Scientists find bigger oil and gas resources in Afghanistan

[DoYouEverWonder]

March 14, 2006

WASHINGTON — Two geological basins in northern Afghanistan hold 18 times the oil and triple the natural gas resources previously thought, scientists said Tuesday as part of a U.S. assessment aimed at enticing energy development in the war-torn country.

Nearly 1.6 billion barrels of oil, mostly in the Afghan-Tajik Basin, and about 15.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, mainly in the Amu Darya Basin, could be tapped, said the U.S. Geological Survey and Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines and Industry.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai described the estimates as "very positive findings," particularly since the country now imports most of its energy, including electricity.

"Knowing more about our country's petroleum resources will enable us to take steps to develop our energy potential, which is crucial for our country's growth," said Karzai, whose government was created after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 and later won national elections.

The $2 million assessment, paid for by the independent U.S. Trade and Development Agency, was nearly four years in the making, said Daniel Stein, the agency's regional director for Europe and Eurasia. The total area assessed was only about one-sixth of the two basins' 200,000 square miles that lie within Afghanistan.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-03-14-afghan-oil_x.htm?csp=34

[CovertOP]

1. Well

Goooly Gomer! Can they see that from space? Hmm....

[rfranklin]

2. Gee, ain't that a coincidence!

We invade and build a pipeline and wowee! strike a bonanza!

[3waygeek]

3. Well, Karzai should know

having been a consultant for Unocal.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. LARGE SUV SALES to increase 18 fold. Story at 11. n/t

[Geo55]

5. Who woulda thunk it ?.......

'mazin'.....I'm just flabgasstigated !....I mean , really!
oil ya say ?

[FloridaPat]

6. Wasn't there some big discovers off Mexicio today? I heard something

on TV but couldn't get many details.

[hatrack]

7. Well that makes it all worth it, doesn't it?

:puke:

[Skink]

8. Arbusto exploring for oil again?

[Auntie Bush]

9. Now bush really has a reason to go after Osama and get rid of all

those poppies to boot.

[daleo]

10. So it was all about the oil

Both times! Who'd a thunk it.

[lovuian]

11. Who needs Iran oil anyway we got it all over the place!!!

phewy on you Iranians!!!:sarcasm:

[eallen]

12. To put that in perspective, it is 20 days worth.

The world consumes about 84 million bbl/day. Here are the proven reserves for the top ten nations:



1. Saudi Arabia 261.9
2. Canada 178.81
3. Iran 125.8
4. Iraq 115.0
5. Kuwait 101.5
6. United Arab Emirates 97.8
7. Venezuela 77.2
8. Russia 60.0
9. Libya 39.0
10. Nigeria 35.3



Afghanistan is a poor nation with few petroleum resources, so that is a nice thing for them. But in terms of world consumption and supply, it's quite modest, and nothing to excite any of the big players.

[IndianaGreen]

13. USGS Assessment Significantly Increases Afghanistan Petroleum Resource Bas

Guess what I found on the USGS website, a press release about oil in Afghanistan!

USGS Assessment Significantly Increases Afghanistan Petroleum Resource Base

Released: 3/14/2006 10:00:00 AM

The USGS and the Government of Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Industry have completed the first-ever assessment of Afghanistan´s undiscovered petroleum resources and have determined that the resource base is significantly greater than previously understood. The assessment was conducted over the past two years, with funding provided by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

The estimates increase the oil resources by 18 times and more than triple the natural gas resources.

Undiscovered petroleum resources in the assessed region of northern Afghanistan range from 3.581 to 36.462 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas, with a mean of 15.687 TCF. Estimates of oil range from 0.391 to 3.559 billion barrels (BBO), with a mean of 1.596 BB0. Estimates for natural gas liquids range from 126 to 1,325 million barrels (MMB) with a mean of 562 MMB.

When presented with the resource assessment results, Afghanistan President Karzai commented, "I am delighted that the work of the survey of Afghanistan´s mineral and underground resources is proceeding well, and that some very positive findings about our petroleum resources are being reported. Knowing more about our country´s petroleum resources will enable us to take steps to develop our energy potential which is crucial for our country´s growth. I thank the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey and their Afghan counterparts in supporting this survey, which I believe is a significant undertaking."

The country currently imports most of its energy, including electricity. The petroleum resource assessment provides Afghanistan with information needed for conducting future lease sales and is likely to be of interest to oil and gas exploration companies.

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1473