Six of the Ten Biggest Oil and Gas Discoveries in 2013 Were in Africa

In 2013, a total of 400 exploration wells were drilled worldwide, and in a new development for the world energy market, the biggest discoveries were of natural gas. Worldwide, there were no discoveries larger than 1 billion barrels of oil, a number far outpaced by natural gas discoveries.

In a sign of its increasing global significance, the majority of natural gas discoveries were made on the African continent. As reported by Forbes, six of the ten biggest oil and gas discoveries in 2013 consist of natural gas discoveries in Africa:

1. The Agulha/Coral gas discoveries offshore Mozambique by ENI — 700 million barrels of oil plus the energy equivalent in natural gas (BOE)

2. The Lontra discovery in Angola by Cobalt International Energy CIE  – 900 million BOE

3. The Ogo discovery in Nigeria by Afren / Lekoil — 775 million BOE

4. The Nene Marine discovery in Congo Brazzaville by Eni — 700 million BOE

5. The Tangawizi gas discovery offshore Tanzania by Statoil STO -0.3% – 575 million BOE

6. The Salamat gas discovery in Egypt’s East Nile Delta by BP – 500 million BOE