Oil is a vital finite natural resource”
I think part of the issue here is that there is no such thing as “oil” as in one single commodity, that is exactly the same in all times and places. There is a big difference in grades/classifications of crude, and therefore big differences in how they are treated at the next stage.
The best markets currently for crude that needs less refining are export markets. Accordingly, they need to be opened up....so production can continue, and yes, eventually domestic refining will pick up to handle this new type of crude. But in the meantime, we don’t want production to stop...and part of that is for the reason you noted, national security.
That’s sort of how I see it....
Since refined products are already allowed to be exported, Gasoline, Diesel, etc sells domestically for the price it can be exported. The final consumer doesn’t benefit from a couple refineries buying oil at below market rates.
Currently, the “raw” crude oil can be sent through a simple splitter, separating lights and heavies without either being a finished product, and those split feeds can be (and are) exported already.
The crude oil ban benefits the refinery sector over the oil producing sector. The government has no business picking and choosing winners and losers in private industry.