Why does the United States need to import so much petroleum?

Question

Why does the United States need to import so much petroleum?

Answer 1

The U.S. is the number one consumer of energy in the entire world.  Even if the U.S. conducted drilling operations in every possible domestic drilling site, it would still have to import oil from foreign sources.

Simply stated, the U.S. does not sit on that much easily-reachable oil, especially compared to other nations such as Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Russia.  

Even if the U.S. could cut back on oil imports by producing more at home by increasing drilling operations, the cost of exploring new drilling sites, constructing them, and maintaining drilling sites would probably be more costly in the short, medium, and long run than importing oil from countries that have existing infrastructure and can supply us with cheaper oil.

Answer 2

Ask an environmentalist..........

It's because there's been no new drilling in the United States in over 30 years.