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Frequently Asked Questions – Crude Oil
Questions About Crude Oil...
How dependent is the United States on foreign oil?
How many barrels of oil does the United States consume per year?
How much oil is produced in Alaska and where does it go?
How much petroleum does the United States import?
Why don’t fuel prices change as quickly as crude oil prices?
Do we have enough oil worldwide to meet our future needs?
How many gallons of gasoline does one barrel of oil make?
What are the differences between various types of crude oil prices?
What is the difference between “crude oil”, “petroleum products”, and “petroleum”?
What are the products and uses of petroleum?
When was the last refinery built in the United States?
 
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 Learn More About Crude Oil!

Visit our Petroleum Basics 101 page to learn about crude oil and other petroleum-based fuels.

Textbook titled Petroleum Basics 101
 
 
Question: How dependent is the United States on foreign oil?

In 2007, about 58% of the petroleum consumed by the United States was imported from foreign countries 1.

“Petroleum” includes crude oil and refined petroleum products like gasoline. Most (83%) of the imports were crude oil. About 66% of the crude oil processed in U.S. refineries was imported.

The top five source countries of U.S. petroleum imports are Canada, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Mexico, and Nigeria. Their respective rankings vary depending on whether you consider total/gross petroleum imports or net petroleum imports (gross imports minus exports.)

Top Sources of Imported Petroleum to the United States in 2007

In Million Barrels per Day and Percent Share of Imports

 

 

Gross Imports

U.S. Exports to
Country

Net Imports

Canada

2.455  (18%)

0.189

2.266  (19%)

Mexico

1.532  (11%)

0.279

1.254  (10%)

Saudi Arabia

1.485  (11%)

0.002

1.483  (12%)

Venezuela

1.361  (10%)

0.021

1.339  (11%)

Nigeria

1.134   (8%)

0.001

1.133   (9%)


For more information, see:

1. Based on net petroleum imports.

Last Reviewed:  November 25, 2008

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Question: How many barrels of oil does the United States consume per year?

In 2007, the United States consumed a total of 7.5 billion barrels of oil. The latest preliminary data show that the United States consumed around 24% of world total oil used in 2006.

Learn More: Annual petroleum consumption data and Annual international petroleum consumption data.
Last reviewed: June 12, 2008
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Question: How much oil is produced in Alaska and where does it go?

Alaska’s crude oil production peaked in 1988 at about 738 million barrels, which was equal to about 25% of total U.S. oil production.  In 2007, it was about 264 million barrels, or about 14% of total U.S. production.

Since the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System from the North Slope of Alaska was finished 1977, about 96% of total Alaskan production has come from the North Slope. The rest comes from Southern Alaska.

Most Alaskan oil has gone to refineries in Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Washington. Relatively small amounts were shipped to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and foreign countries.

Export of oil transported in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System was banned until 1996.  Between 1996 and 2004, a total of about 95.49 million barrels of crude oil, equal to 2.7% of Alaskan production during that period, was exported to foreign countries.  As of August 2008, no Alaskan oil has been exported since 2004. 

Alaskan Oil Exports 1996 to 2004

Destination  Amount (in million barrels)

South Korea

46.15

Japan

24.51

China

16.52

Taiwan

8.31

Total Exports

95.49

Total Alaskan Production 1996 to 2004

3,549 million barrels

Data on crude oil production in Alaska
Data on the movement and shipment of Alaskan oil to the Lower 48 States

Last Updated: September 25, 2008.
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Question: How much petroleum does the United States import?
See: How dependent is the United States on foreign oil?
Last reviewed: September 5, 2008
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Question: Do we have enough oil worldwide to meet our future needs?

Assuming that the world’s production of crude oil in 2006 of about 26.8 billion barrels continues at the same level into the future, then the estimated world proved oil reserves at the end of 2006 of about 1,317 billion barrels of oil will last about 49 years.

However, if crude oil production increases through 2030 according to EIA’s 2008 forecast, then 45% of the estimated world proved oil reserves at the end of 2006 will remain in 2030, as opposed to 51% with flat production.

Last updated: September 5, 2008
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Question: How many gallons of gasoline does one barrel of oil make?

One barrel (42 gallons) of crude oil, when refined, yields approximately 19.6 gallons of finished motor gasoline. The remainder of the barrel yields distillate fuel oil, residual fuel oil, jet fuel, and other products.

