Standardized Result Tiratoo, E.N. Oilfields of the World . 1997 Almanac . The Myth of Petropower . The United States currently has approximately 26 billion barrels in the reserves.
Barrel is the standard unit to measure crude oil and most petroleum products.
The volume of petroleum is sometimes expressed in metric tons. As the United States became more industrialized, the need for oil intensified, calling for a greater production in petroleum. Peak production of this material came about in 1970. However, since the 1970s, heightened concern for the environment has lead the U.S. Department of Energy to limit the rate of consumption. This effort of preserving our natural resources and conserving energy has resulted in a steady decline of U.S. petroleum production in proportion to the world production of petroleum.