Who owns the world's oil & gas reserves?

[PETRUS]

Please look at this graph and contemplate US foreign policy and government rhetoric.

[Marazinia]

1. You don't seem to understand how it works

The countries 'own' the oil and gas, but they are forced by decades of war (first by the British, now mainly by the United States) to let foreign companies come in and drill for and profit from that oil. Venezuela did kick Exxon out, though, as I recall. The other countries are entirely run by the frightened elite, and they are propped up by US muscle.

[xchrom]

2. Take it up w/ the author of the article.

The OP probably understands better than you know.

[Marazinia]

6. On second thought, I likely misread it

Sorry, OP

[PETRUS]

3. I understand how it works.

Otherwise what you said is true. I'm not sure what you think I'm overlooking.

The graph isn't saying WHERE the reserves are, but what entities have the rights. The biggest owners are nationalized/state-backed corporations. Saudi Arabia has been very cooperative with US interests, Iran and Venezuela have not. The US bullies Iran and Venezuela, while failing to release the results of investigations exploring official Saudi ties to 9/11.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. Yep, Imagine that :)

[Marazinia]

7. Again, sorry about that

But yeah, Venezuela worries me. How much longer can they resist? And if we don't attack Iran soon, I figure the only reason will be that even US policymakers aren't stupid enough to irk China that badly. Unless they come up with a secret deal that lets China in on it, of course.

Bunch of damn thieves everywhere.

[PETRUS]

8. It's cool. And I worry along with you. And I OCCUPY!!!! nt

[Marazinia]

10. There's nothing going on close to me as far as occupation

But I'm thinking over Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'll have to drive a couple hours to where there is, then spend some time shivering with people I can listen to without wanting to :banghead:

[TheKentuckian]

5. The extraction industries do and we'll kill or destroy anyone who disagrees.

Same goes for all resources. Hell, they are going for the freshwater now.

[IDemo]

9. Aramco now claiming at or above 300B barrels?

Pretty neat trick, since they have been claiming proven reserves of 260 billion for many years, a figure which Matt Simmons and others have questioned. Abiotic oil, or plain lying?

http://www.energyinsights.net/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000022/002257.htm

[Lucky Luciano]

12. Sometimes improved technology for extraction increases reserves with no new discoveries. nt

[IDemo]

13. There is an exhaustive amount of study on the Ghawar

by petroleum geologists at The Oil Drum and elsewhere. Very few seriously believe Aramco's figures.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/2470

[TBF]

11. Well that explains Hillary's little "obliterate Iraq" comment ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/04/22/us-usa-politics-iran-idUSN2224332720080422

[Starry Messenger]

14. k&r

My boyfriend's relatives live in Iran. :( You know the capitalists are just itching to get their lunch-hooks in there.

[Fire Walk With Me]

15. Kick