Working Crude Oil Storage Capacity at Cushing, Oklahoma Rises



Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration,
 Working and Net Available Shell Storage Capacity.

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As of March 31, 2012 working crude oil storage capacity at the Cushing, Oklahoma storage and trading hub was 61.9 million barrels, an increase of 6.9 million barrels (13%) from September 30, 2011 and 13.9 million barrels (29%) from a year earlier, as reported in EIA's recently released report on Working and Net Available Shell Storage Capacity. Utilization of working storage capacity on March 31, 2012 was 64%, an increase from the 53% observed in September 2011, but lower than the 86% observed on March 31, 2011. The report also noted that operating shell storage capacity increased 8.1 million barrels (12%) from September 30, 2011 to reach 74.6 million barrels.

Both storage capacity and the level of inventories held at Cushing are closely watched market indicators, as Cushing is the market hub for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil that is the basis for crude oil futures contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Growing volumes of U.S. crude oil production, along with a higher level of imports from Canada, have helped contributed to the record levels of inventories at Cushing. Increased flows of crude oil from these two sources, along with expectations for future increases, have consequently created the need for additional storage at the hub. (DOE-IEA)