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Page added on January 21, 2015
Obama: America is No. 1 producer of oil, gas
The United States is on top of the world in terms of energy production, President Barack Obama said during his sixth State of the Union.
“We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet,” he said during his Jan. 20 address. “And today, America is number one in oil and gas. America is number one in wind power. Every three weeks, we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008.”
We decided to check out the data and see if in fact the United States is the world’s top oil and gas producer. As it turns out, the United States passed Saudi Arabia about two years ago in terms of oil production. And we’ve been the top producer of natural gas for more than two decades.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration, which tracks global energy production and consumption statistics, generally uses total oil supply production as its most relevant statistic for assessing the world oil market. This statistic includes crude oil, natural gas liquids, condensates, other liquids, such as biofuels like ethanol, and refinery gain.
By this measure, in the third quarter of 2014 — which includes the most recent available data — the United States produced 14.2 million barrels per day. The next-highest producer, Saudi Arabia, produced 11.7 million per day; and Russia produced 10.5 million per day. Together, that’s about 40 percent of total global production.
If we whittle down that number further just to look at crude oil — what typically comes to mind when we think of “oil production” — with no other liquids, the United States is third behind Saudi Arabia and Russia. But when natural gas liquids are added into the mix, the United States takes the No. 1 spot again with 12.9 million barrels per day of crude oil and natural gas liquids.
A note: Natural gas liquids — included in the oil production count — are different from natural gas. Natural gas liquids are derivatives of petroleum (like kerosene) that are found in the same rocks as a natural gas deposit. Natural gas is methane that comes from the ground as a gas. It’s the gas that comes out of a gas stove and heats buildings.
The United States produces significantly more natural gas than Saudi Arabia and a bit more than Russia. According to the Energy Information Administration, United States energy production is about evenly split between petroleum and natural gas. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, primarily produces petroleum.
Here is a chart showing the breakdown:
The United States and Russia are the top producers of natural gas — with the United States producing 29.5 trillion cubic feet in 2012, and Russia producing 23 trillion.
Oil production growth has contributed to the United States’ ability to produce more oil than it imports for the first time in about 20 years. The Energy Information Administration expects American production to continue to grow in 2015, despite recent lower crude oil prices.
The majority of U.S. oil production growth is concentrated in four regions: Bakken, N.D.; Eagle Ford, Texas; the Niobrara region in the Upper Midwest states; and the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico.
North Dakota and Texas together comprise almost 50 percent of all crude oil production in the United States — compared to 2010, when the two states combined produced just 26 percent of all U.S. crude oil production.
In 2013, energy markets consultant group PIRA Energy published a report that said shale production is one of the driving forces behind the country’s production growth. Shale oil and gas are commonly associated with hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which is the process of using water pressure to fracture a rock to release natural gas and oil. The United States is the world leader in shale gas production.
There is at least one piece of context to keep in mind when looking at the United States’ oil production compared with Saudi Arabia, noted Leonardo Maugeri, an associate at Harvard University’s Geopolitics of Energy project. Saudi Arabia has a higher capacity than the United States to produce oil, but it chooses not to use it all — so as not to inundate the global oil market.
“In other words, if Saudi Arabia produced at full capacity — as the U.S. does — its production would be higher than the U.S.,” Maugeri said.
Our ruling
Obama said “America is No. 1 one in oil and gas ”
The latest global oil and natural gas production statistics back up Obama’s claim. The United States has been the world’s largest oil producer since 2012, and the largest natural gas producer for years. We rate his statement True.
33 Comments on "Obama: America is No. 1 producer of oil, gas"
TIKIMAN on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 5:43 am
Every time he opens his mouth all I hear is circus music.
Davy on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 6:08 am
I had to turn off the speech. I am not claiming superiority. I am basically an egalitarian. OBee’s speech is a vomit of American exceptionalism which just divides world opinion. The world does not want to hear how great America is and how much we need to lead. We need words of compromise and common purpose to survive a coming power down all our locals face from a codependence with the common global. The US should admit past sins allowing others to admit sin. Reconciliation always starts with each side acknowledging where they were guilty in the conflict.
