Petroleum is a sensitive factor which affects the international economy and politics but is also affected by them

and the world petroleum production is the comprehensive reflection of mutual relationship and sensitive factor.The processes of world petroleum production in the twentieth century can be classified into following two stages and five periods:1.Before 1980

the producton of world petroleum increased at higher speed on the whole.According to the increasing speed

two periods can be roughly divided:(a)Before 1970

with the exception of the period of Second World War

the production of world petroleum had been doubled every ten years.(b)In 1970～1979

the increasing production set a new record in 1979 although the speed of increasing declined.2.Since 1980

three different periods with unique characteristics can be identified according to two major risings and fallings of the world petroleum production.(a)During 1980～1989

the petroleum production

with "V-shape"and great increasing

changed frequently.(b)Between 1990 and 1995

the petroleum production

with"u-shape"

increased at the lower speed.(c)In 1996～1998

petroleum production increased at the higher speed and hit an all time high.The world petroleum production is closely related to the two petroleum crises

lran lrag war and gulf crisis

the disintegration of former USSR

and the rise and fall of petroleum price

and also related to the global economy

political struggle

supply and demand of petroleum

the war and political situation among the major countries of petroleum production.