Chapter 16 Summary and Analysis

For the past 30 years, the world has assumed that Saudi Arabia can continue to maintain its incredible level of oil production. This assumption is encouraged by major international energy forecasters and other experts. In the past 20 years, no one has really questioned whether or not this is fact or fantasy. Yet, since 1982, very little data has been available to verify production levels in Saudi Arabia. Credible field production data would easily clarify this matter and would enable global energy planners to develop factual forecasts. Not only is Saudi Aramco no longer releasing this information, most other national oil companies as well as privately owned companies, now conceal this data. The only way to clear up this mystery, once and for all, is to return to the era of transparent oil production data.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia officials have insisted that...