None of this will happen with the traditional BAU message of growth and progress at the top. Once the country is in a severe economic crisis and social unrest then if we are lucky a more reality based message may get out. When I see something like the state of the union speech I almost feel like giving up. It is that bad that we are that far into unreality of what matters. How the hell are we going to get any help from the top with these top down attitudes. I hope for political paralysis at the top. Little damage can be done by inactivity when compared to bad actions. Now excuse me while I puke.
Dredd on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 6:21 am
With doublespeak, banks don’t have “bad loans” or “bad debts”; they have “nonperforming assets” or “nonperforming credits” which are “rolled over” or “rescheduled.” Corporations never lose money; they just experience “negative cash flow,” “deficit enhancement,” “net profit revenue deficiencies,” or “negative contributions to profits.”
(Propaganda Is A “Toxic Asset”, quoting Dr. W. Lutz)
Go Speed Racer on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 7:25 am
America is the greatest nation on Earth. We have the biggest cars. We have the biggest supermarkets. We have the biggest dinner plates. We have the biggest welfare checks. No nation has more overweight citizens than the United States. We have the biggest monster drinks. We have the biggest garbage cans. We have the biggest landfills. And we put a man on the moon, proving we are the biggest best most supersized nation.
Makati1 on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 7:33 am
I started to read it on the internet and got to the end of the first page before I switched to another site. If bullshit and lies were dollars, he would be the richest man on earth. I cannot even listen to him on TV. He has nothing to say that could possibly interest me.
I hope you are being sarcastic, Go Racer. The US is only number one in debt, percentage of it’s citizens in prison, and is leading the pack in terrorist activities. Nothing to brag about. All else is BS.
shortonoil on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 7:37 am
Obama: America is No. 1 producer of oil, gas Well, that’s a little bit of an exaggeration! The US is actually No. 1 producer of high test camel pea. 37% of its shale production has an API greater than 50. But come on, hell, this is politics, and we sure aren’t going to let a few little details get in the way.
But it answers one question we have had for some time. Where are you going to find a big enough of a dam fool to invest in this stuff at $38/ barrel? Well, the biggest idiots grown on the planet can usually be found inside the Belt Way, and they have lots of taxpayer money to throw at their re-elections. Bread, and Circuses, works almost every time. It’s a pity that the bread is getting stale, and the elephant has developed a limp.
Plantagenet on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 9:24 am
First obama boasts about the US being the number 1 oil and gas producer and then he calls for reducing US carbon emissions
is he so stupid that he doesn’t see his own hypocrisy?
tahoe1780 on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 10:24 am
Number 1 – A bit disingenuous, don’t you think? Where would we be if he compared production AND consumption, that is NET? Isn’t surplus a better indicator of our reality?
Apneaman on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 11:14 am
I bet these people were celebrating “energy independence”
Baker Hughes to lay off 7,000 as oil patch layoffs mount
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102352524
Apneaman on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 11:17 am
Price Collapse Hits Scavengers Who Scrape the Bottom of Big Oil’s Barrel
“Collectively, the strippers operate almost half-a-million oil wells that produced more than 730,000 barrels a day in 2012, the most recent year for which figures were available.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-20/scavengers-pumping-big-oil-s-castoffs-face-grim-choice-amid-rout.html
Mike999 on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 11:25 am
How easy it is to forget that the Obama administration opened up more leases then Bush.
Obama said he favored All Energy Sources. Yes, it must make a repub chock when he hears the truth.
All the lies you Believe on Fox “News”, suddenly you’re shocked by Reality.
But, yes, he allowed Capitalism to BOOM causing it’s own BUST with excessive supplies. Had he controlled the growth of oil output these companies wouldn’t now be going bankrupt, but then he’d be called a SOCIALIST. The never right right always has some bitching to do.
