US DATA: EIA STEO expects U.S. total crude oil production to
average 6.3 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2012, an increase of 0.7
million bbl/d from last year. Projected U.S. domestic crude oil
production increases to 6.8 million bbl/d in 2013, the highest level of
production since 1993. Because of the projected increase in natural
gas prices relative to coal, EIA expects the recent trend of
substituting coal.fired electricity generation with natural gas
generation to slow and likely reverse over the next year.