Michael H Bufalini, May 1st, 2014
The US Energy Information Association is the most notable source for our countries energy supply and demand. Using the most recent data of supply and disposition the determination of our major fuel sources and import and export business can be analyzed. The Petroleum and Other Liquids data sheet illustrates the break down how the produced crude oil and petroleum products are used for energy consumption per thousand barrels of distillate liquid.
According to the supply data the US produces approximately 11,000 barrels of crude oil and petroleum products per day while importing 9,240 barrels per day. This data table also involves the net production based on these two values while subtracting the production from renewable fuel sources and oxygenate plant production such as Fuel Ethanol. The production value is 75% crude oil production with the other 25% being natural gas liquids and liquefied refinery gases. The crude oil production is expected to have a higher value because it supplies the majority of the vehicles on the road with our combustible fuel, gasoline. Although not a major contribution, natural gas still holds a high percentage because of the growing use of electricity generation, some use for transportation and in home heating.
The finished petroleum use about 50% of the products for the internal combustion engine in vehicles around the country. Another large percent of the finished petroleum products are used for distillate oils. Approximately 4,800 barrels per day are produced of distillate fuel oils for the use of diesel fuel, domestic heating, and in some cases outdoor portable stoves and heaters.
While we are importing 9,240 barrels a day of crude and petroleum we are also exporting about 40% of that amount of the same products. The majority of the US export business is finished petroleum products in the distillate fuel oil category. This is an expected leader of export because outside of the United States, countries use larger transportation methods and more vehicles run on diesel fuel. The largest distillate fuel export is also 15ppm sulfur content or lower which shows a greater reduction of harmful SOx emissions. Petroleum Coke is also a high exported fuel source of the finished petroleum products. This is most likely used for a source of fuel for other countries power plants.
The refining process follows regulations with how much a certain fuel needs to be refined for permissible amounts of emissions. Certain fuels need more refining to reduce the carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen emissions. The majority of our distillate fuel oil is refined to be under 15ppm of sulfur and our gasoline is blended with additives such as ethanol and other oxygenates to boost octane and meet air quality requirements. With ethanol being in the fuel it ensures higher percentage of carbon dioxide in the emissions rather than carbon monoxide. Ethanol is being produced by hydrolysis from ethylene, which is manufactured in cracker plants from natural gas liquids.