AT A GLANCE: AMERICA'S FALLING OIL PRODUCTION

According to a report from the Energy Information Administration – a division of the U.S. Energy Dept. – the United States imported about 60% of the oil it consumed during 2006. Our five largest foreign suppliers of crude oil and petroleum products were: Canada (17.2%); Mexico (12.4%); Saudi Arabia (10.7%); Venezuela (10.4%) and Nigeria (8.1%).

The U.S. produces 10% of the world’s oil and consumes 24% -- about 20.7 million barrels of oil each day. Of that amount, 70% is consumed for transportation purposes.

U.S. oil consumption is expected to increase 2.1 MMbd by 2030.

U.S. domestic oil production has fallen significantly in the past three decades – due in large part to Congress’ moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). In 1970, domestic production of crude oil averaged 9.7 MMbbl/d. In 2006, total U.S. domestic crude oil production, including Federal offshore, averaged 5.1 MMbbl/d, a decrease of about 47% from 1970.

The top crude oil-producing States in 2006 (and their percent share of domestic production) were Texas (21%), Alaska (15%), California (12%), Louisiana (4%), Oklahoma (3%), and New Mexico (3%). Production on Federal offshore-leases in the Gulf of Mexico in 2006 was 1.3 MMbbl/d, about 25% of total U.S. production.

(Sources: EIA and Congressional Research Service)