The world's biggest oil producers have boosted their search for oil and gas to one of the highest levels in two decades as prices yesterday neared record highs of more than $78 a barrel.

　　The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries， the cartel that controls three- quarters of global oil reserves， yesterday said that its members operated 336 oil rigs last year in response to strong demand from developing countries such as China and India.

　　The cartel's annual statistical bulletin shows that member countries were operating the second largest oil rig fleet since 1982， when oil prices hit an all-time high in today's money of about $90 a barrel. US oil prices yesterday rose to $78.23 a barrel， just below the $78.40 nominal high.

　　The sharp increase in Opec's new investment could reduce the risk of oil demand outstripping supply and lessen long-term oil prices pressures.

　　隨著

國際油價昨日超過每桶78美元的創紀錄高點，全球石油生產大國已紛紛加大對石油和天然氣資源的勘探搜尋力度，達到20年來最高水平。

　　控制著全球3/4石油儲量的石油輸出國組織昨日表示，為了滿足中國和印度等發展中國家的強勁需求，去年，其成員國共開動336個鉆井平臺。

　　佩克的統計年報顯示，其成員國正在開工的鉆探平臺數量僅次于1982年——當時，油價達到空前高點，以如今的幣值計算大約合每桶90美元。美國市場

石油價格昨日升至每桶78.23美元，略低于78.40美元的名義歷史高點。

　　

歐佩克新投資的大幅增加可能會減少石油供不應求的風險，減輕油價長期壓力。

 董莉