Oil Impact On MENAregion

A Middle East Case Study: Oil’s impact on the region and the world
The Middle East, because of religious, historic, economic

and political reasons, has been, and will likely continue to be, a
center of conflict involving the international community. The
availability of oil, or petroleum, is a key factor in understanding
the region’s robust economic development in recent years as
well as the political, cultural, and economic impact of the
Middle East on recent global events.
More than half of the world's known reserves are estimated to

be in the Middle East (SW Asia). The following activities
depict, through a quantitative distribution map, what countries
have the oil, what countries produces oil, who consumes oil in
the international market and how it moves from producer to
consumer.
Task# 1. Make predictions. How does the availability of a productive resource like oil in the Middle East impact each of
the following?
Economic Political Human – demographics, cultural
Types of economic activities(are people Types of governments (will oil create

(primary, Settlement patterns (why people live
secondary, tertiary, etc.)
likely to be poor or rich?) a more free or unfree country?) where they do)
I think people would be poor I think it will create a unfree country
I think they live there because they are

used to being there and wouldn't think
of moving
Levels of development (this means what Power (how will oil impact who is in Migration patterns (why people
level of technology and innovation?) power and how they come to power?) move?)
whoever has the most control over oil People might move
will become the one with most power because of the reserves
Lots of development
Trade(will having oil mean they will International relationships (how will Cultural changes as a result of
trade with countries they oil impact treaties, wars, violence?) globalization (diffusion, convergence)
normally don't trade with?
More pollution
Yes There will people wanting the
control over the oil
Why does the Middle East have so much oil?
The physical processes that form oil
Oil comes from the remains of tiny plants and animals (plankton) that died in ancient seas between 10 million and 600
million years ago. After the organisms died, they sank into the sand and mud at the bottom of the sea.
Over the years, the organisms decayed in the sedimentary layers. In these layers, there was little or no oxygen present. So
microorganisms broke the remains into carbon-rich compounds that formed organic layers. The organic material mixed
with the sediments, forming fine-grained shale, or source rock. As new sedimentary layers were deposited, they exerted
intense pressure and heat on the source rock. The heat and pressure distilled the organic material into crude oil and natural
gas. The oil flowed from the source rock and accumulated in thicker, more porous limestone or sandstone, called reservoir
rock. Movements in the Earth trapped the oil and natural gas in the reservoir rocks between layers of impermeable rock,
or cap rock, such as granite or marble.
These movements of the Earth include:
Folding - Horizontal movements press inward and move the rock layers upward into a fold or anticline.
Faulting - The layers of rock crack, and one side shifts upward or downward.
Pinching out - A layer of impermeable rock is squeezed upward into the reservoir rock.
(Source - http://science.howstuffworks.com/oil-drilling.htm)
Task# 2. In the box below, summarize what you would say to a fourth grader that has asked you to explain to them how
oil is formed.
Oil is formed because of animals and plants from millions of years ago.During this time they have formed into
carbon-rich compounds that formed organic layers.Because of the heat and pressure in the earth it made oil
go into impeneterable rock.
Task #3. Complete the following reading and about the distribution of oil in the Middle East and its economic impact on
countries in the region and then respond to the guided questions. (Source – Excerpts from Ch.24 of Geography Alive!)
1. How does the availability of oil impact the
economy of the Middle East?
It impacts it by boosting the economy

2. How has oil made the people of
Southwest Asia better off?
It has made their economy better
which has made the peoples life
better
3. Why isn’t per capita GDP always an
accurate reflection of people's wealth?
Because in some places people can

be very rich while others can be
very poor
4. What are some reasons why some oil

countries remain in poverty?
Because some countries do not

have enough oil to make a
change or don't have a good use
for the oil
Task #4. Use the bar graph in the left hand column and the
reading from Task 3 to answer the following questions focused
on how political dynamics influence the affects of oil on a
region.
1. Why does the country of Bahrain have less oil and a lower
GDP per capita than a country like Saudi Arabia, but still, the
standard of living for its people is higher?
because the wealth is not really equal
2. The country of Iraq made a lot of money because of oil. Why

was the standard of living for its people still low?
Because of the choices with the use of the money

Task #5. Complete the reading and frayer model about OPEC’s economic and political role and how the flow of oil
worldwide shapes economic and political relationships.
1. What happened in 1990-91 that

involved Iraq and Kuwait?
Iraq wanted to take over

Kuwait's oil reserves
2. Why do you think other countries
like USA and Japan went to war with
Iraq in 1991 after it invaded Kuwait?
Because the oil is important

to them and they wanted to
protect it
Who are the 11 member countries? What is the relationship between USA and OPEC?
they both want to protect the oil flow

Venezuela,indonesia,libya,algeria,nigeria,an
d six southwest asian countries
OPEC
What purpose does OPEC serve?
What types of influence does
Its purpose is to make sure there is a OPEC have with other countries
smooth flow of oil and money around the world?
they take oil out the country

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A Middle East Case Study: Oil’s impact on the region and the world

The Middle East, because of religious, historic, economic

More than half of the world's known reserves are estimated to

Economic Political Human – demographics, cultural

Types of economic activities(are people Types of governments (will oil create

I think they live there because they are

The physical processes that form oil

These movements of the Earth include:

It impacts it by boosting the economy

Because in some places people can

4. What are some reasons why some oil

Because some countries do not

because the wealth is not really equal

2. The country of Iraq made a lot of money because of oil. Why

Because of the choices with the use of the money

1. What happened in 1990-91 that

Iraq wanted to take over

Because the oil is important

they both want to protect the oil flow

they take oil out the country

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