Saturday, December 16, 2017

US Energy Production

US Oil

US oil production is approaching 10 million barrels per day and is double the 5 million barrel per day production we had in 2008. The US has large oil fields in Texas and the upper Midwest and is opening up more drilling in Alaska. The US is the largest producer of oil on the planet.


In 2016, the U.S. exported crude oil to nearly 30 countries. In 2017, monthly exports have exceeded one million barrels per day (BPD) on multiple occasions. But the U.S. still imports about eight million BPD of crude oil. As a result, I am often asked why we are exporting oil at all.

It comes down to the quality of the oil that is being produced, versus the kind of oil U.S. refineries are built to process.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2017/09/30/why-the-u-s-exports-oil/#9dab0263b071

 

The US consumes about 20 million barrels per day of oil.

https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=33&t=6

 

US Natural Gas

The US exports 250 million cubic feet of natural gas each

month. Natural gas powers 32% of US electricity generation and is supplied to most homes.

 

US Coal

Coal production in 2017 is around 800 million short tons per year. Coal powers 30% of US electricity generation.

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=33352

 

US Nuclear

Nuclear powers 20% of US electricity generation.

 

US Hydro etc.

The other means of generating electricity make up the other 10%.

https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3

 

Wind and Solar are not cost-effective enough for power companies to use, but wealthy ranchers in Western States with thousands of acres can use these to get “off the grid”.

 


Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader

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