Production and Supply for
Nebraska and Region

Production
As of May 16, 2003

Refineries in the nation are operating at 96.0% capacity.

Gasoline:   Midwest production is 1,988 thousand barrels per day--a decrease of 8.1% from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Supply
As of May 16, 2003

Gasoline:   Midwest inventory is 49.6 million barrels--2.5% percent higher than last week's inventory and 3.6% higher than last month's level.  The Energy Information Administration maintains a benchmark for national stocks at 200 million barrels.  As of May 16, the national stock level is 208.4 million barrels.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Diesel:   Midwest inventory is 20.9 million barrels--1.9% lower than last week's inventory but 4.0% higher than last month's level.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Propane:  Midwest inventory is 8.7 million barrels--6.1% higher than last week although inventory levels remain below the normal range.  As of May 16, the national inventory level is 28.9 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 496 billion cubic feet--13.2% more than last week but 288 billion cubic feet or 36.7% below the normal range.  As of May 16, the national inventory level is 990 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 trillion cubic feet between now and the end of October.
(Source:  Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report, Energy Information Administration)