Burgan field
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- For the plant known as Burgan, see Kunzea ericoides.
| Burgan Field | |
| Region: | Middle East |
|---|---|
| Country: |  Kuwait |
| Offshore/Onshore: | Onshore |
| Operators: | Kuwait Oil Company |
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| Field History | |
| Discovery: | 1936 |
| Start of production: | 1946 |
| Peak of production: | 2005 |
| Expected Abandonment: | 2042 |
| Production | |
| Current Production Oil (Bod): | 1.2 MMbbls/d |
| Current Production Gas (Mcfd): | 550 MMscf/d |
| Producing Formations: | Upper Cretaceous Wara |
The onshore Burgan Field in the desert of southeastern Kuwait is one of the world's largest and richest oil fields.
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[edit] Discovery
After its discovery in February, 1938, the USA & UK owned Gulf Oil Corporation began commercial oil production at Burgan in 1946. Kabeer Burgan is so rich that it is one of the world's easiest production sites. There are no rising and falling oil derricks at Burgan like the ones seen at other oil fields. That is because oil practically flows to the surface on its own. Burgan has helped Kuwait become one of the largest oil exporters on the planet. Burgan accounts for more than half of Kuwait's proven oil reserves.
[edit] Production capacity
The total oil production capacity of Burgan Field has been somewhat controversial. The US Energy Information Administration estimates that the Greater Burgan field, including the Burgan, Magwa, and Ahmadi structures has a production capacity of around 1.6 million barrels per day (250,000 m³/d). [1] On the other hand, Simmons & Co. estimates Burgan field produces 2.2 mbd.
[edit] Iraq war
In 1991, retreating Iraqi soldiers set Burgan Field on fire. Smoke plumes from the Greater Burgan oil field extended 50 kilometers in width on any given day, and 2.5 km thick. From satellite observations the plume appeared like a black snake in the desert that extended parallel to the Persian Gulf (EOS Project NASA Goddard Space Flight Center). The Red Adair Service and Marine Company extinguished 117 of the burning oilwell fires. Declassified 1991 USA CIA documents showed that despite the destruction there was no significant depletion of the oil reserves and production capacity of Burgan field.[2] Most of Burgan Field was rebuilt, but three gathering stations were too badly damaged to repair and remained as unofficial monuments to the destruction.
[edit] Current production
In November 2005, Farouk Al Zanki, Chairman of state-owned Kuwait Oil, reported that the Burgan oil field production levels are running down.[1] Burgan will now produce 1.7 mbpd rather than 2 mbpd for the rest of its 30 to 40 years. He said that engineers had tried to maintain 1.9 million barrels per day (300,000 m³/d) but that 1.7 million is the optimum rate.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- The World's Giant Oil Fields by Matthew Simmons Research Report of Simmons & Co. International
