EIA Product Highlight: Status of U.S. Nuclear Outages
Every morning, each nuclear electricity generator in the United States reports its operating status to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NRC compiles this information in its Power Reactor Status Report, and we present that information in interactive visualizations on our Status of Nuclear Outages page. Our analysis tool combines the NRC daily status with data gathered from our Annual Electric Generator Report and Monthly Update to the Annual Electric Generator Report. The page includes two maps showing the capacity and outage status of U.S. nuclear plants.
Tags: generation, electricity, nuclear, outages
Stronger U.S. dollar contributes to higher crude oil prices in international markets
The price of Brent crude oil, the world benchmark, has increased in 2022, partly as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In addition, a strong U.S. dollar means that countries that use currencies other than the U.S. dollar pay more as crude oil prices increase. Since June 1, 2021, the Brent crude oil price has increased by 59% in U.S. dollars and by 86% in euros.
Tags: prices, international, Brent, liquid fuels, crude oil, oil/petroleum
Natural gas production in the Bakken region grew while crude oil fell in 2021
Annual natural gas production (measured as gross withdrawals) in North Dakota’s Bakken region increased by 9% in 2021, even as the region’s crude oil production declined by 6%, according to our Drilling Productivity Report.
U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions rose 6% in 2021
In 2021, U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased by 296 million metric tons (MMmt), or 6%, compared with 2020 levels. This increase followed a rise in economic activity and energy consumption once the initial economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic began to subside. Despite this increase in total emissions, in 2021, they were 274 MMmt (5%) lower than their pre-pandemic level in 2019 and 1,143 MMmt (19%) lower than their 2007 historical peak.
Natural gas consumed by U.S. electric power sector sets January record in 2022
In January 2022, natural gas consumed for electric power in the United States averaged 31.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), the highest January average on record and the highest amount for any winter month. Natural gas consumed for electric power this past January was higher than in previous Januaries because of high demand for electricity throughout a colder-than-average January combined with less coal-fired electric power generation.
Tags: generation, consumption/demand, coal, electricity, natural gas, nuclear, renewables
East Coast jet fuel prices remain higher than other spot price hubs
The spot jet fuel price in New York Harbor traded at record-high levels for several weeks in April. The price has since declined, but it has remained higher than the prices at both the U.S. Gulf Coast and the Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Antwerp (ARA) trading hubs. The high jet fuel prices coincide with record-low jet fuel inventory levels on the East Coast and rising demand for air travel. A confluence of supply and demand factors has contributed to increased price volatility in the East Coast jet fuel market.
Tags: prices, spot prices, liquid fuels, East Coast, jet fuel
U.S. ammonia prices rise in response to higher international natural gas prices
The U.S. price of ammonia, the primary source of nitrogen fertilizer, has risen by a factor of six in the past two years, and most of these increases have occurred since March 2021. Ammonia prices generally follow natural gas prices because ammonia is produced primarily from natural gas. U.S. ammonia prices closely follow international ammonia prices because approximately 14% of total U.S. ammonia consumption is met by imports. Generally, prices of commodity chemicals (ammonia) closely correlate with prices of feedstock (natural gas). Because the global ammonia market is highly interconnected, the U.S. price of ammonia closely follows international ammonia prices rather than only U.S. natural gas prices. Compared with natural gas prices in the United States, which have remained relatively steady, international natural gas prices have risen rapidly over the past 12 months, pulling ammonia prices higher.
Tags: prices, international, natural gas, Gulf Coast, China, Europe, Russia
In 2021, value of energy trade between the United States and Canada rose from 2020 lows
In 2021, the value of U.S. energy imports from Canada totaled $102 billion, which is 76% higher compared with 2020. The value of U.S. energy exports to Canada totaled $21.9 billion, 40% higher compared with 2020, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
In 2021, the value of energy trade between the U.S. and Mexico reached a nine-year high
In 2021, the value of energy trade between the United States and Mexico reached a nine-year high. This energy trade value represents the combined value of energy imports and exports between the two countries. In 2021, energy accounted for 15% of the value of all U.S. exports to Mexico. The value of U.S. energy exports to Mexico totaled $42 billion in 2021—the highest value in the U.S. Census Bureau data, which started in 1996.
U.S. oil producers increased capital expenditures and cash from operations in late 2021
In response to higher crude oil prices, financial results for 42 U.S. exploration and production (E&P) companies showed large increases in both cash from operations and capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2021 (4Q21). Cash from operations for the E&P companies reached $27.5 billion in 4Q21, the largest amount in any quarter since 3Q14. Compared with 3Q21, capital expenditures increased 60% to $15 billion. However, despite higher capital spending and increasing crude oil prices, crude oil production by the E&P companies was still 10% below pre-pandemic levels.
Tags: wells, liquid fuels, crude oil, oil/petroleum, drilling