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


Summary of Weekly Petroleum Data for the Week Ending August 18, 2006

U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged over 15.7 million barrels per day during the week ending August 18, up 169,000 barrels per day from the previous week''s average. Refineries operated at 92.8 % of their operable capacity last week. Gasoline production increased slightly last week compared to the previous week, averaging nearly 9.3 million barrels per day, while distillate fuel production also increased, averaging nearly 4.1 million barrels per day.

U.S. crude oil imports averaged 10.2 million barrels per day last week, up 175,000 barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude oil imports have averaged 10.2 million barrels per day, a decrease of 63,000 barrels per day from the comparable four weeks last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged over 1.3 million barrels per day. Distillate fuel imports averaged 521,000 barrels per day last week.

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) dropped 0.6 million barrels compared to the previous week. However, at 330.4 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories remain well above the upper end of the average range for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories increased by 0.4 million barrels last week, and are in the upper half of the average range.

Distillate fuel inventories rose by 2.3 million barrels, and remain above the upper end of the average range for this time of year. A large increase in ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel more than offset a large decrease in regular diesel fuel (15 ppm to 500 ppm sulfur), while high-sulfur distillate fuel (heating oil) inventories jumped by 1.4 million barrels. Total commercial petroleum inventories increased by 4.2 million barrels last week, and remain above the upper end of the average range for this time of year.

Total products supplied over the last four-week period has averaged over 21.2 million barrels per day, or 0.4 % more than averaged over the same period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline demand has averaged 9.6 million barrels per day, or 1.7 % above the same period last year. Distillate fuel demand has averaged over 4.0 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, or 2.4 % above the same period last year. Jet fuel demand is up 2.1 % 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