How the U.S. Oil and Gas Industry Works
Provided by: Council on Foreign Relations|Published on: March 30, 2023|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Science, Economics, Civics, English Language Arts
Authors: Council on Foreign Relations
Location: Earth, North America, North America > United States
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article explains how the United States' oil and gas industry operates, how oil and gas are produced, how the industry is organized, and many impacts of mining and burning fossil fuels.
- Students will learn what the future may hold for American oil and gas, see comparisons of energy sources in numerous graphs, and connect the war in Ukraine to the energy debate.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This article contains a wealth of information about many facets of the American oil and gas industry.
- The article utilizes several text structures and features and will enhance student understanding and comprehension.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be able to read several types of charts and graphs.
Differentiation
- Connections can be made in math classes using real-world data to inform their calculations or discussing data analysis and graphs.
- Before reading, use the question subheadings on the left side of the page as a guide. Post each question around the room and have students jot down answers to each of the questions then circulate to read the responses and discuss.
- After reading, have students discuss solutions and issues that may be of top importance to address climate change swiftly.
- Social studies classes can discuss ways to address climate change and a conversion away from fossil fuels in a just manner.
This article walks readers through how oil and gas are produced, how the U.S. oil industry is structured and works, how the government and the oil industry are connected, and finally what impacts using oil and gas have on the climate. The article does include some basic science around fossil fuels, what they are, and how they affect the climate. It also includes a lot of information about how oil and gas are intertwined with business and the government, domestically and internationally. Overall, the article is a great introduction to fossil fuels and their importance in society, as well as how complicated it is to divest from them. Links and resources to other information are included. These resources are largely from the U.S. government, U.N., or other CFR articles. The science presented is accurate. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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