Until recently, the White House has refused to issue any statements regarding the long-standing ban, but, due to extreme increases in extraction volume, the Administration has apparently begun to rethink its approach. 

At Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, John Podesta, one of President Barack Obama’s most senior advisers, was asked about the administration’s thinking on crude oil exports. He said: “We’re taking an active look at what the production looks like, particularly in Eagle Ford, in Texas, and whether the current refinery capacity in the US can absorb the capacity increase to refine the product that’s being produced.” 

“We’re taking a look at that and deciding whether there’s the potential for effectively and economically utilizing that resource through a variety of different mechanisms,” he added.