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"What foreign countries are we shipping them to, China?

It is illegal to export oil, except to Mexico and Canada. Mexico doesn't need oil but exports of shale oil to eastern Canada are spiking, to replace the more expensive imported Brent crude from the north sea and Africa. Congress has to change the law to allow exports to other countries.

But we are exporting record amounts of refined oil, gasoline and diesel, to Latin America. And if the Alberta pipeline(Trans-Canada) to the gulf coast gets built, the export of refined product would increase.

As for natural gas, we are exporting larger and larger amounts to Mexico via pipeline. FERC and the Energy dept have permitted 4 companies to export natural gas to other parts of the world, 3 on the gulf coast and 1 on the Atlantic coast. The first of these is scheduled to begin exporting in 2015. Supposedly, more will be permitted, but the US manufacturing sector is complaining about this.

Also, because of the natural gas shortages back in 2000-2001, several companies were permitted to import natural gas in 2002. By the time that gas began to arrive(2010), the price of natural gas in the US was so low, the importers began diverting it to other parts of the world. The price of NG around the world is much higher than it is in the US.

I used to be opposed to shipping oil and natural gas overseas. But lately I have become convinced that the US needs to produce and export as much gas and oil as possible while the prices remain high—now I believe prices will remain high — overseas for 5-10 years because of falling production and rising demand. that is only the USA canada and iraq around the world are raising production. most other fields face falling production. economic growth feeding oil/gas demand remains strong.

While both russia and china have enormous shale gas and oil reserves —its going to be a decade before they master the technology and create the infrastructure to move the oil and gas.

Meanwhile there are some seriously disruptive technologies just over the horizen in the form of electric cars and fourth generation portable nuclear power plants that could just kill the hydrocarbon industry. This is not a certainty—or even a probability. but only a medium level possibility at this point. We’ll know more in 3 years. For example if tesla comes up with a 30k electric car. or if for example a couple companies come out with beta portable lftr nukes in 3-5 years.

It is illegal to export oil, except to Mexico and Canada.

It is more complicated than that:

Crude oil exports are restricted to:

(1) crude oil derived from fields under the State waters of Alaska's Cook Inlet;

(2) Alaskan North Slope crude oil;

(3) certain domestically produced crude oil destined for Canada;

(4) shipments to U.S. territories; and

(5) California crude oil to Pacific Rim countries.

See notes at the bottom of the page at:
http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_exp_dc_NUS-Z00_mbbl_m.htm

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And if the Alberta pipeline(Trans-Canada) to the gulf coast gets built, the export of refined product would increase.

Those refineries are not going to produce more oil due to the Keystone XL pipeline. They will however refine more oil from Canada & North Dakota while replacing oil imported from overseas.

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Also, because of the natural gas shortages back in 2000-2001, several companies were permitted to import natural gas in 2002.

We have been importing Natural Gas for decades and still do today.

U.S. Natural Gas Imports
http://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n9100us2m.htm