The Slow Flow of Russian Oil

The stakes are high. By some rankings, Russia is the world’s second-largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia. Energy ministry projections cited by the United States Energy Department show crude oil exports rising possibly to 5.5 million barrels a day this year, from 5.14 million barrels in 2004, and reaching 6.2 million barrels a day by 2015.

Most Russian oil is now exported to Europe. But by 2010, Russia is expected to export energy directly to the United States. Oil could be shipped to the West Coast from offshore fields near Sakhalin Island and oil and gas to the East Coast from the Arctic.

New York Times