RE: RNS3 Jun 2026 12:25
California has slightly over a dozen operating oil refineries. These facilities are heavily concentrated in three primary regions: Los Angeles County, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the San Joaquin Valley.
However, the state's petroleum refining sector is currently undergoing a period of rapid decline and consolidation due to market changes and state regulatory shifts. Several facilities have recently shut down or converted to renewable diesel and biofuel production.
Oil arrives at California refineries primarily through marine tankers, in-state extraction pipelines, and imported crude/refined products from overseas. With in-state production declining, the vast majority of refining feedstock arrives via water.
Marine Tankers (Imports): Over 60% of crude oil processed in California is imported via marine vessels. Tankers deliver crude from countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Ecuador, and Colombia to deep-water marine terminals, while domestic shipments arrive from Alaska.
In-State Pipelines: About 20% to 25% of the state's oil supply is sourced domestically. This heavy crude is pumped from inland extraction fields (primarily in Kern County) and transported via a network of regional pipelines directly to coastal and inland refineries.
Refined Product Imports: Due to a lack of interstate crude pipelines and declining refinery capacity, California increasingly imports already-refined fuels (gasoline and jet fuel) from international locations like India and South Korea, or via a route through the Bahamas.