The Transportation Petroleum Gap
March 2, 2009
In 1989 the transportation sector petroleum consumption surpassed U.S. petroleum production for the first time, creating a gap that must be met with imports of petroleum. By the year 2030, transportation petroleum consumption is expected to grow to nearly 17 million barrels per day; at that time, the gap between U.S. production and transportation consumption will be 3.7 million barrels per day.
U.S. Petroleum Production and Consumption, 1970-2030
Note
The U.S. Production has two lines after 2005. The solid line is conventional sources of petroleum. The dashed line adds in other inputs -- ethanol, liquids from coal, and liquids from biomass. The sharp increase in values between 2006 and 2007 are caused by the data change from historical to projected values.
Source
Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 27, and EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2009, December 2008.