Distribution of Petroleum in India and the World
Petroleum is not distributed evenly across the globe. It is strictly confined to specific geological structures, primarily sedimentary rock basins and shallow continental shelves. Understanding this distribution is crucial for analysing global geopolitics, trade, and India’s energy security.
A. Distribution of Petroleum in India
India has limited domestic petroleum reserves and relies heavily on imports to meet its rapidly growing energy demands. The crude oil-bearing regions in India are broadly classified into Onshore (on land) and Offshore (in the sea) fields.
1. Offshore Oil Fields (Marine Regions)
Offshore fields contribute to the majority of India’s domestic crude oil production.
- Mumbai High: Located in the Arabian Sea, about 176 km off the coast of Mumbai. Discovered in 1974 by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), it is the largest oil-producing region in India, accounting for more than 50% of the country’s total production. Oil is extracted here using a massive drilling platform called Sagar Samrat.
- Bassein Field: Located south of Mumbai High, it is another major offshore field rich in both petroleum and natural gas.
- Eastern Coast (KG Basin): The Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin in the Bay of Bengal is a highly significant region for recent discoveries of both deep-water crude oil and natural gas.
2. Onshore Oil Fields (Land Regions)
- Assam (North-Eastern Region): This is the oldest oil-producing region in India. Digboi is famous for being the site of India’s first commercial oil well, drilled in 1889. Other important oil fields in this region include Naharkatiya and Moran-Hugrijan.
- Gujarat (Western Region): The Gujarat coast has rich oil deposits. Ankleshwar is the largest and most productive onshore oil field in this state. Other notable fields include Kalol, Cambay, and Sanand.
- Rajasthan: In recent years, the Barmer Basin has emerged as a massive onshore oil-producing region. Fields like Mangala, Bhagyam, and Aishwarya make Rajasthan the largest onshore crude oil-producing state in India today.
B. World Distribution of Petroleum
The global distribution of petroleum is highly concentrated in a few specific regions, which heavily influences the global economy.
Major Oil-Producing Regions:
- The Middle East: This region dominates global oil geopolitics. It holds the largest proven reserves of crude oil in the world. Key countries include Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait.
- North America: Driven by advancements in extraction techniques like hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale oil, the United States has rapidly become a dominant force in global oil production. Canada also holds massive reserves in the form of oil sands.
- Eastern Europe and Eurasia: Russia is a historical powerhouse in petroleum, with massive fields located in the Volga-Ural region and Western Siberia.
- South America: Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, although its actual daily production fluctuates due to economic and political factors.
