The US is making more oil than any country in history
Listen to the story (American accent)
The United States is producing a lot of oil this year.
The country will set a global record and produce 13.3 million barrels of oil per day in the fourth quarter of this year. Last month, the US made 13.2 million barrels a day.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic fully started, the US made 13.1 million barrels a day in early 2020.
The US is also selling its oil overseas. It is exporting the same amount of oil as Saudi Arabia or Russia produces.
OPEC+, mainly Saudi Arabia and Russia, want to increase oil prices, so they reduced how much oil they export. However, the US’s record production this year has helped to keep oil prices down. Canada and Brazil have also produced record amounts of oil this year. (Brazil will join OPEC+ next year.)
In 2024, the global demand for oil will be the most ever. The energy news agency S&P Global Commodity Insights says there is enough oil for the demand.
So much oil production has lowered the price of oil this year. At the beginning of the year, oil was $100 a barrel. Now, oil costs between $70 and $75 a barrel.
Although the US is producing a lot of oil, some people are not happy with US President Biden’s energy plans. His supporters are unhappy because producing and using oil is bad for the environment. On the other side, some people against Biden say that he should try to increase production even more.
Vocabulary24 words
- Produce
- to create or make something
- Oil
- A thick liquid found underground used for fuel and making things like plastic
- Set a record
- to achieve/do something better or more significant than anyone has done before; the most or least ever measured
- Global
- related to the whole world; everywhere in the world
- Record
- the most or least ever; the highest level ever; achieved for the first time.
- Million
- 1,000,000 = one-million
- Barrel
- A large container used to measure oil; A big round container
- Quarter
- A period of three months;
- Pandemic
- when a disease or sickness goes all over the country or world
- Early (August)
- at the beginning of (August);
- Overseas
- in another country; to another country; not domestic
- Export
- to send goods/products to a different country to sell
- Amount
- quantity; number; total; sum; size
- Reduce
- to make less; make smaller; decrease; bring down; shrink
- Production
- the process of making or creating something, usually on a large scale/in large numbers
- Demand
- a need for goods or services that customers want to buy or use; a need or want; a need for something to be sold or supplied
- Energy
- fuel; electricity; power; oil
- Agency
- an organization, company, or department that provides a service; bureau
- Enough
- Having what is needed or sufficient; plenty; a good amount; abundant
- President
- leader; the top person in a large company, organization, or country; boss
- Supporter
- Someone who likes and helps a person or idea; Someone who agrees with something
- Environment
- the natural world; the place we live; the area around us; nature; Earth
- The other side
- People who have a different opinion; A different perspective or viewpoint
- Against
- in opposition to something; to fight; to resist; to try to stop; the opposite of support
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The United States is producing a _____ of oil this year.
The country will _____ a global record and produce 13.3 million barrels of oil _____ day in the fourth quarter of this year. Last month, the US _____ 13.2 million barrels a day.
_____ the Covid-19 pandemic fully started the US made 13.1 million barrels a day in _____ 2020.
The US is also selling its oil _____. It is exporting the same amount of oil as Saudi Arabia or _____ produces.
OPEC+, mainly Saudi Arabia and Russia, _____ to increase oil prices, so they reduced how much oil they export. _____, the US’s record production this year has helped to keep oil _____ down. Canada and Brazil have also produced record _____ of oil this year. (Brazil will join OPEC+ next year.)
In _____, the global demand for oil will be the most ever. The energy news _____ S&P Global Commodity Insights says there is enough oil _____ the demand.
So much oil production has _____ the price of oil this year. At the beginning of the year, oil was $_____ a barrel. Now, oil costs between $70 _____ $75 a barrel.
Although the US is _____ a lot of oil, some people are not happy with US President Biden’s _____ plans. His supporters are unhappy because producing and _____ oil is bad for the environment. On the other _____, some people against Biden say that he should try to increase _____ even more.
Discussion questions
- Is it good or bad for the US to be exporting oil? Why?
- What are some reasons OPEC+ might want to increase oil prices?
- Do you think President Biden should try to increase or decrease oil production in the US? Why?
- Do you think the world will eventually stop using oil altogether? Why or why not?
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The US is making more oil than any country in history