The following is an unedited copy of the press release from the Department of Energy dated October 26th, 2005 released at 10:30 AM.


Summary of Weekly Petroleum Data for the Week Ending October 21, 2005

U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 13.6 million barrels per day during the week ending October 21, up 311,000 barrels per day from the previous week's average, as some Gulf Coast refiners were able to begin operating again. Refineries operated at 80.7 percent of their operable capacity last week (capacity temporarily lost is not subtracted from operable capacity). Gasoline production rose slightly, reaching nearly 8.6 million barrels per day, while distillate fuel production increased significantly, averaging over 3.6 million barrels per day.

U.S. crude oil imports averaged nearly 10.0 million barrels per day last week, up 750,000 barrels per day from the previous week. Over the last four weeks, crude oil imports have averaged nearly 9.0 million barrels per day, a decline of 1.2 million 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 1.0 million barrels per day, while distillate fuel imports averaged 514,000 barrels per day, the highest weekly average since the week ending January 21, 2005.

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 4.4 million barrels from the previous week. At 316.4 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories remain above the upper end of the average range for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories inched up by 0.2 million barrels last week, putting them above the lower end of the average range. Distillate fuel inventories fell by 1.6 million barrels last week, and are just above the lower end of the average range for this time of year. Inventories fell for both low-sulfur (diesel fuel) distillate fuel and high-sulfur (heating oil) distillate fuel. Total commercial petroleum inventories decreased by 0.3 million barrels last week, but remain in the upper half of the average range for this time of year.

Total product supplied over the last four-week period has averaged over 20.3 million barrels per day, or 2.2 percent less than averaged over the same period last year. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline demand has averaged nearly 8.9 million barrels per day, or 2.0 percent below the same period last year. Distillate fuel demand has averaged over 4.0 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, or 1.4 percent below the same period last year. Jet fuel demand is down 4.9 percent over the last four weeks compared to the same four-week period last year.

The tables that follow display the latest U.S. Petroleum Balance Sheet and the most recent four weeks of Weekly Petroleum Status Report data.

To obtain the press release from the Department of Energy, please click here.