EIA: U.S. oil production to 'grow rapidly'

WASHINGTON, April 10 (UPI) -- North American oil production is expected to lead the way in terms of countries outside the 12-member OPEC cartel, the U.S. Energy Department said.

The department's Energy Information Administration expects U.S. tight oil and Canadian oil sands production to account for the bulk of projected growth outside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

U.S. crude oil production is expected to "grow rapidly" through 2016, the EIA said. The EIA, in its short-term energy outlook, expects U.S. crude oil production to go from an average of 6.5 million barrels per day recorded last year to 7.9 million bpd next year.

Research broker ITG says oil production from Western Canada could double its current rate and reach 5.7 million barrels per day by 2025.

In terms of consumers, China is expected to lead the way in terms of demand with an average annual growth of 540,000 bpd from 2004 through 2010. In its March report, OPEC said the Chinese economy was expected to grow 8.1 percent this year. Chinese crude oil imports for January were near historic levels at 5.92 million barrels per day, a 6 percent increase from December.

For OPEC, the EIA expects the cartel's oil deliveries to decline by 400,000 bpd in 2013 but recover again next year by 500,000 bpd.

OPEC is scheduled to publish its monthly market report for April later this week.