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  Gas
 

Saudi Arabia has vast reserves of natural gas, including dissolved, associated and non-associated gases. Most of the natural gas produced is associated gas - light hydrocarbon gases such as ethane and propane produced in association with crude oil. Until the 1970s, most of this gas was flared off. The Master Gas System, constructed and operated by Saudi Aramco, now enables Saudi Arabia to use approximately two-thirds of the gas associated with onshore oil production. The remaining one-third is reinjected into oilfields, thereby eliminating flaring. The system consists of a network of plants for gas-oil separation, processing and fractionation, linked by a computer controlled pipeline system totaling 7,266 miles.
 

The Kingdom is also well on its way to developing its recoverable gas reserves, assessed at 181.65 trillion cubic feet. Recent exploration has uncovered gas fields in the central and northwestern parts of the country that could substantially increase the size of Saudi gas reserves. These reserves are a plentiful natural resource whose utilization does not depend upon crude oil production. Their use further diversifies the national economy by feeding industrial facilities that utilize gas as a source of energy or as a feedstock to produce petrochemical products. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) operates 14 factories in Jubail, Yanbu and Dammam that process gas from Saudi fields to produce petrochemicals, steel and other products.

 
 

Related Information: Petroleum & Minerals

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Petroleum & Minerals
More than a quarter of the world's proven oil reserves lie beneath the sands and offshore waters of Saudi Arabia.

Oil in Saudi Arabia
In 1933, Saudi Arabia's founder King Abdulaziz bin Abdelrahman Al-Saud granted the now-historic right to the Standard Oil Company of California (SOCAL) to prospect for oil in the Kingdom.

OPEC
The level of Saudi Arabia's oil production varies according to the state of the world oil market and the quotas of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).


Refining
In the 1960s, Saudi Arabia began to build refineries for domestic and export production.

Minerals & Minings
As early as 1,000 BC, the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula extracted gold, silver and copper from the mine called Mahd Al-Dhahab (Cradle of Gold), located about 180 miles northeast of Jeddah.

Electricity
The five-year development plans have targeted the electrification of the country as a top priority.
Solar Energy
In keeping with its long-standing objective of exploring major renewable sources of energy, Saudi Arabia has undertaken extensive research on solar energy.




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