Learn More: Products made from oil
Last reviewed: April 17, 2008
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Question: What are the differences between various types of crude oil prices?
Crude oils vary in price because they vary in quality. Other factors—the makeup of the oil or its market penetration—can also influence price. West Texas Intermediate and Brent Blend are two crude oils that are either traded themselves or whose prices affect other types of crude oil. The press and analysts often refer to the following crude oil prices: West Texas Intermediate, Brent Blend, Imported Refiner Acquisition Cost (IRAC), OPEC Basket, and the NYMEX futures.
Learn More: Pricing differences among various types of crude oil

Last reviewed: April 17, 2008

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Question: What is the difference between “crude oil”, “petroleum products”, and “petroleum”?

Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that exists as a liquid in natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid when brought to the surface. Petroleum products are produced from the processing of crude oil at petroleum refineries and the extraction of liquid hydrocarbons at natural gas processing plants. Petroleum is the broad category that includes both crude oil and petroleum products. The terms “oil” and “petroleum” are sometimes used interchangeably.

Click terms above to see their complete EIA Glossary definitions.
Last reviewed: June 25, 2008
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Question: What are the products and uses of petroleum?

The most common products from petroleum are energy products: gasoline, heating oil, and diesel fuel. Other petroleum products are: ink, crayons, bubble gum, dishwashing liquids, deodorant, eyeglasses, records, tires, ammonia, and heart valves.

A barrel of oil yields these refined products (percent of barrel):

47% gasoline for use in automobiles
23% heating oil and diesel fuel
18% other products, which includes petrochemical feedstock—products derived from petroleum principally for the manufacturing  of chemicals, synthetic rubber and plastics
10% jet fuel
4% propane
3% asphalt
(Percentages equal more than 100 because of an approximately 5% processing gain from refining.)
Learn More: Products made from oil
Last reviewed: April 17, 2008
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Question: When was the last refinery built in the United States?

The “newest” refinery in the United States began operating in 1998 in Atmore, Alabama.  But the newest significant (or sophisticated) refinery began operating in 1977 in Garyville, Louisiana. 

Capacity has also been added to existing refineries through upgrades or new construction.  The most recent examples include:

  • Orion Refinery massively upgraded and reopened in 1998 in Good Hope, Louisiana a small, simple refinery that originally opened in 1967 (now owned by Valero).
  • Valero opened a "new" and very sophisticated refinery in 1983 in Corpus Christi, TX, on the site of a simple refinery that originally opened in 1975.

The following are the newest refineries currently operating in the United States:

Year Built

First Operated

Location

Original
Owner

Original Capacity

Current
Owner

2008 Capacity

Type

1998

1998

Atmore, AL

Goodway

4,100

Goodway

4,100

Simple

1993

1993

Valdez, AK

Petro Star

26,300

Petro Star

48,000

Simple

1991

1992

Eagle Springs, NV

Petro Source

7,000

Foreland

2,000

Simple

1986

1987

North Pole, AK

Petro Star

6,700

Petro Star

17,500

Simple

1985

1986

Anchorage, AK

ARCO

12,000

ConocoPhillips

15,000

Simple

1981

1982

Thomas, OK

OK Refining

10,700

Ventura

12,000

Simple

1979

1980

Wilmington, CA

Huntway

5,400

Valero

6,300

Simple

1978

1979

Vicksburg, MS

Ergon

10,000

Ergon

23,000

Simple

1978

1979

North Slope, AK

ARCO

13,000

BP Exp AK

12,780

Simple

1978

1978

North Pole, AK

Earth
Resources

22,600

Flint Hills

210,000

Simple

1977

1978

Lake Charles, LA

Calcasieu

6,500

Calcasieu

78,000

Simple

1976

1977

Garyville, LA

Marathon

200,000

Marathon
Ashland

256,000

Complex

1976

1977

Krotz Springs, LA

Gold King

5,000

Valero

80,000

Complex

1975

1975

Corpus Christi, TX

Saber

15,000

Valero

142,000

Complex

1967

1967

Good Hope, LA

Kirby Industries

6,500

Valero

185,003

Complex


The Refinery Capacity Report is EIA’s annual data for all operating and idle U.S. petroleum refineries.

Last reviewed: August 25, 2008
 
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