FYI, from the EIA:

The United States consumed 19.5 million bbl/d of oil in 1999. Of this, 8.4 
million bbl/d (or 43% of the total) was motor gasoline, 5.0 million bbl/d 
(26%) "other oils," 3.6 million bbl/d (18%) distillate fuel oil, 1.7 million 
bbl/d (9%) jet fuel, and 840,000 bbl/d (5%) residual fuel oil. U.S. oil 
demand is expected to increase by about 110,000 bbl/d (0.6%) in 2000.

and

Continued lower U.S. crude oil production combined with strong oil demand led 
the United States to import 10.6 million bbl/d of oil in 1999, representing 
54% of total U.S. oil demand. Around 46% of this oil came from OPEC nations, 
with Persian Gulf sources accounting for about 23% of U.S. oil imports during 
the year. Overall, the top suppliers of oil to the United States for 1999 
were Canada (1.67 million bbl/d), Saudi Arabia (1.46 million bbl/d), 
Venezuela (1.45 million bbl/d), and Mexico (1.30 million bbl/d). 

and from Reuters:


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States decided on Friday to release oil 
from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to damp decade-high energy prices, the 
first time the stockpile has been tapped for a national emergency since the 
1991 Gulf War.

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said the U.S. government would release 30 
million barrels of oil over a 30-day period from its 571-million-barrel 
reserve created after the 1973 Arab oil embargo that choked off world growth.

``We are prepared to take further action if necessary,'' he told a hastily 
convened news conference after an all-day meeting of administration officials.

The announcement by Richardson followed an intense and unusually public 
debate by Clinton administration officials in recent days that raised 
accusations the White House was trying to help Democratic presidential 
candidate Vice President Al Gore (news - web sites) win the Nov. 7 election.

The debate intensified after Gore urged President Clinton (news - web sites) 
on Thursday to release oil from the reserve in batches of 5 million barrels.

Gore's call, made within weeks of the November election, was criticized by 
his Republican rival George W. Bush (news - web sites) as ``bad policy'' 
motivated by the need to assure Gore's victory.

``It's a bad idea because the Strategic Petroleum Reserve needs to be used in 
case of war or a major disruption,'' Bush told reporters, in response to 
Richardson's announcement, at a campaign stop in Tampa, Florida.

``I believe that the vice president has made this decision with the 
president's support to achieve short-term political gain,'' he added.


that's enough oil for 1 day and 14 hours, or reducing for one month by 10% 
the amount we need to import--this is not a solution.  our oil reserves cover 
100% of our export needs for 54 days--this may not be the best use.  bush 
(steve aside from the ferc complaints) may want to focus on the following 
from msnbc regarding gasoline prices:


? ? ?In the Midwest, the nation,s most expensive gasoline market this week, 
oil companies blamed the $2-a-gallon-plus prices on taxes and the cost of 
introducing new federally-required cleaner fuel this month. The price spike 
prompted the Federal Trade Commission to open a formal investigation into 
possible price gouging and collusion, and has led Indiana,s governor to 
suspend the state,s gasoline sales tax for 60 days. 

realizing that only 43% of gas pump price is composed of crude oil--the rest 
28% taxes and 29% refining costs, distribution costs, and profits.


Alhamd Alkhayat
+1(713)853-0315