Levant basin holds 122 trillion cubic feet of natural gas

April 10, 2010 ⋅ 11:49 pm ⋅ Post a comment

Filed Under Gas, Israel, Lebanon, Levant, oil, Syria

levant basin natural gas An estimated 122 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, recoverable natural gas are in the Levant Basin Province in the eastern Mediterranean region, according to a new report.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the area, which includes the coastal areas near Israel, Lebanon and Syria, harbors resources that can be recovered using currently available technology.

It’s the first time the USGS has assessed the area for extractable resources.

“The Levant Basin Province is comparable to some of the other large provinces around the world,” said Brenda Pierce, USGS Energy Resources Program Coordinator, in prepared remarks. “Its gas resources are bigger than anything we have assessed in the United States.”

The Levant Basin Province also holds an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of undiscovered, recoverable oil. (Worldwide consumption of petroleum in 2008: 31 billion barrels.)

Worldwide consumption and production of natural gas, which is used for electricity generation, was 110 trillion cubic feet in 2008, according to Energy Information Administration data.

The three largest consuming countries in 2008 were:

* United States (23 trillion cubic feet)
* Russia (17 trillion cubic feet)
* Iran (4 trillion cubic feet)

The USGS estimates that Russia’s West Siberian Basin also harbors considerable natural gas resources, to the tune of 643 trillion cubic feet.

The agency also believes the Middle East and North Africa regions have several natural gas-rich areas, including the Rub Al Khali Basin (426 trillion cubic feet), the Greater Ghawar Uplift (227 tcf) and the Zagros Fold Belt (212 tcf).

There are several areas in the U.S. that are estimated to contain extractable natural gas, but relatively less in volume:

* Southwestern Wyoming Province (85 tcf)
* National Petroleum Reserve Alaska Province (73 tcf)
* Appalachian Basin Province in the eastern states (70 tcf)
* Western Gulf Basin Province of Texas and Louisiana (70 tcf)

“Estimated” means the USGS believes the areas contain natural gas that has not yet been discovered. smartplanet

Discussion

View Comments for “Levant basin holds 122 trillion cubic feet of natural gas”

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Louay Faour

‘Carte Blanche’ for the US
TABET

Great now theres more Incentive in the west interfering in Lebanon, as you said Loauy‘Carte Blanche’ for the US and its ally Isreal.
Tony A

if we get a fraction of the profits that will benefit our economy i say go for it.
Chitown Benny

Egyot and Isael have cooperated on gas finds in the Sinai. Since there appears to be enought gas for all regional players, I predict peace will break out soon aafter the PCS agreement is concluding with Gaz the France, AGIP etc.
http://www.holodiscustechnical.com William H

Keep in mind that the USGS estimate for the Gulf basin does not include methane clathrates. If those are included, the estimate is much greater.
http://hallindsey.com Shavon Wiles

Hallalu Ya! More proof of devine provision and, yes, BLESSING!
Maria

makes no difference how many trillions there are of anything, lebanon is a land of thieves and crooked politcians, they will steal it and leave the people with no electricity, water and high costs to fuels for life.

this place will never change regardless of any natural resources or wealth
The Middle Man

right said maria…
michael

The article said that the area, which includes the coastal areas near Israel, Lebanon and Syria, harbors resources that can be recovered using currently available technology. How can we divide this? 1/3 for each country or what? it has to be equal share or 50% to lebanon and 25% to each of the ugly neighbours hehehe
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MSCWQGVZKI6MEJ2ALBWZW4P2BM RoyG

Finally, after 63 years of NO domestic energy sources (except for sunlight) whatsoever, Israel will finally have a shot at energy independence. But of course it is being challenged not only by Lebanon, which has technically been at war with Israel since 1948, but now also Turkey that has begun to push its weight around and is threatening to confront Israel on a daily basis with its large navy. In its 30 year old treaty with Egypt, Israel gave back the Sinai with its large oil resources, that Israel has developed, in exchange for increasingly worthless paper peace, or not worth the piece of paper it was written on. So this is what happens when Israel seeks peace and gives up land it captured in the many wars started by its enemy neighbors.

In the old Strategic Air Command (SAC) there was a sign that read, “Peace comes from Strength.” Israel will only have peace for as long as it can remain strong.
Anonymous

No use in crowing about it too much … if you do the mathematics, or figure the ‘possible demand’ VS the ‘known reserves’ and factor in the TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD using it, we haven’t got much time until we’re all in the cold and dark anyway.
Better to figure out something ‘future’ … soon.
Anonymous

this worth about one trilliom dollars , so 50% of it to israel and 50% to lebanon
lebanon just got richer 500 billions dolars ,that will be an equivalent to 500,000 dolars to each lebaneese
what would probably happen the politicians steal most of it and the lebaneese people will see nothing of it ,like usual
Anonymous

What was wrong with the sunlight? It’s only the lack of leadership which kept it useless.
Anonymous

And if you think Syria is sucking the ‘juice’ out of Lebanon now … just wait ’till Lebanon develops it’s offshore resources!

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