Released on August 22, 2007
(Next Release on August 29, 2007)

One-Stop Shop
As Hurricane Dean moved west earlier this week, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami were busy trying to project the path of the powerful storm. For Gulf Coast residents and energy markets, the anxieties of 2005 were rekindled as Dean became the first major hurricane in nearly 2 years to enter the region. Both energy analysts and consumers wondered about what damage Dean might inflict on U.S. oil and gas operations if the storm were to suddenly veer north towards the Texas coast. Where along the Texas Gulf Coast is critical energy infrastructure located? How much refining capacity would be vulnerable if Dean hit a major refining center in Texas?

While Dean ultimately followed a track that avoided a major threat to any key U.S. offshore production or refining facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, the answer to these and other questions can be found in EIA's State Energy Profiles (SEP). The SEP offers data users a one-stop shop, or gateway, to all of EIA's State energy data, providing an ongoing source of comprehensive State-level information that can be accessed immediately, as soon as a threat to the Nation's energy infrastructure begins to emerge. The SEP presents key facts and statistics about State energy markets and industries, as well as maps that display energy infrastructure, including refineries, sea ports, electricity transmissions lines, power plants, natural gas flow diagrams, and major coal mines, just to name a few (e.g., see below the SEP map for Texas). The display of geographic data allows the user to review the entire major infrastructure of the various interrelated facilities that could be affected by a major hurricane or other disaster. The SEP also includes Quick Facts, which provide important State energy information, and Overviews, which describe key factors affecting each State's energy and electricity markets. Data tables display the most current State-level statistics from EIA surveys and provide links to more comprehensive State-level data, including trend data.

As we prepare to close the books on Dean, we know that new concerns about hurricanes or other events with the potential to disrupt energy systems will continue to arise in the future. The SEP provides an easy-to-use platform from which State-level information relevant to energy market impacts and potential response can be quickly obtained. EIA also stands ready to post additional disruption-specific information and analysis on its website, as it has done on several occasions since 2005, should an actual disruption occur.

Retail Gasoline and Diesel Prices Up Last Week
After declining four weeks in a row, the U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline increased 1.4 cents last week to 278.5 cents per gallon as of August 20, 2007, 13.9 cents lower than last year. However, most regions recorded price declines, with the exceptions being the Midwest, where the average price jumped 10.2 cents per gallon to 287.1 cents, the highest regional price in the country, and the Gulf Coast, where the average price remained the same at 268.1 cents per gallon, which is the lowest regional price in the country. Along the East Coast prices fell 1.9 cents to 275.1 cents per gallon. In the Rocky Mountain region, prices were 284.1 cents per gallon, down 3.9 cents. The average price for regular grade gasoline along the West Coast dropped 5.6 cents to 282.3 cents per gallon, with the average price in California dropping 6.6 cents to land at 286.2 cents per gallon.

Continuing the fluctuating trend in recent weeks, retail diesel prices were up 2.1 cents per gallon last week, reaching 286.8 cents per gallon. Prices are 16.5 cents per gallon lower than at this time last year. Regional prices were mixed, generally rising east of the Rocky Mountains and falling in the Rocky Mountain and West Coast regions. Along the East Coast prices rose 2.2 cents to 284.2 cents per gallon. In the Midwest, prices increased 2.9 cents to 286.4 cents per gallon, while the Gulf Coast average price rose 3.6 cents to 280.7 cents per gallon, the lowest regional average price in the Nation. The Rocky Mountain region average diesel price declined 0.3 cents, to settle at 297.7 cents per gallon. The West Coast average price dropped by 2.3 cents, but remained the highest priced region in the Nation at 299.6 cents per gallon. California prices fell by 3.8 cents, to 301.6 cents per gallon, 20.5 cents per gallon lower than at this time last year.

Propane Inventories Continue Modest Rebound
For the second week, propane stockholders continued to add moderately higher inventories, compared with several weeks ago, moving the Nation's primary supply of propane up to an estimated 53.4 million barrels as of August 17, 2007. Despite the recent gains, propane inventories in all the major regions remain either below or near the lower boundary of their respective average ranges for this time of year. Regional gains were strong last week in the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions that reported similar 0.7-million-barrels gains. During this same time, East Coast inventories managed a 0.1-million-barrel increase while the combined Rocky Mountain/West Coast region reported a more robust 0.2-million-barrel gain. Propylene non-fuel use inventories slipped lower by 0.1 million barrels, accounting for a smaller 5.4 percent share, compared with the prior week's 5.7 percent share.

Text from the previous editions of “This Week In Petroleum” is now accessible through a link at the top right-hand corner of this page.