Russia once again top oil producer in 2012

Recently, it was released latest data that showed that as for the end of 2012, Russia kept its number one position as worldwide oil producer ahead of Saudi Arabia, with a 10.2 barrels per day production mostly on a monthly basis, which reaffirms its relevant roe in the world energy scenario still, despite many negatve opinions about its presumably decaying amount of oil reserves (est. 70 billions of barrels more or less). Aside from this fact, the main question is if Russia would keep using this as a political and geopolitical tool to influence Europe? What about of the OPEC counterbalance to russian weight in world oil and gas? Will there be enough oil and gas for Russia to keep its say in the global power play arena? Because one thing is certain: energy is the main tool that is reinforcing russian power around the globe, and its internal economy. And from my point of view, an interesting clash will come in the foreseeable future: the one between Russia and Saudi Arabia, if the russians dont comply to the OPEC and saudis dictates when the markets require, given the saudis spare capacity (aroound 2 MMBPD), and another geopolitical factor that the House Al Saud could activate if it keeps feeing threatened b Russia: the islamic wahabism in Chechnya and Daguetan, with the support of saudis.

So these are the implications for Russia maintaining the world top position as oil producer.