Petroleum Exploration and Development (Oct 2023)

Global oil and gas development in 2022: Situation, trends and enlightenment

  • Zuoqian WANG,
  • Zhe FAN,
  • Xi CHEN,
  • Zifei FAN,
  • Qing WEI,
  • Xi WANG,
  • Wenting YUE,
  • Baolei LIU,
  • Yujia WU

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 50, no. 5
pp. 1167 – 1186

Abstract

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Through analysis of four aspects, including the distribution and production of global oil and gas fields, the distribution and changes of remaining recoverable reserves, the differences in oil and gas production between regions/countries, and the development potential of oil and gas fields with production capacity not built and to be built, this paper presents the situation and trends of global oil and gas development in 2022. It is found that, in 2022, oil and gas fields are widely distributed worldwide, and upstream production activities continue to recover; the oil and gas reserves decrease slightly year on year, and the oil and gas reserves in sea areas increase significantly; the oil and gas production increases continuously, and the key resource countries make a significant contribution in oil and gas production growth; the oil and gas fields with production capacity not built and to be built hold abundant reserves, and their development potential will be gradually released with the economic benefits increase. Further analysis is conducted from the perspectives of global oil and gas resources continuity, geopolitical risks, potential of international cooperation, and upgrade of unconventional oil and gas technology. Finally, in view of core business domains and strategies under the new situation, the Chinese oil companies are recommended to: (1) keep a foothold in onshore conventional oil and gas development by virtue of their comparative advantages and learning from other's experience in cooperation; (2) carry out pilot tests on development adjustment, and deepen the international cooperation in enhanced oil/gas recovery; (3) improve the oil and gas operation capabilities in sea areas to transform from follower as minority shareholder to joint venture and then to independent operations; and (4) seek appropriate ways for shale oil/gas development to reduce the dependence on foreign oil and gas.

Keywords