Nigeria is Africa's largest oil and gas producer. Crude oil from the Niger delta basin is classified as light or comparatively heavy, with the lighter having a gravity of 36 and the heavier having a gravity of 20–25. Both are paraffinic and have a low sulfur content. Nearly most of the country's primary reserves are centered in the Niger River delta, but offshore rigs are also common along the country's well-endowed coastline region. Nigeria is one of the few big oil-producing countries that can still increase output. Nigeria, unlike the majority of OPEC members, is not expected to reach peak output until at least 2009.
