Production and Supply for
Nebraska and Region

Production
As of March 19, 2004

Refineries in the nation are operating at 87.9% capacity.

Gasoline:  Midwest production is 2,035 thousand barrels per day--a decrease of 1% from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Diesel:  Midwest production is 606 thousand barrels per day--a decrease of 9.2% from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Heating Oil:  Midwest production is 123 thousand barrels per day--an increase of 28% from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Propane:  Midwest production is 208 thousand barrels per day--an increase of 9.5% from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Supply
As of March 19, 2004

Gasoline:   Midwest inventory (or PADD II) is 53.3 million barrels--3.3% lower than last week's inventory and 4% lower than last month's level with inventory levels in the normal range.  The Energy Information Administration maintains a benchmark for national stocks at 200 million barrels.  As of March 19, the national stock level is 199.5 million barrels.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Diesel:  Midwest inventory (or PADD II) is 21.1 million barrels--0.5% (or 100,000 barrels) higher than last week's inventory but 4.5% lower than last month's level with distillate inventory levels continuing below the normal range.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Heating Oil:   Midwest inventory (or PADD II) is 6.9 million barrels--3% higher than last week's inventory level but unchanged from last month's level with distillate inventory levels continuing below the normal range.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Propane:  Midwest inventory (or PADD II) is 10 million barrels--3.1% higher than last week's inventory level but 6.5% lower than last month's level with inventory levels in the normal range.  As of March 19, the national inventory level is 27.1 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 507 billion cubic feet--11.8% less than last week and 49 billion cubic feet or 8.8% below the 5-year average.  As of March 19, the national inventory level is 1,032 billion cubic feet.  Close to 3 trillion cubic feet is generally considered to be adequate for winter demand.  This would require an injection of 2 trillion cubic feet between now and the end of October.
(Source:  Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report, Energy Information Administration)