by WorldTribune Staff, September 13, 2018
The United States earlier this year passed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest producer of crude oil, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Based on preliminary estimates in the EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook, U.S. crude oil production in February exceeded that of Saudi Arabia for the first time in more than two decades. In June and August, the United States surpassed Russia in crude oil production for the first time since February 1999.
Related: U.S. crude oil production breaking all-time records, June 1, 2018
The EIA said it expects U.S. crude oil production will continue to exceed Russian and Saudi Arabian production for the remaining months of 2018 and through 2019.
U.S. crude oil production, particularly from light sweet crude oil grades, has rapidly increased since 2011. Much of the recent growth has occurred in areas such as the Permian region in western Texas and eastern New Mexico, the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico, and the Bakken region in North Dakota and Montana, the EIA said.
In March, the Paris-based International Energy Agency predicted U.S. crude oil production will grow considerably over the next five years, increasing from 13.2 million barrels per day to 17 million barrels, and boosting American’s global supply of oil to approximately 80 percent.
President Donald Trump over the summer called on Saudi Arabia to increase crude oil production to counter rising prices.
“Just spoke to King Salman of Saudi Arabia and explained to him that, because of the turmoil & dysfunction in Iran and Venezuela, I am asking that Saudi Arabia increase oil production, maybe up to 2,000,000 barrels, to make up the difference…Prices too high! He has agreed!” the president tweeted.
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