Frequently Asked Questions
When was the last refinery built in the United States?
There were a total of 144 operable petroleum refineries in the United States as of January 1, 2012.
The "newest" refinery in the United States began operating in 2008 in Douglas, Wyoming. However, 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:
- In 1998, Orion Refinery massively upgraded and reopened a refinery in Norco, Louisiana, which was a small, simple refinery that originally opened in 1967. (It is now owned by Valero.)
- Valero opened a "new" and very sophisticated refinery in 1983 in Corpus Christi, Texas, on the site of a simple refinery that originally opened in 1975.
The newest refineries currently operating in the United States are as follows:
Year Built | First Operated | Location | Original Owner | Original Capacity | Current Owner | 2011 Capacity | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 2008 | Douglas, WY | Interline Resources | 3,000 | Garco Energy | 3,600 | Simple |
1998 | 1998 | Atmore, AL | Goodway | 4,100 | Goodway | 4,100 | Simple |
1993 | 1993 | Valdez, AK | Petro Star | 26,300 | Petro Star | 55,000 | Simple |
1991 | 1992 | Eagle Springs, NV | Petro Source |
|
Foreland | 2,000 | Simple |
1986 | 1987 | North Pole, AK | Petro Star | 6,700 | Petro Star | 19,700 | 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 | 219,500 | Simple |
1977 | 1978 | Lake Charles, LA | Calcasieu | 6,500 | Calcasieu | 78,000 | Simple |
1976 | 1977 | Garyville, LA | Marathon | 200,000 | Marathon | 464,000 | Complex |
1976 | 1977 | Krotz Springs, LA | Gold King | 5,000 | Alon | 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 | 205,000 | Complex |
Learn more:
Refinery Capacity Report, Table 1
Last updated: August 3, 2012
Other FAQs about Crude Oil
- Do we have enough oil worldwide to meet our future needs?
- Does EIA have data on U.S. oil refineries and their locations?
- Does EIA have data on the movement of crude oil and ethanol by rail and truck?
- Does EIA have data on the type or quality of crude oil processed in U.S. refineries?
- Does EIA have maps or information on the location of natural gas and oil pipelines?
- How dependent is the United States on foreign oil?
- How many gallons of gasoline does one barrel of oil make?
- How much coal, natural gas, or petroleum is used to generate a kilowatt-hour of electricity?
- How much does it cost to produce crude oil and natural gas?
- How much of the oil produced in the U.S. is consumed in the U.S.?
- How much oil does the United States consume per year?
- How much oil is produced in Alaska and where does it go?
- How much oil is used to make plastic?
- How much petroleum does the United States import and from where?
- What are the differences between various types of crude oil prices?
- What are the products and uses of petroleum?
- What countries are the top world oil consumers?
- What countries are the top world oil net exporters?
- What countries are the top world oil net importers?
- What countries are the top world oil producers?
- What do I pay for in a gallon of regular gasoline?
- What is the difference between crude oil, petroleum products, and petroleum?
- What is the outlook for home heating fuel prices this winter?
- What types and amounts of energy are produced in each state?
- When was the last refinery built in the United States?
- Where is the boundary for state and federal offshore oil and gas production?
- Why don't fuel prices change as quickly as crude oil prices?
- Why is the United States exporting gasoline when prices are so high?