And Global Warming, remember that little rain storm called: KATRINA, and SANDY?
Warmer oceans = Bigger Storms.
Repubs – You’ve earned the nickname: America’s Most Gullible.
But, you’d better start watching a LIBERAL Source of news, because the Repub Congress is preparing to Cut Social Security, and you’re not going to see that on Fox ‘News’.
Northwest Resident on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 11:50 am
Obama did a great job of presenting the “all is well” narrative. He delivers the propaganda, the lies and the hopium with class and style — exactly what he’s paid to do.
In case some of us haven’t noticed, the entire U.S. government is engaged in an intensive misinformation campaign, all intended to placate and manipulate and soothe the nervous masses. And not just the U.S. government, but many if not most other governments around the globe as well. Anybody who fails to recognize that the powers that be, the governments of the world and the entire corporate hierarchy are all in cahoots to manipulate and pacify the masses is just not seeing the big picture.
There is no great truth that Obama could stand before the world and tell without upsetting the cart. He can’t tell the truth about energy, overpopulation, economic viability or even climate change. All dismal truths must be obscured and denied, and fairy tales of BAU forever and “all is well” must be told in their place to keep the masses calm and confident in the powers that be.
Plant — I’m sure Obama knows just what he is doing. Just like every other high government official, banking executive and corporate CEO knows what he is doing when he stands in front of the microphone and spews the lies and propaganda. The truly stupid ones are the Plant’s of the world who actually believe that TPTB are “stupid”, versus calculating and manipulative to whatever degree they need to be to keep the Plants of the world confused and obsessed with idiotic interpretations of current events.
The closer we come to that one big financial implosion from which we will never recover, the more the lies and manipulative propaganda floods will get pumped onto us. We can measure how close we are to that final economic collapse by the intensity of the lies and propaganda being spewed. And based on Obama’s SOTU, it looks — and feels — like we are very close indeed.
Northwest Resident on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 12:45 pm
“Once energy supply and other aspects of the economy start hitting diminishing returns, there is a serious chance that a debt implosion will bring the whole system down.”
http://ourfiniteworld.com/2015/01/21/a-new-theory-of-energy-and-the-economy-part-1-generating-economic-growth/
We are either AT peak oil, or CLOSE ENOUGH. Diminishing returns are upon us whether we admit it to ourselves or not. The entire global economy and financial system DEPENDS on vast newly discovered quantities of oil coming online regularly. There are NO MORE vast quantities of oil to bring online. Debt piled up by the trillion$ will never be paid off. Piling up more debt is destroying the system, but ceasing to pile up more debt will deflate that system in a nanosecond.
Damned if we do. Damned if we don’t. Between a rock and hard spot. Nowhere to go. A trap of our own shortsightedness and greed and failure to control the psychopaths who have lead us all to this dead end for advanced technical human civilization.
Nothing left to do now but pay the price, and a very steep price it will be when all accounts finally come due.
tick… tick… tick…
Perk Earl on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 1:01 pm
“In case some of us haven’t noticed, the entire U.S. government is engaged in an intensive misinformation campaign, all intended to placate and manipulate and soothe the nervous masses.”
I agree NR, and the part that made me the sickest was the underlying message of all is well, we just need to make a tax adjustment to help the middle class, as if that is now (after making this miraculous recovery – sarc), our only problem.
I’m beginning to think there are two universe’s; the 1st in which all is hunky dory (with a few minor adjustments needed), and the 2nd which realizes our energy predicament marked by depletion as it influences the economy in the direction of collapse.
We know there is only one Universe (at least the Earth is in), so there can only be one truth. To boldly claim the 1st Universe is the mantle of deceit.
In a twisted kind of way in which I suffer just as much as anybody else, I look forward to the 1st Universer’s getting smacked down hard for their appalling lack of character to look the beast in the eye! And to those politicians that know better, they deserve whatever post collapse unfortunate event that may inadvertently occur to them.
