Energy Markets: Refinery Outages Can Have Varying Gasoline Price Impacts, but Gaps in Federal Data Limit Understanding of Impacts
GAO-09-700
Published: Jul 30, 2009. Publicly Released: Jul 30, 2009.
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Highlights
In 2008, GAO reported that, with the exception of the period following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, refinery outages in the United States did not show discernible trends in reduced production capacity, frequency, and location from 2002 through 2007. Some outages are planned to perform routine maintenance or upgrades, while unplanned outages occur as a result of equipment failure or other unforeseen problems. GAO was asked to (1) evaluate the effect of refinery outages on wholesale gasoline prices and (2) identify gaps in federal data needed for this and similar analyses. GAO selected refinery outages from 2002 through September 2008 that were at least among the largest 60 percent in terms of lost production capacity in their market region and lasted at least 3 days. GAO developed an econometric model and tested a variety of assumptions using public and private data.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected Sort descending | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Information Administration | To evaluate existing, publicly held petroleum products market data and to determine if they are sufficient to meet the current and expected future missions and needs of the Congress, federal agencies, and other public and private stakeholders, the Administrator of the EIA should convene a panel comprised of agency officials from EIA, EPA, DOT, FERC, and other relevant agencies, industry representatives, public stakeholders, and other analysts and data users, to collect these data and develop a coordinated interagency data collection strategy. The panel should identify additional data that would be useful to track and evaluate emerging market trends--such as the proliferation of biofuels and special blends--and assess the costs and benefits of collecting such data. |
Closed – Implemented
During a review of the impact of refinery outages on consumer gasoline and petroleum product prices (GAO-09-700), we identified gaps in public data, some of which we could address by purchasing privately collected data, and some of which led to limitations to what our analysis could address. We noted that some data gaps we identified may exist because data collection efforts generally reflect individual agency needs and, thus, may not necessarily consider the broader needs of other federal agencies and analysts. We discussed these data gaps and limitations in conversations with the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration officials during the engagement, and informed the agency that GAO would recommend that the agency convene a panel of agency officials, industry representatives, public stakeholders, and other analysts and data users to identify areas where EIA's data collection efforts could be improved to maximize the utility for all stakeholders. EIA officials stated they wanted to make sure their data collection efforts met the needs of all stakeholders, and that in part due to our ongoing work and likely forthcoming recommendation, on April 8, 2009 convened a panel of U.S. agency, industry, and stakeholder experts to review energy data needs. At the energy panel, the experts reviewed the feasibility of providing more discrete reporting of data useful to track and evaluate emerging market trends, including biofuels and special fuel blends. In addition, the panel identified opportunities to coordinate federal data collection efforts and identified areas where data collection is fragmented and reviewed ways to enhance the overall usefulness and improve the efficiency of collecting and reporting these data. Therefore, we are closing this recommendation as implemented.
|
| Energy Information Administration | To evaluate existing, publicly held petroleum products market data and to determine if they are sufficient to meet the current and expected future missions and needs of the Congress, federal agencies, and other public and private stakeholders, the Administrator of the EIA should convene a panel comprised of agency officials from EIA, EPA, DOT, FERC, and other relevant agencies, industry representatives, public stakeholders, and other analysts and data users, to collect these data and develop a coordinated interagency data collection strategy. The panel should identify opportunities to coordinate federal data collection efforts so that agencies can respond fully to Congressional requests and meet governmentwide data needs to monitor the impact of petroleum product market disruptions. |
Closed – Implemented
During a review of the impact of refinery outages on consumer gasoline and petroleum product prices (GAO-09-700), we identified gaps in public data, some of which we could address by purchasing privately collected data, and some of which led to limitations to what our analysis could address. We noted that some data gaps we identified may exist because data collection efforts generally reflect individual agency needs and, thus, may not necessarily consider the broader needs of other federal agencies and analysts. We discussed these data gaps and limitations in conversations with the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration officials during the engagement, and informed the agency that GAO would recommend that the agency convene a panel of agency officials, industry representatives, public stakeholders, and other analysts and data users to identify areas where EIA's data collection efforts could be improved to maximize the utility for all stakeholders. EIA officials stated they wanted to make sure their data collection efforts met the needs of all stakeholders, and that in part due to our ongoing work and likely forthcoming recommendation, on April 8, 2009 convened a panel of U.S. agency, industry, and stakeholder experts to review energy data needs. At the energy panel, the experts reviewed the feasibility of providing more discrete reporting of data useful to track and evaluate emerging market trends, including biofuels and special fuel blends. In addition, the panel identified opportunities to coordinate federal data collection efforts and identified areas where data collection is fragmented and reviewed ways to enhance the overall usefulness and improve the efficiency of collecting and reporting these data. Therefore, we are closing this recommendation as implemented.
