The following is the un-edited press release from the Energy Information Administration.


Summary of Weekly Petroleum Data for the Week Ending May 23, 2008

U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged nearly 15.3 million barrels per day during the week ending May 23,up 214 thousand barrels per day from the previous week''s average. Refineries operated at 87.9 percent of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production moved higher compared to the previous week, averaging about 9.1 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel production decreased last week, averaging 4.3 million barrels per day.

U.S. crude oil imports averaged 9.0 million barrels per day last week, down 278 thousand barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude oil imports have averaged nearly 9.7 million barrels per day, 579 thousand barrels per day below the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 1.0 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 250 thousand barrels per day last week.

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 8.8 million barrels from the previous week. At 311.6 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are in the lower half of the average range for this time of year. The drop was due to temporary delays in crude oil tanker off-loadings on the Gulf Coast. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 3.2 million barrels last week, and are near the lower limit of the average range. Finished gasoline inventories remained unchanged last week while gasoline blending components inventories decreased during this same time. Distillate fuel inventories increased by 1.6 million barrels, and are in the lower half of the average range for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories increased by 1.7 million barrels last week but remain near the bottom of the average range. Total commercial petroleum inventories decreased by 9.7 million barrels last week, and are in the lower half of the average range for this time of year.

Total products supplied over the last four-week period has averaged nearly 20.5 million barrels per day, down by 0.7 percent compared to the similar period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline demand has averaged 9.3 million barrels per day, down by 0.4 percent from the same period last year. Distillate fuel demand has averaged 4.1 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, up 1.2 percent from the same period last year. Jet fuel demand is 2.9 percent lower over the last four weeks compared to the same four-week period last year.


Available at:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/weekly_petroleum_status_report/current/txt/wpsr.txt