Texas, among 15 of the world’s largest oil producers.

According to the energy management of information (EIA), United States will produce 9.3 million barrels per day by 2015. If so the country will become the main producer of oil in the world, beating Saudi Arabia and Russia, according to forecasts from the International Energy Agency.

The Research Institute for energy (IER) shows that oil occupies 36% of the U.S. energy demand, with 70% destined for  transportation, 24% for industry, 5% to commercial and residential sectors and less than 1% in general electricity.

In 2013, about 40% of the oil consumed by the United States was imported, the lowest level since 1991. The five main countries that supply oil are Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Russia.

Now they use national oil produced in North Dakota or Texas, areas with higher oil production capacity. In Texas, in the area known as the Permian Basin, the State reported the production of 2.7 million barrels of crude oil per day in September, the highest since January of  1981, according to EIA. Texas is now among the 15 of the world’s largest oil producers.

It also provides employment since the oil and gas industry employ 379.800 people, including 34,600 jobs in the first half of 2012.

Behind the growth in production

Behind the oil boom in Texas, there are two key methods: fracking or fracturing of the rock, and horizontal drilling, rather than vertical. Perforations are made to great depths and then the oil contained in the rock is dissolved through chemicals.

Due to the chemicals used in the process, various sectors  accuse oil of pollute the groundwater and soil, causing disruptive effects on the endocrine system, which regulates hormones in the human body and also affect the production of estrogen, one of the major sex hormones; so a recent research conducted by the Associated Press showed that in the last four years in areas like Texas 2,000 complaints have been filed by pollution.

Exporter of oil?

The increase in production has led to legislators in the United States to revive the debate to remove the ban on oil exports imposed in the 1970s. The idea was to maintain the greatest amount of crude oil in the domestic market. There are two laws in force in this area, the first is the law of conservation of energy of 1975 and the 1979 Export Administration Act.