Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) set a U.S. profit record today (Thursday) when it announced its third quarter profit topped $14.8 billion on record-high oil prices.

Russian authorities have issued a summons to Robert Dudley, Chief Executive of BP PLC’s (ADR: BP) regional joint venture TNK-BP Holding, as part of a tax probe into OAO TNK’s activities between 2001 and 2003.

When it comes to high-priced oil, Congress just doesn’t get it.

With the oil price at near-record highs and Shell and BP declaring record profits last week, there are various truckloads of drivel about the oil majors being ruthless profiteers doing the rounds at the moment. But who’s really raking in the money?

Oil-consuming countries and international oil producers no longer influence oil prices, reports AFP, as a global gathering of energy elite gets underway in Rome and the price of New York oil struck a historic peak at $114.49 per barrel.

International oil majors now control a mere 6% of oil and 20% of gas reserves, according to the report. The rest is in the hands of national oil companies.

The unpalatable reality is that national producers such as Venezuela or Russia today have less need of international oil majors to help them develop their untapped reserves.