20 questions

Oct. 11, 1999
And unlike the general public, our understanding of the oil industry goes a lot deeper than naming the three fuel grades that are available at the gasoline pump. Or does it?

We're all energy professionals, right?

And unlike the general public, our understanding of the oil industry goes a lot deeper than naming the three fuel grades that are available at the gasoline pump. Or does it?

See if you can answer the following questions about the US oil industry. All were drawn from the Oil & Gas Journal Energy Database's 1999 Energy Statistics Sourcebook, published last August. Answers are provided at the end.

  1. Which nation was the leading supplier of crude oil to the US in 1998? Was it Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, or Mexico?
  2. In 1998, twice as many US rigs were drilling for natural gas as for crude oil. True or false?
  3. Last year, more wells were completed in Michigan than in Wyoming. True or false?
  4. US oil production has been declining since it peaked in which year? Was it 1945, 1960, or 1970?
  5. Which US state produces the most oil from stripper wells? Is it West Virginia, California, or Texas?
  6. Which nation produces more oil? Is it Russia, the US, or Saudi Arabia?
  7. At US refineries, the average gasoline yield from a barrel of crude is the same today as it was in 1971. True or false?
  8. After gasoline, what is the most produced product? Is it jet fuel, petrochemical feedstocks, or distillate?
  9. Which nation had the highest refinery utilization rate in 1998? Was it Japan, Mexico, or the US?
  10. Refineries in the member-states of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries have doubled their products production since 1973. True or false?
  11. Which US state consumes the most gasoline? Is it Pennsylvania, Texas, or California?
  12. The US consumes one third of the world's oil production. True or false?
  13. US natural gas production peaked in which year? Was it 1973, 1981, or 1988?
  14. The US exported natural gas to both Canada and Mexico in 1998. True or false?
  15. Industrial plants in the US use more natural gas than residences and electric utilities combined. True or false?
  16. US interstate gas and liquids pipelines total 100,000-200,000 miles, 200,000-300,000 miles, or more than 300,000 miles?
  17. Oil and gas provide what percentage of US energy consumption? Is it 60%, 75%, or 85%?
  18. In the US, more people are employed at gasoline service stations than in exploration and production activities. True or false?
  19. A barrel of crude oil is the same unit of measure as a 50 gal oil drum. True or false?
  20. The heat content of asphalt is greater than that of motor gasoline. True or false?

Answers: 1. Saudi Arabia; 2. True; 3. True; 4. 1970; 5. Texas; 6. Saudi Arabia; 7. True; 8. Distillate; 9. Mexico; 10. True; 11. California; 12. False, one fourth; 13. 1973; 14. True; 15. True; 16. About 345,000 miles; 17. 60%; 18. True; 19. False, it equals 42 gal; 20. True.