Oil producers are forming a coalition dedicated to ending the four-decade U.S. ban on crude exports, signaling a more serious turn in their push to sell to overseas customers. The Producers for American Crude Exports includes ConocoPhillips, along with at least 13 other companies, company spokesman Daren Beaudo said in a statement. Hess Corp. (HES) , Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO) , Continental Resources Inc. are also in the group, according to a disclosure statement filed to Congress. As U.S. oil production increases to its highest point in three decades, advocates for exports say the ban is anachronistic and they point to studies showing positive effects from allowing exports, including more production in the U.S. and cheaper gasoline prices. Even so, energy analysts and lobbyists said success for the effort isn’t certain in Washington, where the focus has long been on how to cut ties to […]