EIA to update data reporting for biofuels

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is seeking a three-year extension with changes to its Petroleum Supply Reporting System. The proposed changes include those related to biofuels reporting.

The PSRS consists of six weekly surveys that make up the Weekly Petroleum Supply Reporting System, eight monthly surveys and one annual survey. According to the EIA, the weekly petroleum and biofuels supply surveys collect data on petroleum refinery operations, blending, biofuels production, inventory levels, imports of crude oil, petroleum production, and biofuels from samples of operating companies. The monthly and annual petroleum and biofuels supply surveys collect data on petroleum refinery operations, blending, biofuels production, natural gas plant liquids production, inventory levels, imports, inter-regional movements, and storage capacity for crude oil, petroleum products and biofuels.

One of the agency’s proposed changes would be made to Form EIA-819. The EIA said it discontinued Form EIA-22M and combined the data elements collected on that form with EIA-819 to create a single survey instrument under Form EIA-819 to cover all biofuels (including renewable fuels not currently tracked on any EIA survey), fuel oxygenates (ETBE, MTBE), and nonrefinery producers of isooctane. The EIA said the new Form EIA-819 collects consistent volumetric balance data on petroleum and biofuel blending at biofuel production plants and feedstock inputs for all biofuels. Under the proposed changes, the form will also expand the scope of EIA biofuel data collection to include producers of renewable diesel fuel and other renewable fuels that are currently not collected. The agency said all facilities will report production capacity as well as receipts, production, input, shipments, beginning and ending stocks, as well as stocks in transit to the facility at the end of the report month. Part 9 of the form collects consumption on feedstock for production of biofuel and renewable fuels and annual fuels consumed at the facility. According to the EIA, form EIA-819 also improves accuracy and consistency of biofuel and oxygenate production and blending, including blending with petroleum fuels.

For Forms EIA-810, EIA-812, EIA-814, EIA-815 and EIA-817, the agency is proposing to replace the current biofuel reporting categories of biomass-based diesel fuel, other renewable diesel fuel, and other renewable fuels with the new categories of biodiesel, renewable diesel fuel, and other renewable fuels and intermediate products. The EIA said the changes will clarify the products and improve utility of U.S. and regional data.

A public comment period is open through July 24. Additional information is available on the Federal Register website.