Regan Brown
The United States is one of the largest consumers of fuel in the world, with Americans using about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline in 2022, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline and 0.19 billion gallons of finished aviation gasoline. Motor gasoline is the main product of US oil refineries and is the most consumed fuel in the country, with light-duty vehicles accounting for about 91% of its consumption. In addition to gasoline, the US also has a large natural gas industry, with an estimated 2,973 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable dry natural gas resources as of January 1, 2021, which could last for about 86 years. This includes both proved and unproved reserves, with the latter including resources confirmed by exploratory drilling and undiscovered resources outside of oil and natural gas fields. With such a high consumption and production of fuel, it is important to understand how much fuel is left in the United States and what the future of its energy industry looks like.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Estimated technically recoverable resources (TRR) of dry natural gas in the US as of January 1, 2021 | 2,973 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) |
| Annual US dry natural gas production in 2021 | about 34.52 Tcf |
| Years of US dry natural gas supply based on the above production rate | about 86 years |
| Proved reserves of dry natural gas in the US as of January 1, 2021 | 445 Tcf |
| Unproved reserves of dry natural gas in the US as of January 1, 2021 | 2,528 Tcf |
| Total US gasoline consumption in 2022 | 135.73 billion gallons |
| US consumption of finished motor gasoline in 2022 | 134.55 billion gallons |
| US consumption of finished aviation gasoline in 2022 | 0.19 billion gallons |
| Percentage of US gasoline consumption by light-duty vehicles (cars, SUVs, and small trucks) | about 91% |
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What You'll Learn
The US has 2,973 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable dry natural gas
The US has an estimated 2,973 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable dry natural gas, according to the US Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook 2023. This estimate was made as of January 1, 2021, and is based on the latest available well production data and information from government agencies, industry, and academia.
Technically recoverable reserves (TRR) include both proved reserves and unproved resources. Proved reserves are estimated volumes of natural gas that can be recovered with reasonable certainty under existing economic and operating conditions. These reserves can change over time as new wells are drilled, and as technology and management practices improve. Unproved resources, on the other hand, are additional volumes estimated to be technically recoverable without considering economic or operating conditions. They include undiscovered resources located outside of existing oil and natural gas fields, confirmed by exploratory drilling.
As of January 1, 2021, the US had about 445 Tcf of proved reserves and about 2,528 Tcf of unproved reserves of dry natural gas. The total amount of technically recoverable dry natural gas, therefore, amounts to 2,973 trillion cubic feet. This is based on the assumption that the US dry natural gas production rate remains at about 34.52 Tcf per year.
With these reserves, the United States has enough dry natural gas to last about 86 years. However, the actual number of years these reserves will last depends on various factors, including the actual amount of dry natural gas produced and any changes in natural gas TRR in future years.
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This is enough to last 86 years
As of January 1, 2021, the United States is estimated to have about 2,973 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of technically recoverable resources (TRR) of dry natural gas. This is based on the Annual Energy Outlook 2023 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Assuming the same annual rate of U.S. dry natural gas production in 2021 of approximately 34.52 Tcf, the United States has enough dry natural gas to last about 86 years.
The actual duration that the TRR will last is subject to change depending on the actual amount of dry natural gas produced and future adjustments in natural gas TRR. The EIA's estimates of TRR are particularly uncertain in regions with a limited number of drilled wells. Early estimates tend to fluctuate and evolve significantly over time as new geological information is acquired through additional drilling.
Technically recoverable reserves encompass proved reserves and unproved resources. Proved reserves refer to the estimated volumes expected to be produced with reasonable certainty, given the current economic and operating conditions. On the other hand, unproved resources refer to additional volumes believed to be technically recoverable without considering economic or operating conditions. These unproved resources can be found outside of oil and natural gas fields, as well as within undiscovered pools within confirmed fields.
The EIA's estimate of 2,973 trillion cubic feet of TRR includes about 445 Tcf of proved reserves and about 2,528 Tcf of unproved reserves of dry natural gas. This means that the U.S. has a substantial amount of natural gas resources, and with careful management and technological advancements, these resources can be utilized efficiently over the next several decades.
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Texas and California consume the most motor gasoline
In 2022, total gasoline consumption accounted for about 57% of total energy consumption in the transportation sector and 16% of total energy consumption in the US. Light-duty vehicles, including cars, sports utility vehicles, and small trucks, account for about 91% of all gasoline consumption in the country.
Gasoline usage varies among the states, but Texas and California have consistently accounted for the largest shares of total US motor gasoline consumption. In 2018, California used 11% of the country's total gasoline products, while Texas closely led the state in gasoline consumption. In 2024, California sold 13.4 billion gallons of gasoline, with 90% petroleum-based gasoline and 10% ethanol.
