US Energy Independence

Oil

U.S. oil production peaked in 1985 and steadily declined until recently.  We have typically produced 40% to 60% of our own oil consumption.

U.S. Oil production has increased steadily over the past 6 years thanks to fracking.  We are approaching the point where we produce 50% of the oil we consume.   At the same time, our own economic decline in the U.S. and the increase in good mileage vehicles will reduce our crude oil consumption. 

U.S. Oil Production in thousands of barrels per year

2008  1,830,002

2009  1,952,670

2010   2,000,851

2011   2,060,398

2012   2,377,806

2013   2,719,584

2014   approaching 3 billion in production, 

In 2013, the United States consumed a total of 6.89 billion barrels of petroleum products, an average of 18.89 million barrels per day.¹ This total includes about 0.32 billion barrels of biofuels.  Our net crude oil consumption was 6.57 billion barrels.   

3,598,454,000 barrels were imported in 2013. 

Exports of US oil in 2013 totaled 49 million barrels.  

Crude oil imports for 2013 totaled 2,821.480 million barrels

Oil is used in the manufacture of plastics and a lot of other processed goods.

We import half of our oil from the Canada 18%, Mexico 11%. Saudi Arabia 11% and Venezuela 10%. As we continue to increase our crude oil production, we should continue to import less. 

The global economic slow-down and the lack of storage facilities will temper U.S. oil production until it can actually replace exports.

Natural Gas

US natural gas production in 2012 was 29,542 billion cubic feet

US natural gas production in 2013 was 30,171,367 million cubic feet

US natural gas exports in 2013 totaled 1,572,413 million cubic feet

US natural gas imports in 2013 totaled 2,883,355 million cubic feet

Imports exceeded exports by 1,310,942 million cubic feet

US natural gas production in 2013 was 30,171,367 million cubic feet

US natural gas consumption in 2013 was 26,037,347 million cubic feet

Our natural gas surplus was 4,134,020 million cubic feet.

We are energy independent with natural gas.

Natural gas is used to heat, but is also used in the production of many products.

Data Sources: http://www.eia.gov, http://www.energytrendsinsider.com/research/crude-oil/where-the-us-gets-its-oil-from/

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader