Oil Discovered! Oil was first discovered in Persia (Iran) in 1908. In 1927, oil was struck in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Role of Oil in Southwest Asia

non-renewable resources fossil fuels crude oil oil reserves TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH OIL: natural resources non-renewable resources fossil fuels crude oil oil reserves

What are natural resources? Natural resources are the raw materials a country has that make life and production of goods possible.

What is a non-renewable resource? A non-renewable resource is a resource that takes so long to form that it can’t be replaced. Oil, which takes millions of years to form, is just such a resource.

What is a fossil fuel? Oil and natural gas are fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were created when plants and animals that lived centuries ago decayed underground.

What is crude oil? Crude oil is petroleum as it comes out of the ground and before it has been refined or processed into useful products.

What are oil reserves? Oil reserves refer to oil that has been discovered but remains unused in the ground.

Southwest Asia and Oil Southwest Asia has been transformed by oil. 1. This region has the world’s largest known oil reserves. 2. More than half of the world’s proven crude oil reserves lie under Southwest Asia. 3. There are also large reserves of natural gas.

…and new There are many oil rigs around the Middle East.

1. Saudi Arabia (the largest country in Southwest Asia) has approximately 1/4 of the world’s known oil reserves. 2. Kuwait (a small country) has 1/10 of the world’s oil reserves.

Saudi Oil Fields & Refineries

Southwest Asia and Oil Most of the world’s industrial nations depend on a steady supply of oil and natural gas.

Southwest Asia and Oil These industrial countries depend on these fuels to meet their energy needs: transportation (gasoline and oil) electricity depends on oil and natural gas to run power plants plastics medicines

Southwest Asia and Oil Oil money has been used to better the lives of the people in Southwest Asia. 1. Roads have been paved and modern buildings have been built 2. Improved medical care has helped people to live longer.

Oil has made many people is Southwest Asia better off. Southwest Asia and Oil Oil has made many people is Southwest Asia better off. 1. Life expectancy has increased by 15 years over the last 30 years. 2. Infant mortality rate (number of babies that die in their first year) has fallen.

Southwest Asia has grown rich, supplying the world’s oil needs.

However, oil is not distributed equally.

Oil Has Not Improved Life for All 1. Yemen is one of the 20 poorest countries in the world (low oil reserves and large population). 2. Iraq has the second largest oil reserve but a low HDI. a. Saddam Hussein used oil money to build an army. b. Buying weapons and fighting wars has used up their money.

Per capita GDP varies greatly for each country. Oil Has Not Improved Life for All Per capita GDP varies greatly for each country. Per capita GDP is the average income of the people in a country (GDP) divided by the population.

1. UAE and Kuwait have high GDP and low population numbers 1. UAE and Kuwait have high GDP and low population numbers. This gives them high per capita GDP. 2. Saudi Arabia and Iran have high GDP and high population numbers . This gives them lower per capita GDP. 3. Bahrain has small oil reserves but high per capita GDP because they earn money by the processing of crude oil and development of an international banking system.

Poor and Rich Per Capita GDP does not tell the whole story. Per capita GDP is an average wealth with some people extremely wealthy and others very poor.

Human Development Index (HDI) looks at the per capita GDP and factors like life expectancy and education. 1. Bahrain has the highest HDI, using its wealth to educate its population. 2. Bahrain provides good health care which has contributed to its low infant mortality rate.

Education in Bahrain

The Price and Flow of Oil Oil-Exporting Countries work to control the price of oil. 1. OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) was established in 1960 to control the supply and income of oil producing countries.

OPEC can’t completely control oil prices and supplies. 1 OPEC can’t completely control oil prices and supplies. 1. There are many non-OPEC oil producers that compete with OPEC. 2. OPEC members don’t always work together as a unit, and sometimes under cut each other.

Summary Much of the world’s oil is under Southwest Asia. Oil reserves are not distributed evenly among the region’s countries. The wealth from oil sales is not evenly distributed among the citizens of the countries in Southwest Asia.

Oil is a non-renewable resource that will eventually run out.

Persian Gulf Oil Exports (2003)

World Oil Reserves