EIA estimates total U.S. crude oil production declined by 140,000 barrels per day (b/d) in August compared with July production. Crude oil production is forecast to continue decreasing through mid-2016 before growth resumes late in 2016. Projected U.S. crude oil production averages 9.2 million b/d in 2015 and 8.8 million b/d in 2016, which are both 0.1 million b/d lower than in the prior STEO.