Production and Supply for
Nebraska and Region

Production
As of May 2, 2003

Refineries in the nation are operating at 95.2% capacity.

Gasoline:   Midwest production is 1,981 thousand barrels per day--a decrease of 4% from last week.

Diesel:   Midwest production is 764 thousand barrels per day--an increase of 16.5% over last week.

Propane:   Midwest production is 232 thousand barrels per day--an increase of 8.4% over last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Supply
As of May 2, 2003

Gasoline:   Midwest inventory is 48.3 million barrels--0.4% percent (or 200,000 barrels) lower than last week's inventory and 3.6% lower than last month's level.  It is psychologically important to keep national stocks at 200 million barrels.  As of May 2, the national stock level is 207.8 million barrels.

Diesel:   Midwest inventory is 20.4 million barrels--the same level as last week's inventory and 4.1% higher than last month's level.

Propane:   Midwest inventory is 7.4 million barrels--15.6% higher than last week with inventory levels continuing to remain below the normal range.  As of May 2, the national inventory level is 23.5 million barrels.  Industry observers believe a 60-million-barrel level for national inventory is adequate prior to the start of the heating season.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Natural Gas:   The East Region's inventory, of which Nebraska is a part, is 378 billion cubic feet--13.5% more than last week but 309 billion cubic feet or 45% below the normal range.  As of May 2, the national inventory level is 821 billion cubic feet.  Close to 3 trillion cubic feet is generally considered to be adequate for winter demand.  This would require an injection of approximately 2.2 trillion cubic feet between now and the end of October.
(Source:  Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report, Energy Information Administration)