Rigzone Ranks the Top 10 Oil & Gas Cities in the World

Rigzone Ranks the Top 10 Oil & Gas Cities in the World

Malaysia's capital and largest city, Kuala Lumpur, serves as the commercial and industrial hub for the country. Kuala Lumpur, or KL as the local residents call it, is a bustling metropolis.

Literally meaning "muddy river confluence", the 150-year old city was founded by Chinese tin miners and is now a part of the urban agglomeration Greater Kuala Lumpur (commonly known as the Klang Valley), which includes adjacent cities Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang, Port Klang, Ampang, Selayang/Rawang, Kajang, Puchong and Sepang.

Energy Impact

With headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's national oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) holds rights to all of the country's oil and gas resources. However, it wasn't Petronas that discovered Malaysia's rich resources. In 1910, Royal Dutch Shell plc discovered Malaysia's first oil field – onshore Sarawak. Currently, the country's oil reserves are the third largest in the Austral-Asia region (after China and India).

Petronas made its first onshore discovery in January 2013 after a 24-year lapse. After years of international exploration, Petronas announced in early 2013 it will place a renewed focus on domestic exploration. Malaysia's gas reserves are approximately four times the size of its oil reserves – 3.4 billion barrels – as of January 2012. It holds 82.5 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, with 59 percent located offshore Sabah and Sarawak and 41 percent offshore Peninsular Malaysia, according to Petronas.

Exxon Mobil Corp., Lundin Petroleum, Murphy Oil Corp. and Shell are among the foreign oil companies to participate in production sharing contracts in the country.

Malaysia has a limited oil pipeline network due to its island geography, but boasts one of the most extensive natural gas pipeline networks in Asia. As a result, the country is also a candidate for the hub in an ongoing trans-ASEAN gas pipeline project by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), hoping to link major ASEAN gas output and consumption centers by 2020.

City Highlights

Almost accidentally, Kuala Lumpur was discovered in the mid-1800s as Chinese prospectors searched for tin at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers. The "meeting spot" soon became a booming mining town that was destroyed by a fire and later a flood in the late 1800s. Briefly ruled by the British and Japanese, the city officially became the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur in 1974.

From its humble beginnings, Kuala Lumpur's ethnic diversity and economy have evolved the city into a major cultural, economic and political center in Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur is a host city for the Formula One World Championship and it hosted the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Kuala Lumpur"s Golden Triangle, comprising Jala Ampang, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Tun Razak, houses most of the city's glitzy shopping and nightlife, including the iconic Petronas Towers – the tallest twin skyscrapers in the world. Two companies, Japanese Hazama Corp. and South Korea's Samsung C&T Corp., were hired to construct the buildings.

Although it is mainly known for its cuisine and shopping, the city holds many architectural treasures blending modern skyscrapers with the unique Malay style. Including Islamic and Asian influences, Kuala Lumpur's architecture styles include: Moorish, Tudor, Neo-Gothic, Grecian-Spanish, Late Modernist and Post-Modernist.

For a more historic feel, Kuala Lumpur's City Centre retains much of the colonial-era buildings and traditions. The Merdeka Square – where Malaysia won its independence – the Moorish-style Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and the Islamic Arts Museum offer a glimpse of the city's colonial district. Nearby, the traditional commercial district, now commonly referred to as Chinatown, is lined with temples, mosques and markets.

Author: Saaniya Bangee


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WHAT DO YOU THINK?


Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

Diego Pimentel  |  April 06, 2015
The only city on the list that may be higher than Houston is Dubai.
Steve  |  April 08, 2014
I believe the point of the article was highlighting the favorite cities for O&G, as in best places to live and work. Not sure why Houston would make the top ten then. Wasnt meant to be the biggest O&G cities. No offense, but the only people that want to live in Houston are Houstons.
Shawn  |  July 05, 2013
I think people are missing the point, its not saying by the numbers, its a 360 of living/working there.
Guy From Aus  |  July 03, 2013
The article says favourite O&G city, so I guess this is just popularity contest. Houston still number one for sure. Aberdeen and London right up there too.
Jamie  |  May 22, 2013
I agree with Robert. Houston still remains the #1 O&G city when you look at the numbers. Its great that other cities are getting a "piece of the pie". As for CP, he needs to do a little more research
Eric  |  May 21, 2013
Hello? Odessa
Deneen  |  May 20, 2013
Actually, Denver is know for its upcoming Oil and Gas Prospects, so it does not surprise as they are probably in a hiring state of mind and thus are reaching out to Houston to find the quality of expertise they need to cultivate and grow bigger in Oil and Gas... Hands down... the UK and Houston for the USA has the experts in the field and who cares if your city is better smelling... Houston and the GOM smells like Money to me :-)
DJ basin  |  May 12, 2013
Having lived in both Houston and Denver, they both have pluses and minuses. Houston is an oil and gas capital like NYC, London, Frankfurt, etc are to finance. If you want opportunity for growth, Houston will probably offer more. Denver has great opportunities for skiing, and hiking if you want to wander to the mountains. Denver gets unpredictable snow storms especially in spring and temperatures can swing day to day by 40-50 degrees F sometimes when cold fronts come in. Colorado has the US highest incidence of skin cancer so make sure to wear sunblock since the sun is intense here in summer. Houston does have a lot of running and biking clubs (MS150 anyone?) and beaches if you want to go to Galveston or wander down to Corpus Christi... Houston is hot and humid in summer which may be uncomfortable but good for your skin my wife tells me. Also the heat I guess is why A/C got invented. Houston is only a few hours away from Austin and San Antonio if you want to go to hill country. Both cities are good for meeting people as a lot of people have moved in from other places, but Houston is much more diverse and international than Denver (with direct flights to Europe). Last month when I flew to London, we went through Houston ironically. If your not in oil and gas and a dual career couple though, Denver is a tougher job market than Houston. One of my co-workers quit last month and I know of multiple couples that move to Houston because Denver lacks job opportunities for a trailing spouse / other non-engineering professionals. Traffic can suck in both Denver and Houston. I take light rail in Denver and took the express buses in Houston -either place if you can ride public transport, take advantage of it. Anyway, I like both places but they do have pluses and minuses to consider. [I really like Calgary too and was glad to see it as #2 as I have relatives and vacationed there a couple summers ago.]
Robert Patlovany  |  May 07, 2013
Maybe some comments writers didnt actually read the story very carefully. Houston still dominates the world oil and gas business scene. This article is simply a popularity pole of important oil and gas towns. For example, "Im not sure how Denver beat out Houston for the U.S. Just seems crazy." It is crazy if you take this article as anything but a popularity pole result. Houston still rules the oil and gas business with no close second place.
cp  |  May 07, 2013
whats not to love? Business is booming and the quality of life is sooooo much better than Houston. People actually walk outside here and there is clean air. Take that Houston!
prince  |  May 06, 2013
I am surprised, London is not in top 10. All major operators and EPC contract ors are based here.
Rob C  |  May 06, 2013
Way to go Denver!!!
Oilman  |  May 06, 2013
Denver is a big up and coming city in oil and gas with great growth prospects and its a great place to live.
Bill Leake  |  May 06, 2013
Thats both flattering and a "been there, done that" assessment. Denver has had--as I recall--three prior oil booms--and busts--in just the 50 years Ive lived here. It would be nice if we dont again go through the predictable, "Please, God, give me another oil boom and I wont piss this one away!" Its both amusing and off-putting to observe the usual scenario of buying Gulfstreams, monstrous (ostentatious) houses and profoundly gauche "bling" and then filing for bankruptcy seemingly only months later. Variety may be the spice of life but its monotony that brings home the bacon.
Fred Price  |  May 06, 2013
I love Pittsburgh, PA. Well get to #1
Ben  |  May 03, 2013
Houston is the energy capitol of the world. Period.
Trevor  |  May 03, 2013
Denver beat Houston because Houston is awful!
Luba  |  May 03, 2013
everyone knows Calgary is the centre of the world....
james  |  May 03, 2013
I am not a big fan of Houston at all, but Im not sure how Denver beat out Houston for the U.S. Just seems crazy

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