Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is calling a new crude oil import tracking tool “a welcome addition to the analytical arsenal” at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The U.S. Crude Oil Import Tracking Tool allows users to utilize graphs and maps to analyze crude oil imports by date, country of origin, port of entry, processing company and other categories.
The EIA said the tool was created in response to recent and anticipated increases in domestic crude oil production and debate over how that rising volume will be absorbed.
“Our nation is importing record low levels of oil from the world’s volatile regions and exporting record volumes of all sorts of energy to our friends and allies,” Murkowski said.
A report containing sample applications of the tool released by the EIA in conjunction with its launch shows that U.S. imports have declined since 2010, with light crude imports falling 71 percent. Other findings include: Imports of light crude from Africa declined by 93 percent since 2010 and crude oil imports to the Gulf Coast have declined 94 percent since 2010.
Murkowski requested similar information in an April letter to EIC Administrator Adam Sieminski.
The tracking tool is in beta mode and the EIA is soliciting feedback before a final release.