Yet you acknowledge he controls 19 percent of the world's proven reserves.

The area holds roughly 16 percent of the nation's reserves.

The region also holds 24 percent of the company's proved reserves.

Other laws require private banks to keep 25 percent of their reserves in the central bank.

The new European central bank is expected to have 5 percent to 25 percent of its reserves in gold.

The chief concern is Iran, which holds 10 percent of the world's reserves and has been making oil markets very nervous recently.

A final 10 percent of Shell's reserves still need to be examined by an independent auditor.

Natural gas makes up 80 percent of Mesa's proven reserves, with the remainder in oil.

Still, Colombia remains a minor oil player, with less than 1 percent of the world's total proven reserves.

About 67 percent of its proven reserves are natural gas.