Crude by rail provides the West Coast with supply as regional crude oil production falls

While total U.S. crude oil production increased nearly 3.2 million barrels per day (b/d) from 2010 to 2014, production in PADD 5 decreased by 0.1 million b/d, continuing a long-term decline. With no major crude oil pipelines connecting the West Coast to other parts of the country, West Coast refineries had adjusted to the declining in-region production by increasing imports of foreign crude oil. Shipments of domestic crude oil by rail to the West Coast have also increased, from 23,000 b/d in 2012 to 157,000 b/d in 2014. More »