EIA: US crude inventories down 9 million bbl

US crude oil inventories for the week ended Feb. 13, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, decreased by 9.0 million bbl from the previous week, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The data was released a day later than usual due to the closure of the federal government on Monday, Feb. 16.

At 419.8 million bbl, US crude oil inventories are about 5% below the 5-year average for this time of year, the EIA report indicated.

EIA said total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 3.2 million bbl from last week and are about 3% above the 5-year average for this time of year. Finished gasoline inventories and blending components inventories both decreased last week. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 4.6 million bbl last week and are about 5% below the 5-year average for this time of year.

Propane-propylene inventories decreased by 3.1 million bbl from last week and are about 39% above the 5-year average for this time of year, EIA said.

US crude oil refinery inputs averaged 16.1 million b/d for the week ended Feb. 13, which was 77,000 b/d more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 91.0% of operable capacity.

Gasoline production increased, averaging 9.4 million b/d. Distillate fuel production increased by 28,000 b/d, averaging 4.9 million b/d.

US crude oil imports averaged 6.5 million b/d, down 281,000 b/d from the previous week. Over the last 4 weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.3 million b/d, 1.3% less than the same 4-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports averaged 353,000 b/d. Distillate fuel imports averaged 199,000 b/d.