GLOBAL OIL

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KAZAKHSTAN - Republic of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has an enormous abundance of mineral resources, including fossil fuels. It is the "new frontier" in oil exploitation.

The country has at least 160 petroleum deposits. Exploration has focused on the Caspian Sea's huge oil and natural gas fields, but Kazakhstan has unproven reserves scattered across the country.

Kazakhstan currently lacks the infrastructure to refine all of the crude oil it produces, so most of it is exported to Russia.

International oil companies are working to develop Kazakhstan's fields. Meanwhile, Russia, China and the United States scheme and manuever to get pipeline access to Kazakhstan's land-locked oil reserves.
Production 1,300,000 barrels per day
Exports    890,000 barrels per day
Imports   --
             minimal
Consumption   --
             minimal
Reserves   26.0+ billion barrels proven


The huge Tengiz field on the shores of the Caspian Sea officially holds 6 to 9 billion barrels, but some estimate it as high as 15 to 26 billion. Kazakhstan eventually hopes to produce 700,000 barrels per day from this one field -- equivalent to almost 10% of the total oil production of the United States.

The offshore Kashagan field holds at least 13 billion barrels; possibly more.