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39 comments on The Top Twenty Fields: Are They in Decline?

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peakearl on April 18, 2006 - 1:06am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Totally agree. This is THE issue right now. The big world unknown is decline, and I believe if just the top 4 or 5 are declining (over 10% of world production), this will do it for peak, given that the smaller fields can't make up for them and besides deplete rapidly themselves.

I think the issue is we don't have the data, which points out the problem.

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Prof. Goose on April 18, 2006 - 2:04am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
yes, but is this all we have?  it seems like we have mentioned a couple of these other fields...but I'll be darned if I can find em.
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peakearl on April 18, 2006 - 3:06am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
OK, here's from a link I posted below:

http://www.peakoil.net/AIMseminar/UU_AIM_Robelius.pdf
Similar but not the same as in the intro.
Simmon's "Twilight" book has a list of top 33 fields in the world and their production in 1971 and 2000 (when available). I put a # by the ones showing a decrease using his table, or that show a decrease from 1970s to 2000 by comparing 2 tables in his book. Most don't have data at both time points to compare.

I put a star by the fields we know are peaking now, a question by ones we think are peaking:

Top 18 Giant Fields

Field Name        Country             Discovery year             Range of URR [GB]

Ghawar          Saudi Arabia                 1948                             66-100 ?
Burgan          Greater Kuwait              1938                             32-60 *
Safaniya        Saudi Arabia                  1951                              21-36 #
Bolivar          Coastal Venezuela         1917                              14-36
Berri             Saudi Arabia                  1964                              10-25 #
Rumalia N&S Iraq                               1953                              22
Zakum         Abu Dhabi                      1964                              17-21
Cantarell      Mexico                           1976                              11-20 *
Manifa         Saudi Arabia                   1957                              17
Kirkuk          Iraq                                1927                              16 #
Gashsaran    Iran                                1928                             12-15
Abqaiq         Saudi Arabia                  1941                              10-15 #
Ahwaz          Iran                               1958                              13-15
Marun          Iran                                1963                              12-14
Samotlor      Russia                            1961                              6-14 *
Agha Jari      Iran                                1937                              6-14
Zuluf            Saudi Arabia                   1965                             12-14
Prudhoe Bay Alaska                            1969                             13 *

Other than what I've noted, after much searching (mostl Google), it seems very difficult to get specific production rates, esp from Iran. However, just glancing down the list it is clear that declining fields are not an exception in this group.

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39 comments on The Top Twenty Fields: Are They in Decline?

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