Middle East

Oil and Gas Middle East

By Leslie Cogdell

Petroleum, also called crude oil, is a fossil fuel that is valued around the world.
Petroleum is a naturally occurring liquid found beneath the earth's surface in certain regions of the world.

oil and natural gas

Multiple Choice

What is another name for petroleum?

• • Coal

• • Natural Gas

• • Crude Oil

• • Solar Energy

Multiple Choice

Where is petroleum found?

• • On the surface of the earth

• • Beneath the earth's surface

• • In the atmosphere

• • Floating on oceans

Like coal and natural gas, petroleum was formed from the remains of ancient life in the ocean. Over millions of years of intense heat and pressure, the remains of these ancient life transformed into carbon-rich substances we rely on as raw material for furl and a wide variety of products.

Oil and Natural gas

Dropdown

Over millions of years, intense ​​​

Select answer

and pressure transformed these remains into petroleum.

The discovery of petroleum (oil) deposits in Southwest Asia dramatically changed lives in the oil producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. These countries improved their standard of living by building new roads, schools, hospitals, and housing.

Oil and Natural gas

Life expectancy in these countries increased by 15 years due to advancement in health care and education. Prior to the discovery of oil, people lived in small rural areas. The discovery of oil led to large cities being built very quickly in these arid locations.

Oil and Natural gas

Open Ended

Describe how the discovery of oil changed the infrastructure in these countries.

Oil reserves are quantities of oil and gas that are already discovered, recoverable and commercial (for sale).
Over half the world's oil reserves are located in Southwest Asia. This gives the region a great deal of wealth and power. Saudi Arabia owns almost half of the oil produced in Southwest Asia, making it one of the richest countries in the world. United, Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain also have large oil reserves.

Oil and Natural gas

To further their control over this precious natural resource, oil producing countries created an organization to coordinate and control their pricing of oil called the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Any country that depends upon them for oil, has to maintain a strong relationship with the governments of the these countries.

oil and natural gas

Dropdown

​

Select answer

owns almost half of the oil produced in Southwest Asia?

Multiple Choice

What is the main purpose of OPEC?

• To discover new oil reserves

• To increase oil exports

• To reduce oil consumption

• To control oil pricing

Oil has made these countries important in world politics. In the 1970sm the Arab nations of Southwest Asia did not like the western countries such as the United States because the US supported Israel, a country who most Arab nations see as an enemy.

Oil and Natural gas

To express their dissatisfaction , OPEC countries stopped sending oil to the United States and other western countries. This is called an embargo and it caused a severe shortage of oil in the United States.

oil and natural gas

Multiple Choice

Why did Arab nations impose an oil embargo in the 1970s

• To support Israel

• To express dissatisfaction with western countries who supported Israel

• To increase oil prices

• To share wealth equally

Multiple Choice

What was the primary reason Arab nations were unhappy with the United States in the 1970s?

• The United States raised oil prices

• The United States controlled OPEC

• The United States supported Israel
  

• The United States had too much oil
  

One major problem in the region caused by petroleum production is the unequal distribution of wealth. The enormous profits from oil remain in the hands of a small group of people and is not shared with all of the citizens of the oil producing countries. There is a wide gap between the wealthy and the poor. The wealth is controlled by a a small portion of the population who usually hold political power.

Oil and Natural gas

Multiple Choice

One major consequence of petroleum production in these nations was:

• Equal distribution of wealth
  

• Improved living conditions for all citizens
  

• Democratic governments
  

• Wealth concentrated among a small group

Access to oil is not always a benefit. Government conflict in countries in the region such as Libya Yemen, and Syria has resulted in a mismanagement of their oil deposits and their standard of living has remain the same or worsened despite have access to large deposits of petroleum.

Oil and Natural gas

Labelling

Label the following:

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Turkey

Arabian Sea

Black Sea

Iraq

Yemen

Oman

Persian Gulf

Saudi Arabia

Mediterranean Sea

Iran