Eni today presented the tenth edition of the World Oil and Gas Review, a global study on production, reserves, consumption, imports and exports of oil and natural gas.
In 2010, oil demand reached 87,9 million barrels per day, marking a growth of 3,4% over the previous year. The United States has confirmed itself as the first consumer of oil, preceding China. Chinese demand recorded an all-time high of 9,4 million barrels per day, totaling an increase of more than 12% compared to 2009. More than half of the world's oil reserves are located in the Middle East, especially in Opec countries (72 % of the planet). Overall, oil production increased worldwide (+2,3%), except in Europe where fields showed a decline of -8,1%. On the other hand, the quota of OPEC production remained unchanged (stable at 40% since 1995). It is precisely the cartel countries that have contributed most to the growth in supply over the last year (+3% against +1,8% for non-OPEC countries).
Gas consumption rose by 7,5% in 2010, thanks to growth of 9% in emerging countries and 5,8% in industrialized countries. Russia regained its leadership in natural gas production (624,61 billion cubic meters), thus once again overtaking the United States which, however, achieved a new all-time high (600,15 billion cubic meters) and confirmed the important positive trend (+19,4% in the five-year period 2005-2010), determined by shale gas, ie gas accumulated in clayey rocks. Qatar confirms itself as the country with the highest growth rates in this sector: production increased by over 150% between 2005 and 2010.
