Energy Peacekeeping: The Role of Effectivités as a Viable, Legal Instrument in Addressing Shared or Disputed Offshore Oil and Gas Fields

As more offshore oil and gas discoveries, some of them dramatic, take place in areas where maritime boundaries can be disputed, effectivités have become key considerations in resolving some of the resulting conflicts. A basic understanding of the theory of effectivités is therefore valuable to policymakers and other stakeholders. Accordingly, this commentary provides a layperson’s perspective on the application of effectivités, and examines both current and potential disputes in which states might attempt to deploy this principle to gain control of contested maritime territories.

Majed A. Al Suwailem

Senior Fellow- Oil & Gas Majed is a senior fellow at KAPSARC with a focus on energy security, geopolitics, and hydrocarbon laws and regulations. He…

Majed is a senior fellow at KAPSARC with a focus on energy security, geopolitics, and hydrocarbon laws and regulations. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry in the fields of simulation and modeling, asset management, reserves estimation, oil field development, disruptive technologies, and business planning, gained at Chevron and Saudi Aramco.

Majed holds a B.S. degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa in the United States, along with two M.S. degrees in petroleum engineering, and reservoir geosciences and engineering, respectively, from Texas A&M University and the Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP School). In 2021, Majed earned his Master of Science degree in public economics and policy from Purdue University.

Expertise

Energy Security
Geopolitics
Hydrocarbon Laws and Regulations

Publications See all Majed A. Al Suwailem’s publications

Energy Stewardship in a Transitioning World: Extending the Hydrocarbon Value Chain into Lithium Extraction in Saudi Arabia

As more offshore oil and gas discoveries, some of them dramatic, take place in areas…

21st March 2025