The question came up in casual(?) conversation over the weekend.
Of course, it prompted me to do some digging.
Here’s the latest top 10 list according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration database.
The volumes in the table represent crude oil and “lease condensate” (aka natural gas), the hydrocarbon liquids collected at or near the wellhead.
> The U.S. tops the list, followed closely by Russia and Saudi Arabia
> Canada and Iraq hold the #4 and #5 positions.
> China is only produces about 40% of the the U.S. and Russian totals
Editorial note: Tell me again why the XL pipeline is a bad idea. Canada is a friendly, proximate ally, right?
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Most interesting (to me) are the historical trend lines.
> Note that US oil production (the blue line) declined during the Bush years … but turned upward in the Obama years … took the top spot under Trump … and has fallen under you-know-who
> Also note that the old USSR led the league when it existed … Russia accounted for a majority of the USSR production before the USSR dissolved …. and has steadily increased its production to now produce roughly the same quantity of oil as the entire USSR was producing in its final years.
> Finally, note that if Russia controlled the former USSR republics, it would be at the top of the list … e.g. Kazakhstan alone produces 1.75 million barrels per day
Think that last point is a motivator for Putin?
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