There has been no information, however, contradicting his assertion that the massive Ghawar field could soon see declining production.

FORBES: Petroleum Balance

Add to this the work of Matthew Simmons, who in his 2005 book, Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy, analyzed papers presented at Petroleum Engineering conferences, and concluded that the super-giant Ghawar field would soon enter a period of decline.

FORBES: Why I think Saudi Oil Production is now at Capacity

Or perhaps it is struggling to raise production, as a result of the declining fecundity of its (and the world's) biggest field, Ghawar.

ECONOMIST: Oil prices