Definitions, Sources and Explanatory Notes

 Category:   Petroleum Prices
 Topic:   Domestic Crude Oil First Purchase Prices by Area

  Definitions

Key Terms Definition
Crude Oil A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities. Depending upon the characteristics of the crude stream, it may also include:
  • Small amounts of hydrocarbons that exist in gaseous phase in natural underground reservoirs but are liquid at atmospheric pressure after being recovered from oil well (casinghead) gas in lease separators and are subsequently commingled with the crude stream without being separately measured. Lease condensate recovered as a liquid from natural gas wells in lease or field separation facilities and later mixed into the crude stream is also included;
  • Small amounts of nonhydrocarbons produced with the oil, such as sulfur and various metals;
  • Drip gases, and liquid hydrocarbons produced from tar sands, oil sands, gilsonite, and oil shale.


    • Liquids produced at natural gas processing plants are excluded. Crude oil is refined to produce a wide array of petroleum products, including heating oils; gasoline, diesel and jet fuels; lubricants; asphalt; ethane, propane, and butane; and many other products used for their energy or chemical content.
    Domestic Crude oil produced in the U.S. or from its "outer continental shelf" as defined in 43 U.S.C. 1331.
    First Purchase (of Crude Oil) An equity (not custody) transaction involving an arms-length transfer of ownership of crude oil associated with the physical removal of the crude oil from a property (lease) for the first time. A first purchase normally occurs at the time and place of ownership transfer where the crude oil volume sold is measured and recorded on a run ticket or other similar physical evidence of purchase. The reported cost is the actual amount paid by the purchaser, allowing for any adjustments (deductions or premiums) passed on to the producer or royalty owner.
    Petroleum Administration for Defense District (PADD): PADD 1 (East Coast):
       PADD 1A (New England): Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
       PADD 1B (Central Atlantic): Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania.
       PADD 1C (Lower Atlantic): Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    PADD 2 (Midwest): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    PADD 3 (Gulf Coast): Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas, Federal Offshore Gulf.
    PADD 4 (Rocky Mountain): Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    PADD 5 (West Coast): Alaska (North Slope and Other Mainland), Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Federal Offshore California.

    For definitions of related energy terms, refer to the EIA Energy Glossary.

      Sources

  • 1974-January 1976: Federal Energy Administration (FEA), Form FEA-90, "Crude Petroleum Production Monthly Report."

  • February 1976-1977: FEA, Form FEA-P-124, "Domestic Crude Oil Purchaser's Monthly Report."

  • January 1978-December 1982: Energy Information Administration, Form ERA-182 "Domestic Crude Oil First Purchaser's Report."

  • January 1983-present: Form EIA-182, "Domestic Crude Oil First Purchase Report." ( Form/Instructions, Background, Survey Methodology and Statistical Details )

    •   Explanatory Notes

  		• Values shown for the current month are preliminary. Values shown for the previous month may be revised to account for late submissions and corrections. Final revisions to monthly and annual values are available upon publication of the June Petroleum Marketing Monthly. Annual averages that precede the release of the June Petroleum Marketing Monthly are calculated from monthly data. Data through 2023 are final.
  		• The actual domestic average price represents the average price at the lease (or wellhead) at which domestic crude oil is purchased.
  		• For purposes of this survey, the United States includes the 50 States, the outer continental shelf, and the District of Columbia.