Ogaden Basin
Encyclopedia
The Ogaden Basin is an area of Ogadkenya that may hold significant reserves of crude oil and natural gas
. The basin
covers an area of some 350,000 square
kilometres (135,000 square miles) and is formed from sedimentary rock
s up to 10,000 meters (6 miles) thick. It has geological
similarities to other hydrocarbon
-rich basins in the Middle East
.
in 1920 More recent exploration by Tenneco
resulted in the discovery of an estimated 68 million cubic metres (2.4
billion cubic feet) of gas in 1974. Development of the reserves in the basin's Calub and Hilala gas fields is being carried out by the Gazoil Ethiopia Project, a joint-venture partnership between the government of Ethiopia and Texas
-based Sicor announced in December 1999.
The basin has been divided into 21 blocks, and exploration rights have been awarded for many of them. Companies with concessions in the basin include Netherlands registered Pexco Exploration, Petronas
(Malaysia), Lundin East Africa (Sweden), South West Energy (Hong Kong), and Afar Explorer (USA).
between Ethiopia and Somalia
took place for the control of the region between 1977 and 1978, with a further clash in 1988. In recent years the armed wing of the Ogaden National Liberation Front
(ONLF) have been active, and have stated that they will not allow the resources of the region to be exploited, urging international oil companies not to sign agreements with the Ethiopian government.
On April 24, 2007, members of the ONLF attacked and destroyed an oil exploration facility within the basin near Obala and Abole
, killing approximately 65 Ethiopians and 9 Chinese nationals in the Abole raid. The facility was being operated by the Chinese
Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau, a subsidiary of Sinopec
, on behalf of Petronas.
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
. The basin
Sedimentary basin
The term sedimentary basin is used to refer to any geographical feature exhibiting subsidence and consequent infilling by sedimentation. As the sediments are buried, they are subjected to increasing pressure and begin the process of lithification...
covers an area of some 350,000 square
kilometres (135,000 square miles) and is formed from sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
s up to 10,000 meters (6 miles) thick. It has geological
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
similarities to other hydrocarbon
Hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons from which one hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups, called hydrocarbyls....
-rich basins in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Hydrocarbon exploration and development(Ogadkenya)
The first exploration in the basin was undertaken by Standard OilStandard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
in 1920 More recent exploration by Tenneco
Tenneco
Tenneco is a $6.2 billion Fortune 500 company that has been publicly traded on the NYSE since November 5, 1999 under the symbol TEN...
resulted in the discovery of an estimated 68 million cubic metres (2.4
billion cubic feet) of gas in 1974. Development of the reserves in the basin's Calub and Hilala gas fields is being carried out by the Gazoil Ethiopia Project, a joint-venture partnership between the government of Ethiopia and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
-based Sicor announced in December 1999.
The basin has been divided into 21 blocks, and exploration rights have been awarded for many of them. Companies with concessions in the basin include Netherlands registered Pexco Exploration, Petronas
Petronas
PETRONAS, short for Petroliam Nasional Berhad, is a Malaysian oil and gas company that was founded on August 17, 1974. Wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia, the corporation is vested with the entire oil and gas resources in Malaysia and is entrusted with the responsibility of developing and...
(Malaysia), Lundin East Africa (Sweden), South West Energy (Hong Kong), and Afar Explorer (USA).
Political instability and armed conflict
The Ogaden WarOgaden War
The Ogaden War was a conventional conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia in 1977 and 1978 over the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. In a notable illustration of the nature of Cold War alliances, the Soviet Union switched from supplying aid to Somalia to supporting Ethiopia, which had previously been...
between Ethiopia and Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
took place for the control of the region between 1977 and 1978, with a further clash in 1988. In recent years the armed wing of the Ogaden National Liberation Front
Ogaden National Liberation Front
The Ogaden National Liberation Front , is a separatist rebel group fighting to make the region of Ogaden in eastern Ethiopia an independent state...
(ONLF) have been active, and have stated that they will not allow the resources of the region to be exploited, urging international oil companies not to sign agreements with the Ethiopian government.
On April 24, 2007, members of the ONLF attacked and destroyed an oil exploration facility within the basin near Obala and Abole
Abole
Abole is a town northwest of Degehabur, in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. On April 24, 2007 an attack on an oil facility in the town by the rebel ONLF group left 74 people dead, including Chinese nationals....
, killing approximately 65 Ethiopians and 9 Chinese nationals in the Abole raid. The facility was being operated by the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau, a subsidiary of Sinopec
Sinopec
China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation Limited , or Sinopec Limited , is a majority owned subsidiary of state owned company Sinopec Group. Sinopec Limited is listed in Hong Kong and also trades in Shanghai and New York ....
, on behalf of Petronas.