VOA慢速英语2018 美国可能成为世界顶级石油生产国（在线收听）

US 'Likely' Returns as World's Top Oil Producer

The United States may have regained the position of the world’s biggest oil producer sooner than expected.

美国可能已经早于预期重新夺得了全球最大石油生产国地位。

The U.S. Energy Information Administration says the country “likely” passed Russia as the world’s top producer in recent weeks. It also reported that the U.S. passed Saudi Arabia in oil production earlier this year.

美国能源信息署表示，最近几周美国“可能”超过了俄罗斯成为全球最大石油生产国。该机构还报告称，美国今年早些时候石油产量就超过了沙特。

The energy information administration, which is part of the Department of Energy, released a report on September 12. The agency said its findings were based on oil production estimates.

作为美国能源部下属机构的能源信息署于9月12日发布了一份报告。该机构称其调查结果是基于石油产量估算。

If those estimates are right, it would mark the first time since 1973 that the United States has led the world in oil production, based on government records.

如果这些估算是正确的，根据政府数据，这将标志着1973年以来美国首次在石油产量上引领全球。

The energy administration and another organization, the International Energy Agency, had predicted that the U.S. would not pass Russia and Saudi Arabia until 2019. The agency is an international group of oil-consuming nations.

美国能源管理部门以及国际能源署曾经预测，美国在2019年前不会超过俄罗斯和沙特。国际能源署是石油消费国组成的国际组织。

An increase thanks to fracking

水力压裂法居功至伟

U.S. production rose in recent years partly because of technology, including hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”

美国近年来石油产量增加的部分原因是由于包括水力压裂法在内的技术。

Fracking is the use of chemicals, sand, water and high pressure to break up rock formations deep below ground. This releases more oil and natural gas.

水力压裂法利用化学品、沙子、水和高压来破碎地下深处的岩层，从而释放出更多石油和天然气。

Not everyone approves of fracking, however. Opponents say that fracking results in harmful substances entering groundwater. They also say it has increased the number of earthquakes in states like Oklahoma and Texas.

然而并非人人都支持水力压裂法。反对者称，水力压裂法导致有害物质进入地下水，还增加了俄克拉荷马州和德克萨斯州地震的次数。

The U.S. energy agency estimated that in August 2018, the United States produced an average of 10.9 million barrels a day. By comparison, Russia produced about 10.8 million barrels a day, with Saudi Arabia producing around 10.4 million barrels.

美国能源部估计，美国在2018年8月的日均石油产量为1090万桶。相比之下，俄罗斯的日均产量约为1080万桶，沙特的日均产量约为1040万桶。

The agency expects the U.S. will continue to produce more oil than Russia and Saudi Arabia for the rest of this year and through 2019.

该机构预计，美国石油产量在今年剩下时间和2019年将会继续超过俄罗斯和沙特。

U.S. oil production has increased since 2011. The rate of oil drilling slowed after oil prices started falling in 2014. However, prices rose again as operators learned to produce oil more efficiently and oil prices recovered.

美国石油产量自2011年来一直增加。2014年石油价格开始下跌之后石油开采速度有所放缓。然而，随着经营者学会更高效生产石油和油价回升，油价再次上涨。

The U.S. agency said its information on Russian production comes mostly from the Russian Ministry of Oil, and also oil companies and industry publications. The agency said numbers on Saudi production are based on its own estimates.

这家美国机构表示，其俄罗斯相关信息主要来自俄罗斯石油部，以及石油公司和行业出版物，沙特的产量数据是根据他们自己的估算。

The United States led the world in oil production for much of the past century. However, both the Soviet Union and later Saudi Arabia passed the U.S. during the 1970s. Up until the past few years, it seemed unlikely the U.S. would ever become the top producer again.

美国石油产量在过去一个世纪的大部分时间里都领先全球。然而在上世纪70年代期间，苏联和后来的沙特都超过了美国。直到最近几年，美国似乎都不太可能再次成为最大生产国。

Daniel Yergin wrote a book called “The Prize,” which is a history of the oil industry. He says the increase in U.S. production helped avoid a severe shortage of oil that would have caused prices to rise even higher.

Daniel Yergin写了一本名为《石油价格》的书，描写了石油行业的历史。他说，美国石油产量的增加有助于避免石油严重短缺造成油价涨得更高。

I’m Phil Dierking.

Words in This Story

consume - v. to use (fuel, time, resources, etc.)?

efficient - adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy?

barrel - n. a round usually wooden container with curved sides and flat ends