First Time Since 1977 : More Than Half of the Oil Consumed by U.S. Is Imported

Imports accounted for more than half of the nation’s petroleum consumption last month, topping the 50% level for the first time in 12 years, the American Petroleum Institute reported Wednesday.

The API’s monthly statistical report found imported oil accounted for 50.4% of domestic consumption in July, up from 43.5% in July, 1988.

The report said domestic production averaged just under 8.5 million barrels a day, while total imports--crude oil plus petroleum products--averaged more than 8.5 million barrels.

The only other time imports supplied more than half U.S. needs was 1977, when foreign oil exceeded the 50% mark three times -- in the months of March, May and July.

API spokesman R. G. Ensz said the new figures indicate “we’re growing more dependent on foreign oil while Congress is putting moratorium on offshore drilling.”

Legislation is moving through Congress, he said, that would stop new oil drilling in Alaska and off the coasts of California, western Florida, the Mid-Atlantic and New England.

The move toward the bans comes after the Exxon Valdez tanker spilled nearly 11 million gallons of crude into the pristine waters of Alaska’s Prince William Sound.

“What they’re overlooking is more foreign oil means more tankers” in U.S. waters, Ensz said. “All of our foreign oil, except that which comes from Canada, has to come by tanker.”

The growing traffic of oil tankers, in turn, raises the potential for another oil tanker spill, he said.