|
| Energy Information Administration | To evaluate existing, publicly held petroleum products market data and to determine if they are sufficient to meet the current and expected future missions and needs of the Congress, federal agencies, and other public and private stakeholders, the Administrator of the EIA should convene a panel comprised of agency officials from EIA, EPA, DOT, FERC, and other relevant agencies, industry representatives, public stakeholders, and other analysts and data users, to collect these data and develop a coordinated interagency data collection strategy. The panel should identify areas where data collection is fragmented--such as multiple survey instruments collecting similar information--to determine if those efforts can be consolidated and modified to enhance the overall usefulness and improve the efficiency of collecting and reporting these data. |
Closed – Implemented
During a review of the impact of refinery outages on consumer gasoline and petroleum product prices (GAO-09-700), we identified gaps in public data, some of which we could address by purchasing privately collected data, and some of which led to limitations to what our analysis could address. We noted that some data gaps we identified may exist because data collection efforts generally reflect individual agency needs and, thus, may not necessarily consider the broader needs of other federal agencies and analysts. We informed EIA that GAO was likely in its forthcoming report to recommend that the agency convene a panel of agency officials, industry representatives, public stakeholders, and other analysts and data users to identify areas where EIA's data collection efforts could be improved to maximize the utility for all stakeholders. EIA officials had stated they wanted to make sure their data collection efforts met the needs of all stakeholders, and that in part due to our ongoing work and likely forthcoming recommendation, on April 8, 2009 convened a panel of U.S. agency, industry, and stakeholder experts to review energy data needs. At the energy panel, the experts reviewed the feasibility of providing more discrete reporting of data useful to track and evaluate emerging market trends, including biofuels and special fuel blends. In addition, the panel identified opportunities to coordinate federal data collection efforts and identified areas where data collection is fragmented and reviewed ways to enhance the overall usefulness and improve the efficiency of collecting and reporting these data. Therefore, we are closing this recommendation as implemented.
|
| Energy Information Administration | To evaluate existing, publicly held petroleum products market data and to determine if they are sufficient to meet the current and expected future missions and needs of the Congress, federal agencies, and other public and private stakeholders, the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration (EIA) should convene a panel comprised of agency officials from EIA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and other relevant agencies, industry representatives, public stakeholders, and other analysts and data users, to collect these data and develop a coordinated interagency data collection strategy. The panel should assess the costs and benefits of collecting more systematic information about which refiners serve which cities and more discrete reporting of the volumetric entry, flow, and exit of petroleum products through the pipeline infrastructure system. |
Closed – Implemented
During a review of the impact of refinery outages on consumer gasoline and petroleum product prices (GAO-09-700), we identified gaps in public data, some of which we could address by purchasing privately collected data, and some of which led to limitations to what our analysis could address. We noted that some data gaps we identified may exist because data collection efforts generally reflect individual agency needs and, thus, may not necessarily consider the broader needs of other federal agencies and analysts. We discussed these data gaps and limitations in conversations with the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration officials during the engagement, and informed the agency that GAO would recommend that the agency convene a panel of agency officials, industry representatives, public stakeholders, and other analysts and data users to identify areas where EIA's data collection efforts could be improved to maximize the utility for all stakeholders. EIA officials stated they wanted to make sure their data collection efforts met the needs of all stakeholders, and that in part due to our ongoing work and likely forthcoming recommendation, on April 8, 2009 convened a panel of U.S. agency, industry, and stakeholder experts to review energy data needs. At the energy panel, the experts reviewed the feasibility of providing more discrete reporting of data useful to track and evaluate emerging market trends, including biofuels and special fuel blends. In addition, the panel identified opportunities to coordinate federal data collection efforts and identified areas where data collection is fragmented and reviewed ways to enhance the overall usefulness and improve the efficiency of collecting and reporting these data. Therefore, we are closing this recommendation as implemented.
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Alternative energy sourcesCrude oilData collectionData integrityEnergy consumptionEnergy marketingEnergy planningEnvironmental monitoringFuel pricesFuelsGasolineMaintenance (upkeep)MonitoringNeeds assessmentPetroleum pricesPetroleum productsPetroleum refining facilitiesPrices and pricingSurveys