The price of oil and global demand have dipped in recent weeks, but Houston-based ConocoPhillips Chairman and CEO Ryan Lance still sees a critical long-term need for the U.S. to loosen its ban on crude oil exports. Although oil prices have exceeded $100 a barrel for most of the year, global Brent pricing for oil was below $98 a barrel at the end of last week, while West Texas Intermediate pricing was just more than $93 a barrel.