Methodology and Quality Update

Latest Update on Methodology and Quality

22/07/2026

Statistical Presentation

Data description

The Oil and Gas Statistics publication is an annual publication that aims to provide up-to-date and reliable data to users and decision-makers on the status of oil and gas activities in Saudi Arabia. The publication includes detailed indicators on crude oil and natural gas production, refined petroleum products, international trade (exports and imports), domestic consumption, and changes in stocks, and data on crude oil and natural gas reserves. These indicators are presented through statistical tables and descriptive reports. The Oil and Gas Statistics are based on administrative records data provided by the Ministry of Energy.
The Oil and Gas Statistics include the following key characteristics:

• Total refinery capacity
• Refinery Intake of Crude Oil.
• Data on the production of crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products.
• Data on domestic consumption of crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products.
• Data on international trade (exports and imports) in crude oil and refined petroleum products.
• Data on crude oil and natural gas reserves.
• Data on changes in crude oil stocks and refined petroleum product stocks.

These statistics cover oil and gas activities as reflected in the available official administrative records. They are limited to the presentation of direct indicators and do not include any statistical estimates or analysis.

Classifications

The following classifications are applied in oil and gas statistics:
Standard International Energy Products Classification (SIEC.V.2)
It is a statistical classification endorsed by the United Nations for the standardized organization and classification of energy products, ensuring the consistency of energy statistics and their international comparability. It covers all products related to the production, transformation, and consumption of energy. 
Standard International Energy Products Classification (SIEC V.2)

Statistical concepts and definitions

Terms and concepts of oil and gas statistics:

• Production:
  It is the capture, extraction, or manufacturing of types of fuel, or energy in its ready-to-use forms for general consumption.
• Consumption:
  The use of fuels or energy in forms that are ready for end use by consumers.
• Energy exports:
  It includes all types of fuel and other energy products leaving the national territory.
• Energy imports:
  It includes all types of fuel and other energy products entering the national territory.
• Reserves:
  The estimated quantities of crude oil or natural gas that can be economically and technically extracted from proven reservoirs according to the prevailing standards at the time of estimation.
• Change in stock:
  The changes resulting from inventory increases (stock builds) or inventory decreases (stock withdrawals) during the reference period.
• Crude oil:
  A mineral oil of fossil origin extracted by conventional means from underground reservoirs and comprising liquid or near-liquid hydrocarbons and associated impurities such as sulphur and metals.
• Natural gas:
  A mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane and typically containing ethane, propane, and small quantities of higher hydrocarbons, as well as some non-combustible gases such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
• Refineries:
  Industrial facilities where crude oil and other hydrocarbon feedstocks are processed into finished petroleum products.
• Refined petroleum products:
  They are secondary products derived from crude oil and primary hydrocarbon materials.
• Liquefied petroleum gases (LPG):
  They are light paraffinic hydrocarbons derived from refining operations, crude oil distillation, and natural gas processing plants. They primarily consist of propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10) or as a mixture of the two.
• Gasoline:
  A complex mixture of relatively volatile hydrocarbons, typically containing between C4 and C12 carbon atoms, with a distillation range of approximately 25°C to 220°C. It is primarily used as a fuel for internal combustion engines.
• Kerosene and jet fuel:
  A mixture of hydrocarbons typically in the C9 to C16 carbon range, with a distillation range of approximately 145°C to 300°C, although the final boiling point is usually not more than 250°C. It has a flash point above 38°C.
• Naphtha:
  It is a feedstock oil specifically for the petrochemical industry. Naphtha is derived from a material in the distillation range between 30 degrees Celsius and 210 degrees Celsius or a portion of this range. Naphtha is imported for blending and synthesis purposes.
• Gas oil/diesel oil:
  Gas oils are middle distillates, predominantly of carbon number range C11 to C25 and with a distillation range of 160°C to 420°C.
• Fuel oil:
  Comprises residual fuel oil and heavy fuel oil. Fuel oil residues are distilled at temperatures ranging between 350°C 
  and 650°C, with a kinematic viscosity ranging between 6 and 55 cSt at 100°C.
• Other oil products:
  Other oil products: include refinery gas, ethane, petroleum coke, lubricants, white spirit and industrial spirits, paraffin wax, and other petroleum products (including asphalt).

