Petroleum Products: Effects of Imports on U.S. Oil Refineries and U.S. Energy Security

In response to a congressional request, GAO examined the effects of petroleum product imports on the U.S. refining industry and U.S. energy security, focusing on: (1) recent petroleum product import patterns, reasons for the trends, and their impact on refinery closures; (2) the outlook for U.S. product imports in coming years and the prospect of further refinery closures; (3) the impact of refinery closures on the nation's ability to meet its refining requirements, including a Strategic Petroleum Reserve drawdown, during a major oil supply disruption; and (4) the effects of policy options designed to ensure the availability of adequate refining capacity.