Producers for American Crude Oil Exports, or PACE, is the first lobbying group to form to reverse the trade restriction passed by Congress in the 1970s after the Arab oil embargo caused fears of domestic oil shortages. As the U.S. oil boom of the last six years builds an excess of crude, calls have risen for Congress and the Obama administration to relax the ban.

"The end game here is legislative repeal of the ban," said a lobbyist for one of the member producers, who did not want to be named because the group was only recently formed.

The lobbyist said the coalition would be pleased if the Obama administration took steps next year to relax the ban, but PACE will press for the "ultimate certainty from passing legislation to reverse the ban."

The group of 14 producers has "united to create an advocacy initiative to help repeal the outdated ban on crude oil exports," Daren Beaudo, a spokesman for ConocoPhillips, one of the member companies, said in an email.

The ability to export crude is "vital to the country’s economic growth and national security, job creation, and strengthening our competitive position in the global marketplace," he said.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office this week issued a report that concluded domestic consumers could save on gasoline bills if the ban was lifted because it would bring more oil to global markets, where fuel is priced. It was the latest in a string of reports to reach a similar conclusion.

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