Data sources

The primary source of oil and gas statistics data is administrative records.
The data is collected from the following government entities: 

• Ministry of Energy.
  The main published indicators based on administrative records are
• Refinery capacity
• Refinery input
• Production
• Consumption
• Exports
• Imports
• Reserves
• Change in stock

Designing the data collection tool

Administrative records data were collected using standardized data request tables submitted to the data-owning entity. These tables are designed to obtain regular, harmonized, and well-documented data derived from administrative records relevant to the oil and gas statistics indicators, thereby enhancing data quality and ensuring integration across different data sources.

Questionnaire test (cognitive test)

Not applicable, as the oil and gas statistics are a statistical product based on administrative records data provided by the Ministry of Energy.

Statistical population

The statistical population for the oil and gas statistics comprises all statistical units associated with oil and gas activities within the economic territory of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  
This includes crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products production, as well as international trade flows (exports and imports), domestic consumption, and changes in stocks. The statistical population is based on an administrative records framework that relies entirely on official data provided by the Ministry of Energy.

Sample Design

Not applicable, as the oil and gas statistics are a statistical product based on administrative records data provided by the Ministry of Energy.

Statistical unit (sampling unit)

The statistical unit consists of establishments and operational and economic units engaged in oil and gas activities, including production units, refineries, transportation facilities, and storage facilities. The corresponding data are derived from the Ministry of Energy's administrative records, which serve as the primary data source for producing oil and gas statistics indicators.

Data collection

Data collection from administrative records:
Oil and gas statistics data are collected from the administrative records of the Ministry of Energy, in coordination with the relevant departments at GASTAT. These data include refinery capacities, refinery inputs of crude oil, production and domestic consumption data for crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products, changes in stocks, and international trade data, including exports and imports, in addition to crude oil and natural gas reserves data.
The collected data are stored in GASTAT's databases after undergoing auditing and review processes in accordance with approved statistical methods and recognized quality standards. The data source is consulted in the event of detected errors or observations on the data. The data are also examined by reviewing consistency, ensuring completeness and logical coherence, and verifying that there are no duplications.

Data collection frequency 

The collection of oil and gas statistics data is conducted on an annual basis.

Reference area

The Oil and Gas Statistics are published at two geographical levels: the administrative regions and the Kingdom level. Data related to refinery capacities are published in detail at the administrative region level, while all other indicators related to crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products are published at the aggregate level of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Reference period (time reference)

The Oil and Gas Statistics data are referenced to the last day of the calendar year for each year, in accordance with the approved reference period of the administrative records data sources provided by the Ministry of Energy. 

Base period

Not applicable, as the oil and gas statistics publication provides periodic quantitative data and indicators related to sector activities to measure changes in the volume of operations, such as production and consumption, over time, and are not compared with a fixed base period.

Measurement unit

•  Thousand barrels: 

A unit of measurement for quantities of crude oil or refined petroleum products, used in the publication to measure the quantities of production, consumption, exports, imports, and crude oil reserves.  It is equivalent to one thousand (1,000) standard barrels, with one barrel having a volume of approximately 159 liters.

•   Barrels per day:
  A unit of measurement for the flow rate of crude oil or refined petroleum products, representing the number of barrels produced, consumed, or transported per day.  It is specifically used in the publication to measure the (refinery capacity) indicator, indicating the maximum processing capacity of a refinery per day.
• Million cubic feet:
  A unit of measurement for the volume of natural gas, used in the publication to measure quantities of natural gas production and consumption.  It is equivalent to one million (1,000,000) standard cubic feet of gas under standard conditions of pressure and temperature.
•  Million cubic meters:
  A unit of measurement for the volume of natural gas, used specifically in the publication to measure natural gas reserves. It is equivalent to one million (1,000,000) standard cubic meters of gas under standard conditions of pressure and temperature.

Time coverage

The Oil and Gas Statistics publication is based on the administrative data available from the Ministry of Energy. The publication includes indicators covering the period from 2010 to 2025, with data presented on a monthly basis, while the publication itself is released annually.

