Production and Supply for
Nebraska and Region

Production
As of May 23, 2003

Refineries in the nation are operating at 95.2% capacity.

Gasoline:   Midwest production is 2,042 thousand barrels per day--an increase of 2.7% from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Supply
As of May 23, 2003

Gasoline:   Midwest inventory remains 49.6 million barrels--the same level as last week and 2.7% higher than last month's level.  The Energy Information Administration maintains a benchmark for national stocks at 200 million barrels.  As of May 23, the national stock level is 205 million barrels.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Diesel:   Midwest inventory is 20.5 million barrels--1.9% lower than last week's inventory but 0.5% (or 100,000 barrels) higher than last month's level.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Propane:   Midwest inventory is 9.0 million barrels--3.5% higher than last week although inventory levels remain below the normal range.  As of May 23, the national inventory level is 30.4 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 559 billion cubic feet--12.7% more than last week but 274 billion cubic feet or 32.9% below the normal range.  As of May 23, the national inventory level is 1,085 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 1.9 trillion cubic feet between now and the end of October.
(Source:  Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report, Energy Information Administration)