Production and Supply for
Nebraska and Region

Production
As of August 20, 2004

Refineries in the nation are operating at 96% capacity.

Gasoline:  Midwest production is 1,984 thousand barrels per day--an increase of 2.1% from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Diesel:  Midwest production is 690 thousand barrels per day--a decrease of 0.9% (or 6,000 barrels per day) from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Heating Oil:  Midwest production is 212 thousand barrels per day--an increase of 12.2% from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Propane:  Midwest production is 238 thousand barrels per day--an increase of 3% from last week.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Supply
As of August 20, 2004

Gasoline:  Midwest inventory (or PADD II) is 52.2 million barrels--0.2% (or 100,000 barrels) lower than last week's inventory and 0.6% (or 300,000 barrels) 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 August 20, the national stock level is 205.7 million barrels.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Diesel:  Midwest inventory (or PADD II) is 23.3 million barrels--unchanged from last week's inventory but 3.6% higher than last month's level with distillate inventory levels in the normal range.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Heating Oil:   Midwest inventory (or PADD II) is 7.4 million barrels--unchanged from last week's inventory level and 8.8% higher than last month's level with distillate inventory levels in the normal range.
(Source:  Weekly Petroleum Status Report, Energy Information Administration)

Propane:  Midwest inventory (or PADD II) is 21.8 million barrels--2.8% higher than last week's inventory level and 7.9% higher than last month's level with inventory levels at the bottom of the normal range.  The Energy Information Administration estimates 25 million barrels in storage by the end of September to be a benchmark for the Midwest.  As of August 20, the national inventory level is 54.8 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 1,489 billion cubic feet--4.1% more than last week and 56 billion cubic feet above the 5-year average.  As of August 20, the national inventory level is 2,614 billion cubic feet.  Close to 3 trillion cubic feet is generally considered to be adequate for winter demand.  This would require an injection of about 386 billion cubic feet between now and the end of October.
(Source:  Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report, Energy Information Administration)