Publication frequency

The results of the oil and gas statistics are published annually according to the approved statistical plan.

Statistical processing

Error detection

Careful procedures are implemented to detect errors in the administrative records data obtained from the Ministry of Energy. In addition, supporting methods are applied to assess data quality indicators in accordance with systematic procedures that ensure the accuracy and consistency of the data. These included the following:

• Identification of illogical or out-of-range values, such as crude oil production volumes, crude oil inputs to refineries, and other related indicators.
• Classifying the data and verifying its accuracy, with reference to the primary data source when any errors or data quality issues are detected.
• Reviewing internal consistency between variables to ensure the logical relationships among values and indicators.
• Comparing current data with historical data to ensure the integrity and consistency of time series before data processing and the production of the final results.
• Reviewing data published by other official sources as supporting data for comparison and verification of the accuracy of values and statistical trends.

Data integration and matching from multiple sources 

Not applicable, as the oil and gas statistics are based on administrative records data provided by the Ministry of Energy. Each statistical indicator is compiled independently using its designated source, without the need to integrate or reconcile data from multiple sources for the same variable.

Imputation and calibration

Handling missing values (Imputation):
Imputation or statistical calibration methods are not used in oil and gas statistics, as they rely on complete registry and administrative data. If any data gaps or errors are detected, the issuing entity is contacted directly to complete and verify the data before its inclusion in the publication.
Procedures for calculating variables and aggregates:
The annual total for each variable is calculated by aggregating its monthly values over the reference year, using the following formula:
 
Yₜ  : ₜ: Represents the annual total of the indicator in year t.
Xₜ,ₘ:  Represents the value of the indicator in month m of year t.
t: Represents the reference year.
m: Represents the month, where m = 1, 2, …, 12.
This formula applies to selected statistical variables presented in the publication, including production, domestic consumption, international trade, and changes in stocks.
The accuracy of the annual totals is verified by reconciling the aggregated results with the published values and ensuring that no arithmetic discrepancies exist. Annual values are derived by aggregating the monthly data. Therefore, any updates to the monthly data are automatically reflected in the corresponding annual totals. 

Seasonal adjustments

Not applicable, as the final results for each year are published based on administrative data from Ministry of Energy.

Adjustment of preliminary results 

The oil and gas statistics publication is primarily based on official administrative records data provided by the Ministry of Energy. These data are obtained after the Ministry has completed its review and validation processes.  Accordingly, the published data are considered final rather than preliminary estimates and are not subject to revision within the same edition.

Quality dimensions

Suitability

A criterion that measures the extent to which the statistical product meets users' needs.

User needs 

The Oil and Gas Statistics aim to provide key structural data on oil and gas activities and to establish a reliable information base that supports decision-makers and researchers. The data also support the preparation of studies and enable local, regional, and international comparisons that contribute to the development of this sector.
Key variables that users benefit from include:

• Total refinery capacity.
• Refinery Intake of Crude Oil.
• Data on the production of crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products.
• Data on domestic consumption of crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products.
• Data on international trade (exports and imports) in crude oil and refined petroleum products.
• Data on crude oil and natural gas reserves.
• Data on changes in crude oil stocks and refined petroleum product stocks.

Oil and Gas Statistics data are also used by: 
Internal users in the GASTAT for oil and gas statistics data:

• General Department of International Indicators
• General Department of National Partnerships.
• National Accounts Statistics Department

External users and major beneficiaries of oil and gas statistics data include:

• Government entities.

• Regional and international organizations.

• Research institutions.
• Media.
• Individuals.

 Completeness 

The submitted data were comprehensively reviewed to ensure their completeness and compliance with national requirements and relevant international standards. The review aimed to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data and its alignment with international standards.
Oil and Gas Statistics data are based on registry data received from the Ministry of Energy.
Key elements required to be included in the publication:

• Refinery Intake of Crude Oil
• Production of crude oil
• Production of natural gas
• Production of refined petroleum products
• Consumption of crude oil
• Consumption of natural gas
• Consumption of refined petroleum products
• Crude oil exports
• Refined petroleum products exports
• Crude oil imports
• Refined petroleum products imports
• Crude oil reserves
• Natural gas reserves
• Change in crude oil stocks
• Changes in refined petroleum products stocks

Accuracy and reliability 

A criterion that indicates the extent to which calculations or estimates are close to the true values and accurately reflect reality.

