This Week In Petroleum – Dependency

While crude imports were the third highest weekly average ever, crude oil inputs into U.S. refineries actually declined slightly. As a result, much of the increase in crude oil imports found its way into inventories, which built by 5.5 million barrels during the week ending April 22. Nevertheless, with refinery inputs expected to increase significantly over the summer as refiners try to produce as much gasoline as possible (while still needing imports to meet demand), crude oil inventories will likely be drawn down. So, for the time being, increases in oil imports help keep prices from being even higher
DOE EIA