Over the course of 2010, U.S. refinery capacity grew by 0.15 million barrels per day, reaching the highest level since 1982, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Refinery Capacity Report. At the same time, however, U.S. refinery utilization remains well below historical highs. In the mid-to-late 1990's, demand for petroleum products grew to the point where U.S. refinery utilization averaged over 95 percent in 1997 and 1998, leading to capacity expansions at existing refineries. Refining capacity utilization remained above the 90 percent level through 2005. However, the U.S. economic downturn during 2008 and the first half of 2009 led to lower petroleum demand, causing the U.S. refinery utilization rate to fall to about 83 percent in 2009. While the refinery utilization rate increased to about 86 percent in 2010, it remains well below the levels seen from 1993 through 2005.
As of January 1, 2011, EIA's Refinery Capacity Report showed there were 148 refineries in the United States with an operable capacity totaling 17.7 million barrels per calendar day, 0.15 million barrels per day higher than on January 1, 2010. The increase in capacity is mostly due to the reactivation of PBF Energy Company, LLC's 182,200 barrel per day Delaware City, Delaware refinery, which was purchased from Valero Energy Corporation in 2010. As of January 1, 2011, this refinery was idle, but the capacity was considered operable.
Of the 148 U.S. refineries, 137 were operating and 11 were idle as of January 1, 2011. The idle category includes capacity that is out of operation for an extended time, but is potentially capable of returning to operation within several months. Specifically, a refinery is considered idle if the atmospheric crude oil distillation unit (ACDU) is not in operation and not under active repair, but capable of being placed in operation within 30 days; or the ACDU is not in operation, but under active repair that can be completed within 90 days.
In 2010, there were four refinery sales. Valero Energy Corporation sold their Paulsboro, New Jersey and Delaware City, Delaware refineries to PBF Energy. (In 2011, PBF Energy also purchased the Sunoco, Toledo, Ohio refinery, bringing its total current refining capacity to over 500,000 barrels per day.) Marathon Oil Corporation sold their 74,000 barrel per day St. Paul, Minnesota refinery to Northern Tier Energy LLC, and Alon Israel Oil Company purchased the Bakersfield, California refinery previously owned by Flying J Inc. Alon will not run the crude unit at Bakersfield, so its atmospheric distillation capacity is zero.
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