Overall accuracy 

Potential sources of data variation

• Updating administrative records:
  Minor variations may exist between the data received from the source and the data published in annual reports and open data, due to delays in updates or differences in the reference period for some indicators.
  Accuracy and reliability of the data are also ensured through the following procedures:
• Periodic review and verification of administrative data received from the Ministry of Energy.
• Verification of consistency between variables.
• Comparing data over time with previous years to identify any significant changes in values or patterns.
• Verification of internal consistency to ensure that totals match the sum of their corresponding detailed components.
• Cross-checking the data with information published by other official sources as supporting data, to compare and verify the accuracy of the data.
• Applying multi-stage review procedures before finalizing the results to ensure the quality and accuracy of the statistical outputs.

Timeliness and punctuality 

Timeliness A standard that indicates the length of time between the availability of information and the occurrence of the event.
Punctuality It reflects the time lag between the data publication date and the target date when publication actually occurs.

Timeliness 

GASTAT is committed to applying internationally recognized standards regarding the announcement, clarification of the time of publishing statistics on its official website, as outlined in the statistical calendar, as well as adhering to the announced time of publication. In the event of any delay, updates will be provided accordingly.
As the oil and gas statistics publication is based on administrative records data provided by the Ministry of Energy, the compilation of the statistical data requires the completion of data collection, review, validation, and statistical processing before the final results are approved. Accordingly, the time lag between the reference period and the publication date is a standard practice in official statistics based on administrative records. This approach is consistent with the International Recommendations for Energy Statistics (IRES) issued by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), which emphasize that the release of annual energy statistics should strike an appropriate balance between data quality, accuracy, and the timeliness of dissemination.

Punctuality 

The publication is released in accordance with the publication dates specified in the Statistical Calendar for the oil and gas statistics, published on the GASTAT's website.

Coherence and comparability

A standard that refers to the necessity of internal and temporal consistency of statistics, their logical coherence, and their comparability and integration across different regions and sources.

Comparability - geographical

The Oil and Gas Statistics are geographically comparable at the international level, as they are based on internationally recognized concepts, definitions, and classifications for energy statistics, applied in coordination with the relevant entities. This enables comparisons with corresponding international data and statistics.  In addition, the oil and gas statistics are published at the level of Saudi Arabia, ensuring a consistent geographical coverage and supporting comparable statistical analysis across different reference periods.

Comparability - over time 

Oil and Gas Statistics data are fully comparable over time despite certain changes. The main updates to the publication over the years are as follows:
The following are the key changes that have occurred in the publication over the past years:

• 2020:
  The first registry-based publication covering oil and gas statistics for the period 2010–2020 was released.
• 2021:
  All available oil and gas statistics data provided by the source have been published for the available time series covering the period from 2010 to 2021.
• 2022:
  The publication was not released due to challenges in data availability. It was subsequently published in the 2023 edition, covering the time series from 2010 to 2023.
• 2023:
  All available oil and gas statistics provided by the source have been published for the available time series covering the period from 2010 to 2023, with some data gaps, particularly regarding crude oil reserves, natural gas production and consumption data, as well as natural gas reserves.
• 2024:
  Completion of publishing the time series from 2010 to 2024, including the addition of data on refinery capacity, crude oil and natural gas reserves, natural gas production and consumption, and changes in crude oil and refined petroleum products inventories.
• 2025:
  The publication has been enhanced to include monthly data dissemination, instead of being limited to annual releases, which improves the level of temporal detail and supports short-term trend analysis. At the same time, comparability with annual data is maintained through the annual aggregation of monthly data within the available time series covering the period from 2010 to 2025.

Coherence- Cross domain

The Oil and Gas Statistics data undergo standardized auditing and processing procedures. Their consistency is verified by comparing them with data published in other statistical publications, such as Energy Efficiency Statistics and Climate Change Statistics, ensuring the consistency of indicators and preventing discrepancies across different statistical publications.

