S.B Seitzhanov, M.D.Abikayeva, MSc. Kazakh-British technical university. Kazakhstan, Almaty.

The role of oil and gas in modern world

Energy resources are playing a leading role in the modern economy. The level of development of productive forces of each state is determined to a large extent the scale of 'energy consumption. The important role of energy resources is reflected in the fact that over 70% of extracted minerals in the world refers to energy sources.

Coal, oil, natural gas, hydropower and nuclear energy – are the main types of energy resources. In the mid-60s oil and natural gas are beginning to play a leading role in the global energy sector. In countries such as Germany, Great Britain, the share of oil and natural gas accounts for 55-60% of total energy consumption, in the U.S. and Japan 75-80%.

Oil and gas as energy sources have advantages such as relatively low cost of production, the possibility of non-waste processing to produce multiple fuels and chemical raw materials. However, it should be admitted that the oil and gas resources are limited. Their number is much smaller than, for example, coal, oil shale and tar sands. At the same time, oil and gas production is much higher than other fossil fuels.

Due to the fact that the consumption of oil in the world is at a very high level, a number of scientists and experts have expressed their assumptions about the inevitability of imminent depletion of oil reserves. The most often expressed point of view is that the world’s oil reserves will be exhausted by the end of the XXI century.

Oil has become the main type of energy resources, in this regard has increased its economic and political importance in the world. Our own oil resources, the ability to export petroleum and petroleum products allow various states to achieve significant progress in economic and social development. However, fluctuations in world oil prices lead to major changes in economic policy as oil-producing countries and states, the industry which is based on imported oil.

In recent years, world oil prices were volatile. In the first years after the Second World War, the oil prices were dictated by international oil cartel, which dominated by U.S. oil monopolies. Cartel was buying oil from its exporters - developing countries at low prices monopolistically (in 1970 - $ 22 per 1 m3) and sold the oil to the importing countries at relatively high prices. Such a situation could not arrange the developing countries, which created in the 1960 Organization of the countries - Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to protect their political interests, fight against oil monopolies, and a coherent policy on the export of oil.

The OPEC includes Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, AbuDabi, Venezuela, Indonesia, Libya, Nigeria, Algeria, Ecuador.

Due to the sharp rise of the demand for energy commodities in the global capitalist market, the OPEC countries in 1972-1973. increased pressure on the oil monopoly and raised the price of oil quadrupled. Rising oil prices led to a disruption in oil supplies a number of capitalist countries, and further to its acute shortage. These events were called energy or oil crisis.

Western nations have taken steps to reduce their dependence on imported oil by increasing production of its own raw materials (coal, oil), oil savings, the use of various other kinds of energy (solar, nuclear, geothermal). Under the influence of these factors, the price of oil on the world market has decreased. In 1980 the average world price of oil was $ 190 per 1 m3. and in 1987 $ 113. At the beginning of 1995 the world oil price fluctuated in the range of software, $ 120 per 1 m3.

Talking about the oil industry in Kazakhstan, I would like to point out that it is one of the main sectors of the economy of Kazakhstan.The date when first oil was extracted in Kazakhstan is November 1899 in the field Karashungul. Oil production in Kazakhstan in 1992 amounted to 25.8 million tons, in 2008 it had already amounted to 72mln tons.

Today in Kazakhstan about 240 oil and gas fields are registered.

№	Oil field	Opening year	Possible reserves, mln. tonns	Operator of the development
1	Kashagan: Eastern and Western	2000	6400	NCOC
2	Tengiz	1979	3100	Tengizchevroil
3	Yzen	1961	1100	Kazmynaigaz
4	Karachaganak	1979	1000	Karachaganak petroleum operating b.v.
5	Kalamkas	1976	510	Mangistaumynaigaz
6	Zhanazhol	1978	500	CNPC-Aktobemynaigaz
7	Zhetibai	1961	330	Mangistaumynaigaz
8	Aktoti	2003	269	NCOC
9	Kalamkas-sea	2002	156	NCOC
10	Kairan	2003	150	NCOC
11	Kenkiak	1959	150	CNPC-Aktobemynaigaz
12	Kymkol	1984	90	Tyrgai Petroleum
13	Northern Buzachi	1975	70	Buzachi Operating Ltd
14	Karazhanbas	1974	50	Karazhanbasmynai
15	Karakydyk	1971	40	Karakydykmynai
16	Asar	1969	30	Mangistaumynaigaz

It is expected that by 2015 oil production in Kazakhstan will reach 120-130 million tons, taking into account the capacity of the Caspian shelf, gas production will reache 70 billion cubic meters. The long-term priority of the strategy and implementation challenges of the energy sector of Kazakhstan is the efficient use of energy resources of Kazakhstan through rapid increase in mining and oil and gas exports to generate revenue that will contribute to sustainable economic growth and improve the standard of living of citizens of Kazakhstan.

References

1. Tengrinews.kz 29.02.2012 г “Recoverable oil reserves in Kazakhstan, will last for 50-60 years”

2. Руслан Хестанов, "Русский журнал", 27 августа 2011. “Oil as a political indicator”

3. www.inopressa.ru, 7 апреля 2011 “Fantastic oil prices hurt the world economy”

4. Игорь НОВИКОВ, эксперт Института геополитической информации "Энергия", "Красная звезда", 1 июня 2011. “The cause of all - the oil?”

5. www.newsru.com, 5 февраля 2011 “Oil may fall further”

6. Раушан ШУЛЕМБАЕВА, "Казахстанская правда", 24 февраля 2012 “Big the oil in a large destiny”

7. Михаил Зыгарь, "Коммерсант-Ъ", 18 апреля 2012 “Oil boils in hot spots”

8. Федор ЧАЙКА, "Финансовые известия", 5 августа 2011 “Oil has broken a 14-year record”