Perk Earl on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 1:04 pm
“In a twisted kind of way in which I suffer just as much as anybody else…”
By that I mean the same unfortunate things are apt to occur to me in a post collapse, just like 1st Universer’s, yet I still beacon it on to stop the BAU growth, destroy the biosphere madness.
steve on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 2:22 pm
Well if the PTB are smart and actually know what is going on—which I question many times over—then there must be a plan for wiping out a large portion of the population as well…probably with a manipulated virus…
Northwest Resident on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 2:23 pm
Perk Earl — I just can’t help but think that the whole charade is nothing more than a sophisticated attempt to buy time. The NSA moved in to position a few years ago. The Homeland Security and police forces have geared up. By executive order Obama has authorized the U.S. Military to put down and otherwise deal forcibly with homegrown disturbances. I personally believe that the whole Russia/Ukraine and other regional conflicts around the world are just more of the same — getting the ducks all lined up for inevitable collapse. The storm is coming, and by the government’s actions (not words) we can see in many ways how they are preparing. Of course they’re going to keep telling us everything is A-OK, until the day it isn’t — just like the Swiss National Bank told everybody that their peg to the Euro was a cornerstone of their policy, until the day it wasn’t. The TRUTH is evident and clear to see, but only for those who can see through the thick fog of propaganda, lies and misdirection.
Apneaman on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 2:59 pm
If you were one of the PTB and your only concern in this world was to maintain and grow your wealth, status and power, what would you do?
Speculawyer on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 3:10 pm
Becoming the #1 oil & gas producer is a great achievement. But I wish were not simultaneous the #1 oil & gas consumer as well. We need to work on our efficiency.
hculliton on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 3:54 pm
Here’s the exc summary for those of you who couldn’t watch without getting nausious: “Don’t worry folks, the ship’s fine – it’s unsinkable, don’t you know. Everyone just go back to your cabin.”
What else did you think that he could have said? If he told the truth, no one would believe him and probably brand him a traitor, the Dem faction of the Dempublican Party would hate him, and the 1%ers who own it all and made him Prez would probably have him iced.”
Dave on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 5:03 pm
Well Plant he didn’t say anything about coal, by far the worst offender. But following your line of logic regarding Obama, an asteroid is supposed to get somewhat close to earth in the near future. Wouldn’t you expect that to be Obama’s fault?
robert wilson on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 5:35 pm
The best news! He plans to convert sunshine to liquid fuel.
Davy on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 5:47 pm
Dave, I hope I am around PO when Obama moves out of DC to Hawaii so I can see if Planter still blames Obee for current events when he is an ex-president.
Apneaman on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 6:12 pm
Let’s see what Tom Lewis thinks of Obama’s speech.
The Crash of 2015: Day 21
http://www.dailyimpact.net/2015/01/21/the-crash-of-2015-day-21/#comments
Perk Earl on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 6:18 pm
“I just can’t help but think that the whole charade is nothing more than a sophisticated attempt to buy time.”
Yeah, NR, buy as much time as possible and draw those followers along into what will increasingly become a very hard ride, and the more The People buy the phony stats and “we’ll just fix the middle class”, the more those becoming disenfranchised will simply think they must be doing something wrong. Their not sure why they can’t compete any longer but it must be their fault, oblivious to energy depletion.
No different than Goebbels boisterously jacking up weary bombed out Germans during WWII days from surrender. The propaganda only works if the message is clear, constant and wrapped in the flag of patriotism, i.e. superior to world forces; economic and military.
The veneer of civilization is thinning, but most just think it’s one more day of infinite BAU. Should be quite a shock when they realize too late it was all a con game to keep TPTB holding on to power and money just a tad longer.
dashster on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 6:49 pm
Number one in production and still have to import both.
rockman on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 10:04 pm
Dasher – Not just an importer but imports Moro oil then any other country. But that’s not the whole story: the last stat from 2013 shows the US imported 7.7 million bopd. Putting us ahead of China at 5.7 million bopd. But recently has reached 7 million bopd. But now subtract the 3 million bopd we refine and ship those products overseas. So we consume on 4.7 million bopd. But still not that simple: the US imports 2.1 million bbls per day of refined products.