Coherence- Sub-annual and annual statistics 

Not applicable, as the oil and gas statistics are published on an annual basis, and no monthly or quarterly publications are issued.

Coherence- National Accounts 

The Oil and Gas Statistics data are integrated with the requirements of the National Accounts through the use of approved statistical classifications and concepts, supporting the consistency of energy data with related economic indicators. 
In addition, some publication indicators, such as production data and foreign trade data for refined petroleum products, can be used as supporting and reference data within the framework of compiling related economic indicators.

Coherence- Internal 

The Oil and Gas Statistics publication is internally consistent, as it maintains stable statistical concepts and definitions, applies consistent units of measurement, and ensures the coherence of indicators within the overall context of the publication.
Internal consistency is verified through:

• Reviewing the logical relationships between the different indicators and data within the overall context of the oil and gas statistics.
• Reviewing the consistency of monthly data with the annual aggregates for the relevant indicators.
• Reviewing the general relationships between certain energy-related indicators, such as crude oil production, refinery inputs, and refined petroleum products production, to support the consistency of data series and their statistical interpretation.
• Verifying the consistency of the units of measurement used across the different statistical tables.

 Accessibility and clarity

Users' access to data, the availability of microdata or aggregated data, and the availability of the Methodology and Quality Report.

News

The announcements for each publication are available on the statistical calendar as mentioned in 9.1. The news can be viewed on the website of GASTAT on the link: 
News

Publications

GASTAT ensures that oil and gas statistics publications and reports are released in a manner that serves the needs of various user groups, including publications in different formats containing tables, charts of data and indicators, and methodology and quality reports, available in both Arabic and English.
Results of Oil and Gas Statistics are available on:
Oil and Gas Statistics 

Online database

The data is published in the statistical database through the link below:
Data confidentiality at the General Authority for Statistics

Microdata accessibility

Not available, as the Oil and Gas Statistics are a statistical product based on administrative records data provided by the Ministry of Energy.

References and standards

• Framework of Oil and Gas Statistics:

GASTAT conducts all its statistical activities according to a unified methodology that aligns with the nature of each statistical product. It relies on a Statistical Business Procedures Manual that is consistent with the work procedures adopted by international organizations, in coordination with the relevant entities.
For more details, you can refer to the attachment. 
Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM)

• International Recommendations for Energy Statistics (IRES):

Concepts, definitions, issues, and classifications aligned with the international recommendations for energy statistics adopted by the United Nations Statistics Division.
Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM)

Quality assurance

GASTAT is committed to observing the following principles: Impartiality, a user-oriented statistical product, quality of processes and outputs, effectiveness of statistical processes, and reduced respondent burden. 
Data are validated through quality assurance procedures and controls implemented at different stages of the statistical process, such as: data entry, data collection, and other final controls.

Quality assessment

GASTAT implements all statistical activities in accordance with the National Model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model - GSBPM). During the Evaluation phase, which is the final phase of the GSBPM, the information collected from each phase or sub-process is used to prepare an evaluation report that summarizes all quality-related challenges associated with each statistical process and serves as an input for improvement and development actions.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality - Policy

According to Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07/12/1379, data must always be kept confidential and must be used by GASTAT for statistical purposes only.
Therefore, the data is protected in the data servers of GASTAT.

Confidentiality - Data Treatment

Data were displayed in appropriate tables to facilitate their summarization, comprehension, and results extraction. Also, to compare data with other data and extract statistical meanings for the study community. It is also easier to check tables without the need to see any sensitive or confidential data, which violates the confidentiality of statistical data.

Publishing policy

Statistical calendar

The Oil and Gas Statistics Publication is added to the statistical calendar.
Statistical Calendar

User accessibility

One of the objectives of the General Authority for Statistics is to better meet the needs of its users; therefore, the results of the Oil and Gas Statistics publication are made available to all users immediately upon release.
GASTAT also receives clients' questions and inquiries regarding the publication and its results through various communication channels, including:

• GASTAT’s official website: www.stats.gov.sa
• GASTAT's official email address:  info@stats.gov.sa
• Official visits to GASTAT’s official head office in Riyadh or one of its branches in Saudi Arabia.
• Official letters.
• Statistical telephone: (199009).