been based on secondary sources or estimated by the IEA.

Long-term trends

World crude oil production increased by 58% over the 34-year period from 1971 to 2005. In 2005, the production reached 3 923 million tonnes or about 82 million barrels per day. Growth was not constant over the period as production declined in the aftermath of two oil shocks.

In 2005, the Middle East region’s share of supply was 31% of the world total. However, both production and share varied significantly over the period, with the Middle East representing 32% in 1971 falling to less than 19% in 1985. Increased production in the 1980s and 1990s put the OECD on par with the Middle East during that period, but in 2004, the share of oil production by the OECD had fallen to 24%.

Refinery production of secondary oil products changed significantly between 1971 and 2004. The share of heavy fuel oil in the refinery mix fell from 34% in 1971 to 16% in 2004 whereas the share of middle distillates increased from 25% to 33%.