The US Energy Information Administration estimates that as of January 1, 2021, there were about 2,973 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of technically recoverable dry natural gas resources in the country. Assuming the same annual rate of US dry natural gas production in 2021 of about 34.52 Tcf, the US has enough dry natural gas to last about 86 years.
The actual number of years that the technically recoverable reserves will last depends on the actual amount of dry natural gas produced and changes in natural gas reserves in future years.
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91% of gasoline consumption is from light-duty vehicles
The fuel efficiency of light-duty vehicles is a crucial aspect of gasoline consumption in the United States. Light-duty vehicles, including passenger cars, light trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles, fall into two categories based on wheelbase (WB) length. The first category, light-duty vehicles with a short wheelbase, includes those with a WB of 121 inches or less. The second category, light-duty vehicles with a long wheelbase, encompasses larger vehicles with WBs larger than 121 inches.
The fuel efficiency of these vehicles is calculated using various methods, such as the sales-weighted harmonic average of gallons per mile, also known as the harmonic average. This calculation considers the reciprocal relationship between fuel economy and fuel use. For instance, improving fuel economy from 10 mpg to 12 mpg represents a more significant 20% improvement than increasing from 20 mpg to 22 mpg, which only results in a 10% improvement.
The fuel efficiency figures for light-duty vehicles are sales-weighted averages that combine passenger car and light truck fuel economies. These figures provide valuable insights into the gasoline consumption patterns of light-duty vehicles, which make up a significant portion of the vehicle fleet in the United States.
Historical data on the average fuel efficiency of light-duty vehicles in the United States is available, with specific figures provided for the period from 1980 to 1994. During this timeframe, the fuel efficiency for light-duty vehicles, including motorcycles, was calculated separately for city and highway miles. The CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standard for 2-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive light trucks in 1980 was 16.0 and 14.0 mpg, respectively.
In conclusion, understanding the fuel efficiency of light-duty vehicles is essential to comprehending gasoline consumption in the United States. With light-duty vehicles accounting for a significant portion of gasoline consumption, improvements in their fuel economy can have a substantial impact on overall gasoline usage.
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Proved reserves of natural gas could increase with new drilling
The United States has been witnessing a near-annual increase in its natural gas proved reserves since 2000. This can be attributed to significant advancements in natural gas exploration and production technologies, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in shale, sandstone, and carbonate formations.
Proved reserves refer to the estimated volumes of natural gas resources that can be recovered with reasonable certainty under the existing economic and operating conditions. These estimates are based on geological and engineering data and are subject to changes due to various factors, including new drilling techniques, production technologies, and fluctuations in natural gas prices.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that as of January 1, 2021, the United States had about 445 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proved reserves and about 2,528 Tcf of unproved reserves of dry natural gas. The EIA further estimates that there were approximately 2,973 Tcf of technically recoverable resources (TRR) of dry natural gas in the United States as of the same date. TRR includes both proved reserves and unproved resources.
The proved reserves of natural gas in the United States have been increasing over the years due to several factors. Firstly, successful exploratory wells drilled each year contribute to the expansion of proved reserves as more information is obtained about natural gas-producing fields. Secondly, advancements in production techniques and technologies can convert previously uneconomic natural gas resources into proved reserves. For example, the development of shale gas resources through horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has significantly boosted the country's proved reserves.
While the proved reserves of natural gas in the United States decreased by 12.6% from 691.0 Tcf to 603.6 Tcf in 2023, this was the first annual decrease since 2020. The decrease in proved reserves in 2023 can be attributed to various factors, including changes in economic conditions, fluctuations in natural gas prices, and variations in production costs. However, with continued advancements in drilling and production technologies, the United States can expect to increase its proved reserves of natural gas in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States has a lot of fuel left, but the exact amount is hard to pinpoint. The US has the world's largest supply of emergency crude oil, known as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). As of October 2022, the SPR contained 405.1 million barrels of crude oil.
The SPR has a maximum drawdown rate of 4.4 million barrels per day for up to 90 days. At that rate, the SPR would last for just over a year without being replenished or with no other sources of oil.
The duration of the SPR depends on the rate of consumption and production. The US consumed 19.89 million barrels of petroleum per day in 2021, so 405.1 million barrels would not last very long.
President Biden has stated that the SPR will be replenished, and the administration intends to repurchase crude oil when prices drop to around $67 to $72 per barrel.
The US has proven reserves and unproven resources of natural gas, with estimates for 2021 ranging from 445 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) to 2,973 Tcf. At the 2021 production rate, the US has enough natural gas to last about 86 years.
