Where Does the US Oil Supply Come From?
|
|
The United States (US) oil supply is a frequent topic of discussion within the US, because of increasing concerns about dependence on oil as a source of fuel. According to the US Department of Energy, 40% of America's energy needs are met through petroleum products. Many citizens are worried about the impacts of oil on the environment, and would like to see the country moving towards more sustainable sources of oil. In addition, there is a great deal of controversy over the sources for American oil, and the political maneuvering which is necessary in order to meet American demands for oil.
Approximately 40% of America's oil comes from domestic oil fields in states like Texas, Alaska, and California. Some of this oil is actually sold to other countries, such as Japan. The other 60% of the US oil supply is from foreign sources. Contrary to popular belief, however, the US has very diverse oil interests all over the world, and receives oil and petroleum products from almost every continent on Earth. This diversity within the US oil supply allows allows for the manufacture of a wide range of petroleum products, using crude oil of various chemical makeups.
Canada, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Nigeria, Angola, and Iraq all contribute sizable amounts to the US oil supply. America also imports oil from Kuwait, Norway, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea, and Algeria. Numerous other countries ship refined oil products to the United States to supplement the output of American refineries. The diversity of the US oil supply makes it difficult to cut off the country's supply of oil altogether, although wrinkles in the supply chain could be problematic.
Much of the US oil supply comes from member nations of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). OPEC member nations are supposed to work together to ensure stable oil prices while safeguarding oil reserves and ensuring that countries around the world have access to oil when they need it. The US oil supply is not, however, restricted to OPEC sources, and the country regularly imports oil from countries which are not member nations, such as Canada, at varying prices.
While the sources for American oil are myriad, many of the countries which contribute the bulk of the US oil supply are economically and politically unstable. This has led to concerns about the security of the US oil supply, since a major political disturbance could be devastating. For this reason, the US also maintains an oil reserve for emergency situations, and is devoting funding to the development of energy alternatives.
|
Related wiseGEEK articles
Category
wiseGEEK features
Subscribe to wiseGEEK
|
14
anon maybe you should pick up a book that is not written by an evangelist and try to be a little open minded. First, people following islam are called muslims not Islams. And to say that oil prices are expensive only in nations that support israel and is because they support israel is just stupid. For example, Syria and Jordan have higher gas prices than the U.S. You know why? it's because they don't have oil reserves in their country. - anon52326
13
where does oil come from? does anyone know? is it a fossil fuel, or am i wrong? please help!!! - anon21246
12
Well, if you think Muslims hate USA solely because of Bush - you would be wrong. They hated USA long before they knew W or his father. They see USA as morally corrupt (actually true) due to the filth coming out of Hollywood(Women treated as sex objects, intense profanity, etc.). Many in the world think that Hollywood movies (and stars) represents the USA - and unfortunately,in many ways they does. The "fight for oil" is a shallow attack on Bush. Despite his faults, he did take the fight to them - on their ground - and protected USA from attacks since 9-11. For this, we thank President Bush. - anon19849
11
where would cuba get oil from???? - anon19832
10
whats going to happen to the Economy if John and Joe win?? - anon19737
9
well, i believe that this could never really be answered because only god could know what and how oil is made. also i have read the Declaration Of Independence - anon19736
8
Obama, so now he is looked on as the problem solver for our country? Oil prices? Economy? Return our military personnel from over seas with the job unfinished and there by abandoning our friends in those countries to their deaths, not to mention that all of our people died in vain and the word of our government commitments mean nothing. Our rebukes of other countries will mean nothing because they will know all they have to do is hold us off long enough and we will give up and go home. Is there any honor in this? What plan does obama have other than spouting off hope, and change, change and hope. How about saying something real with some substance.
Oil, natural gas, electricity. Drastic energy increases are directly destroying our economy i believe from the bottom up. How about government regulation to stop the price gouging. Alternative energy? How? Where? What? When? It is not practical at this time because it is not readily available. We hear about alternative energy from politicians, however what they are really doing is saying they either dont want to or are unable to do anything about this situation. I contacted ron wyden, gordon smith, and one or two others here in oregon. Wyden replied saying the issue is complicated, he is concerned, spoke of alternative energy, but in the end did not say what could be done, or was being done. Nothing. Gordan smith did not reply at all. Maybe if others contacted the politicians it would help, but you wont, so here we are, taking what we can get. Yet obama is our savior, ha.
- anon16885
7
Talking about oil and the gas we use, would it be safe to say that WE (USA) purchase most of our gas used ?? - Randy
6
OMG Doesn't anyone realize that Bush and Cheney are not the only ones to run the government? The Islams have always and will always hate us. If you will notice the only countries paying astronomical prices for gas are the ones that help and support Israel. If we were to turn our backs on Israel our gas prices would drop drastically. And if Obama takes office you can bet your pretty penny that this is what will happen. We can either stand by our convictions and pay higher gas prices, tuck tail and run and pay lower gas prices, or stop buying from OPEC and ration gas. Are you willing to give up your pride and freedom for cheaper OPEC gas? I am not. - anon13991
5
My understanding is that we got most of our oil
from canada and mexico so why are talking so much saudi arabia?
- anon13289
4
Washington's new plan is to sue OPEC to lower oil prices. Unless I'm mistaken, Bush invaded Iraq under the premise that Saddam had WMD's, when in reality it was to protect Israel and secure the oil fields so Halli-Burton could build a pipeline from Iraq to Kuwait. Now all of Islam hates us. This is how it is, OPEC controls the oil. Opec countries are predominately Muslim countries. Muslims hate Israel and George Bush. What's the best way to hurt the U.S. economy? Raise the price of oil! So we get screwed while rich oil men like George Bush and Dick Cheney laugh all the way to the bank! - jonesboy1
3
Other countries, Norway for example, are entering the Gulf of Mexico for deep water oil drilling. Is the Gulf of Mexico 'free range' for other countries? Do they own oil that they recover?
A Statement of Concern: According to a recent Internet article, the US obtains 40% of its oil domestically and sells some of it to other countries. This seems counterproductive to relieving our dependence on foreign oil e.g. from Saudi Arabia (OPEC), who only supplies the US with what they want to. For the oil we sell to other countries, to what extent (time and annual quantities) are we bound (via the Federal Government, treaties, balance of trade agreements) by these relations? Comments welcomed.
- curious1
1
How much oil is supplied by Saudi Arabia to the United States? - anon4785
|
Written by
S.E. Smith
Last Modified: 12 November 2009
copyright © 2003 - 2009
conjecture corporation
