In 2020, the U.S. became a net exporter of petroleum, meaning it exported more oil than it imported. How did that occur?

The correct answer is **c - the U.S. increased its oil production enough to meet and surpass its consumption**.

In recent years leading up to 2020, advancements in drilling technology, particularly hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling, allowed the U.S. to significantly increase its oil output. This surge in domestic production, particularly from shale oil reserves, enabled the country to produce more oil than it consumed, resulting in the U.S. becoming a net exporter of petroleum for the first time in decades.