November 24, 2007 - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

"Truth will rise above falsehood as oil above water."
~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Dhahran temperature high: 75 degrees F
Hood River temperature high: 41 degrees F

With the largest oil fields in the world, much of society, industry, and the government of Saudi Arabia is driven by oil.

By one Aramco employee we were told that a barrel of oil costs $30 to produce. However, the average barrel of oil sells for $100 and an average of 8.9 million barrels are produced a day. This makes a direct profit of $623,000,000 A DAY!

With the increase of oil production in the last ten years, it is curious why the prices of gas and oil continue to go higher. Through discussions it's been learned there are many reasons for these higher prices. Weather, war, but mostly global competition. Due to huge industrial booms in both China and India, these countries are willing to play $2 more than the U.S. So the U.S. is forced to pay the new going rate, thus placing the increased cost back on the people.

While on a tour of the Saudi Aramco Exhibit explaining production methods, we were shown how new technologies are expanding exploration. A super computer in the central office controls a huge rubber-tube arm, with a diamond encrusted drill head, which navigates through the ground, seeking out new oil reserves. One employee stated, "if current drilling practices were to continue, Saudi Arabia would run out of oil. But, with new technologies the supply for oil will never run out."

Non-renewable or renewable resource?

19.2% of all Saudi Arabian crude oil goes to the United States. There is a global frustration on the dependence of oil products. Keep in mind, once crude oil products are taken to U.S. refineries, they are made not only into car products, but many items such as cosmetics, paints, plastic coffee mugs, mountain bikes, and synthetic fibers for ski jackets.