If one needs a rationale for increased energy independence for any non-OPEC nation, here it is.
Based on projections from the EIA's May 2012 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) could earn "an estimated $1,154 billion of net oil export revenues in 2012 and $1,117 billion in 2013. Last year, OPEC earned $1,026 billion in net oil export revenues, a 33 percent increase from 2010."
Saudi Arabia earned the largest share of these earnings, $311 billion, representing 30 percent of total OPEC revenues.