Name: ____________________________________
Period: ________
Date _____________
AMW: Roundtable Research Project
Part 2: Oil Research
Printed Hard Copy DUE __________________
Purpose: This research assignment is intended to allow you the chance to better understand the
resource - oil - and its influence on economics and foreign policy in the Middle East as well as U.S.
interest in the resource. Consider the information you learn here with regards to both your country’s
interests, as well as the interests of the other countries who will be represented in the Round Table.
Directions: Type your answers to these questions in the space provided on a Google Doc. You should
use the noted links to answer the specific questions. This is an individual assignment.
OPEC
Use this link to answer questions 1 and 2 - http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/25.htm
1. What does OPEC stand for? Click on “Brief History.” In your own words, what role does OPEC play in
the world?
2. List the countries that are members of OPEC. They are listed on the left side of this page:
Using this link to answer questions 3 and4:
http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/data_graphs/330.htm
3. What share of the world's crude oil reserves are controlled by OPEC nations?
4. Which 6 OPEC countries have the largest reserves?
Middle Eastern Oil http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/oilprices/8339540/The-Middle-Easts-topoilproducers-interactive-map.html
1. Which Middle Eastern country is the world's largest producer of oil?
2. Based on the link, how much oil does this country produce?
3. What percent does that represent?
American Dependence on Middle Eastern Oil
Answer the questions below by clicking on the following link (look under the section titled "American
dependence on Middle Eastern oil”).
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/questions/resource/index.html
1. What "foreign policy initiatives" (foreign policy efforts) does the U.S. focus on in the Middle East in
order to protect oil supplies?
2. DESCRIBE the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. What are sources of tension?
U.S. Oil Consumption
Answer the questions below using the following link:
http://www-tc.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/colombia/images/map.swf
1. What are the top three sources of U.S. oil (include the percentage)?
2. Who are the top five oil producers in the world? Include the number of barrels produced per day.
3. Who are the top three consumers of the world’s oil (do not include the “rest of the world”
category)? Include the percentage for each.
4. What are the top three locations of the world’s oil reserves (include the percentage for each)?
5. Select two interesting facts from the list. Write the facts below AND EXPLAIN why you find them
interesting.
Fact #1 AND EXPLANATION:
Fact #2 AND EXPLANATION:
Middle East Demographics
Use the following link to research each of the questions below:
http://www.indexmundi.com/map/?v=97
1. Click on the middle drop down menu and select “proven oil reserves.” Also, click on the drop down
menu on the right and select “Middle East.” Then write the names of the top three countries in terms
of proven oil reserves.
2. Change the middle drop down menu to “oil-exports”. Which three countries in the Middle East have
the highest oil exports?
3. Change the middle drop down menu to “oil-consumption.” Which three countries in the Middle East
have the highest oil consumption?
Synthesis
Answer the following question in the space provided. When looking through all the research you
conducted, what stands out to you as being most interesting or surprising? Explain.