The most notable change in the supply of petroleum fuels for the United States is the drastic growth in domestic production of both natural gas and crude oil. The development of production in tight formations, or shale formations (particularly the now well-known Marcellus Shale in the Northeastern United States) combined with the technological advances (hydraulic fracturing and directional drilling), has had far-reaching effects, including decreased both dependency on and imports from other countries. The largest change is from Africa, with imports from that region decreasing by 90% from 2010 to 2014. For comparison, 2008 tight oil production accounted for only 12% of US production, while in 2012 the number rose to 35%. By 2019, we can expect half of US oil production to be from tight oil formations. This increased domestic production has also reduced costs, allowed prices to decrease, and making natural gas a viable and inexpensive alternative to coal in the generation of electricity. While increased use of natural gas in the electricity generation sector is partially environmental policy-driven, much of this growth can be attributed to the mechanics of a price competitive market. This change is beneficial, as when comparing these two sources of energy, combustion of natural gas produces far less carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur emissions than coal. Natural gas also does not contain harmful particulate matter such as mercury. Furthermore, there have also been advances in other renewable sources of energy including wind and solar power. As these sources become more competitive as costs decrease, we can expect renewable electricity generation to account for 16% of total electricity generation in the United States by 2040.

There have been many positive changes regarding the environmental concerns from combustion of petroleum fuels in internal combustion engines. Though the total miles driven and vehicles used have increased (total vehicle miles traveled increasing by 0.9% each year), it has been more than offset by the increased fuel efficiency of engines. Strict regulations and standards set in place have forced manufacturers to develop better and cleaner vehicles. The EIA website states that light-duty vehicle fuel efficiency has increased by nearly 2% each year, and can be expected to reach 37.2 miles per gallon by 2040 from 21.5 mpg in 2012. Additionally, the entire nation has been slowly and gradually moving towards diesel fuels, biofuels, hybrid, and completely electric cars (most notably Tesla, with massive growth in recent years). Overall, I believe that the United States is moving in the right direction with regards to environmental policy and sustainability. However, this is a global issue and countries such as China and India must also follow suit (though India’s new prime minister has stated that the entire country will be moving towards solar powered homes, hoping that each home is powered by the year 2019).

References:

1. Gary, J. H., & Handwerk, G. E. (2007). Petroleum refining: technology and economics. New York: M. Dekker.

2. The Availability and Price of Petroleum and Petroleum Products Produced in Countries Other Than Iran,  http://www.eia.gov/analysis/requests/ndaa/?src=Petroleum-f7

3. U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Proved http://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/crudeoilreserves/?src=Petroleum-f8

Kyle Tress, krt5109@psu.edu , Tuesday May 20, 2014

The most recent data on the Supply of petroleum products in the United States is from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (eia) from February 2014. When looking at just the field production, the total supplied Crude Oil and Petroleum Products totaled on average 10,717 (Thousand Barrels per day).¹ In the prior months it was at 10,644 in January 2014, and 10,517 in December 2013.¹ In general there has been a trend of increasing supply of petroleum products in recent years, with the last decrease from 10,462 in September 2013, to 10,392 in October of 2013.¹ When looking at the annual data from as far back as 1970’s, the peak recorded supply was around 1973 with 10,975, then in general decreased till around 2006 with 6,860.¹ From that point on there has been an increasing amount supplied to the market with the current data recorded in 2013 with an average of 10,003.¹

When looking at February alone in the U.S. there was an additional 1,109 (Thousand Barrels per day) inputs from Renewable Fuels and Oxygenate Plant Net Production, 18,652 from Refinery and Blender net Production, 9,151 from imports, and 651 from Adjustments, all of which except for imports are up from the prior recorded data in January of 2014.¹ In recent years there has been a decreasing number of inputs from the peak in 2006 at 13,707, to 9,764 (Thousand Barrels per day), based on an average of the annual data.¹

When looking at the disposition of these supplies 14 (Thousand Barrels per day) was Stock Change, 17,572 Refinery and Blender Net Inputs, 3,611 Exports, 18,994 Products Supplied, as recorded from the eia data in February 2014.¹ The number of products supplied is up from 18,921 in January 2014, but down from 19,081 back in December of 2013.¹ The numbers of exports are as well down from 4,021 in January 2014, and down from 4,444 in December of 2013.¹ The trend in recent years have however been an increasing number of exports based on an average of the annual data from a low of 971 in 2001, to the current high of 3,594 in 2013.¹

Examining the types of products supplied to the market in February of 2014, 3,461 (Thousand Barrels per day) was from Natural Gas Plant Liquids and Liquefied Refinery Gases such as Ethane and Propane.¹ An additional 1,927 went to other liquids such as Ethanol and Unfinished oils.¹ There were finally 18,716 to finished petroleum products such as kerosene, finished motor Gasoline, or residual fuel oil.¹ The largest portion of Finished Petroleum Products came mostly from Refinery and Blender Net Production with 18,135 as recorded in February of 2014.¹ This is up from the 18,082 in January of 2014, but down from the 19,193 supplied in December of 2013.¹ When examining the average based on annual data there has been a general upward trend of increasing Finisher Petroleum products Supplied from U.S. Refinery and Blender Production. There was however a decrease in 2012 with 17,934 from the 18,054 in 2011, but quickly increased again to the current high of 18,417 in 2010.¹

With petroleum fuels in internal combustion engines a concern that must be addressed in the environmental impact that will occur, due to the source of anthropogenic pollution. This can include such emissions as NO_x, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, VOCs, SO_x, and CO.² This can be done by making thefuel cleaner as the refinery level. The first method is to reduce the sulfur content. Sulfur can inhibit the effectiveness of catalytic converters, so reducing the sulfur content make the fuel work more effectively and reducing tailpipe emissions.³ The second method is to reduce the benzene content. Benzene is a cancer causing risk to humans, so reducing the content reduces the cancer risks.³ A third method is to reduce the levels of aromatics hydrocarbons and the level of olefins, which react readily with other pollutants to form smog. Another method is to reduce the vapor pressure, which ensures that the fuel evaporates more readily. The final methods are to use an oxygen-containing additive which helps the fuel combust completely and burn cleaner.³

References

1. Supply and Disposition of Petroleum and Other Liquids, Energy Information Administration, From:http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_sum_snd_d_nus_mbblpd_m_cur.htm

2. An Assessment of the Environmental Implications of Oil and Gas Production: A Regional Case Study, September 2008, Sector Strategies.

3. Cleaner-Burning Gasoline: An Update, September 25, 2008, California Environmental Protection Agency, From:http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/gasoline/cbgupdat.htm