But still not that simple: in 2014 China became a net product exporter: about 800,000 tons per month (about 5.6 million bbls/mth…180,000 bbls/day. Small compared to the US but from a net standpoint we only export 900,000 bbls/day.
in another post I made a big deal about exporting 3 million bbls/day of product: a bigger issue the exporting US oil. But from a net product standpoint we only export about 300 million bbls of refinery product yearly.
Northwest Resident on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 10:18 pm
Perk — Pretty much exactly how I see it. The German propaganda at the end of WWII is a great analogy for what is going on today, I think. While the propaganda pumped over the air waves, designed to keep the German population in the dark as to the truly dire nature of their situation — to keep BAU going — the top level Nazi and military officials made and put into action their secret escape plans. That strategy worked pretty well for them. It’s working pretty well this time too, is my guess.
GregT on Wed, 21st Jan 2015 11:23 pm
Davy said:
“I had to turn off the speech. I am not claiming superiority. I am basically an egalitarian. OBee’s speech is a vomit of American exceptionalism which just divides world opinion. The world does not want to hear how great America is and how much we need to lead. ……………..I hope for political paralysis at the top. Little damage can be done by inactivity when compared to bad actions. Now excuse me while I puke.”
You’re starting to sound like Makati Davy. Hmmm, maybe there IS hope for us yet. Regardless of the millions of Americans that in all probability ARE exceptional, the system itself is not. The largest need on the planet right now for a regime change, resides in Washington DC.
All Americans need to turn out for the next federal election, vote for anyone, other than democrats and republicans. Not long ago, the US was the greatest nation on Earth, it is not anymore. The people themselves need to reign in the corruption, if not, the US is toast.
For balance, the US is not alone. Canada is going down as well.
Davy on Thu, 22nd Jan 2015 5:29 am
Greg, it is sad because when Mak is sane we have much in common. We both have a good handle on doom and prepping. I respect his doomstead ideas for the farm in the P’s. I do not respect his claiming that doomstead is a better place than mine. This is especially true considering his Philippines region has 100MIL people in an area the size of Arizona and an environmental ranking at the bottom of the global list. I do not respect his constant talking up Asia and the diminishment of the west most particular the US. Asia is the greatest source of over population, overconsumption growth, and ecological destruction globally now and moving forward. Historically it is the west granted but now the west is in decline. There are 4BIL people in Asia in an area the size of Russia. That my friend is a tragedy in the making.
I am a upside down flag waiver. I am saying the US is in danger of internal rights collapse and nation ending power corruption. Yet, this is a globalized BAU phenomenon not much different with any other major power. The trend is the same globally. This is a virus infecting all nations some like the US are better hosts than others because the system allows more to feed on. The American sheeples are feed the good old American values daily so the thieves can rob by stealth. The rest of the global BAU is much the same with less hypocrisy. If there is one thing that makes me sick above all else and that is the US moral hypocrisy and hollow exceptionalism. At least the other gangster nations are quiet about it. They don’t boast how great and wonderful they are then steal the rest of their country and world blind.
Go Speed Racer. on Thu, 22nd Jan 2015 11:07 pm
What Davy said.
Go Speed Racer. on Thu, 22nd Jan 2015 11:18 pm
Of course America is exceptional. 400 pound hogs trying to fit their bellies into the table booth at Olive Garden. All you can eat spaghetti and breadsticks. Pay for it with welfare and food stamps then waddle back to the SUV. AND they think they put a man on the moon. Truly exceptional!! Does any other nation on Earth, have such citizens??
viewcrafters on Fri, 23rd Jan 2015 10:46 am
The largest producer and we have the landscape to prove it.
viewcrafters