Maybe we should join OPEC.

Is this because of natural gas?

Alas, Ray, it is not even Crude Oil. Neal appears to have made an incorrect assumption

What Neal has found (been pointed at?) is a graph of net imports of 'Petroleum Products'. This is the stuff made out of petroleum, such as gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, asphalt etc.

This table will show the distinction: http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/PET_MOVE_NE ... BLPD_M.htm

This graph shows net Crude petroleum imports: http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHa ... rntus2&f=a

And this last graph show Petroleum and Petroleum products combined: http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHa ... TNTUS2&f=M

What this suggests is that:

a) Crude oil imports peaked around the mid-2000s. How much the recession has affected demand will be a factor in recent reductions in net imports. However, it looks like domestic production has increased since about 2005/6.
b) Refinery capacity has expanded, or the mix of internal/external demand has shifted, so that more derivatives of crude are being exported than imported, resulting in a reversal of the trend to increased net imports from the mid-2000s. Again, how much of this is related to the recession deflating the US demand is yet to be seen.

Oh, and Ray, the US is also a net importer of natural gas: http://www.eia.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_ ... r2009.html

(after about halfway the report goes into import and export data)

Oh, and Ray, the US is also a net importer of natural gas

I think if you look more closely you'll se this is mistaken. The chart and section that claim "net imports" compares only out going and incoming shipments... It doesn't account for gas that is produced and consumed within the US.
Natural Gas now accounts for 24% of all energy produced and consumed within the US. Thats pretty significant. The only question is whether new production techniques are threatening ground water (acquifers). Water is a more difficult problem to deal with then energy, especially if a major source becomes despoiled.

Ricky, surely the difference between what goes out and what comes in is, by definition, the net imports/exports? Gas produced and consumed domestically is not a factor in that equation.

Edit, to clarify: Gas that is produced in the US and consumed there is not a factor. Gas that is produced there and consumed abroad would clearly be an export (and Gas produced in Trinidad & Tobago or Canda and consumed in the USA would clearly be an import).

Still, the USA imports more natural gas, counting via pipelines or via delivered PNG than it exports. This makes it a net import.

Basically, this thread has been founded on a misapprehension, and seems to be attracting more in droves.

danivon

Ricky, surely the difference between what goes out and what comes in is, by definition, the net imports/exports? Gas produced and consumed domestically is not a factor in that equation.

I apologize. You weren't mistaken. What I meant to point out was that
A true net exporter would produce and export more product than they consume . Period.
As the US produces more of the gas that it consumes, it reduces imports .However likely natural gas looks as a positive factor, at 24% of all energy needs, but that should it need to import at all suggests the nation is along way from achieving energy dependence based upon domestic production. Which I think was the point of Neals post?