How can the US be producing nearly 13 billion barrels of petroleum a year when their proven oil reserves are less than 50 billion?

Question

How can the US be producing nearly 13 billion barrels of petroleum a year when their proven oil reserves are less than 50 billion?

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

We produce 13 million barrels a day. That’s about 4 billion barrels a year. So, 4 billion divided by 50 billion means the US produces about 8% of it’s reserves each year.