Who Governs Global Oil Prices?
... naturally there were elements of unfair pricing; as sisters still clinched the market tightly. At this stage, prices continued to be formulated by a cost-plus system for crude and now net-back for other petroleum products. Again, the seven sisters preferred long-term contracts and also used modern concessional tools to account for socio-economic factors. But, in 1969 to 1973 a major transitional period occurred as these majors started to negotiate with the OPEC alliance or 'cartel', with prices being linked evermore to national goals. Also, the two-regional system of the first stage remained, as prices depended on whether crude oil passed via the Gulf of Mexico or the Persian Gulf. In other ...