US crude oil production is expected to climb to 6.32 million b/d this year, up 11% from 2011, the Energy Information Administration said Tuesday.
In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, EIA again raised earlier output projections -- raising the 2012 average 2% from last month's forecast and increasing the 2013 outlook by 6% to 6.73 million b/d.
In May, EIA raised its 2012 projection by 9% from the April report, reflecting a continued surge in domestic output. The US pumped an average 5.67 million b/d of oil last year.
If the 2012 projection holds, it would mark the highest level of US oil production since 1998, EIA said.
Onshore rigs, including those pumping record volumes out of unconventional oil plays, would drive output in the Lower-48 states to an average 4.44 million b/d in 2012 and 4.83 million b/d in 2013, EIA said.
Liquid fuel consumption is expected to fall this year to an average 18.76 million b/d, the same level as EIA's May outlook. EIA sees demand for oil and other petroleum products increasing to 2013 to an average of 18.88 million b/d, also unchanged from May.
US demand for liquid fuels was 18.84 million b/d in 2011 and 19.18 million b/d in 2010, the agency said.
About 42% of this year's consumption would be met by net imports, EIA predicts, with that figure falling to 40% in 2013. Liquid fuel net imports accounted for about 45% of 2011 consumption, the agency said.
