Crude oil exports from Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will ease by 30,000 bpd during the week ending Sept. 12 to 22.590 million bpd, according to new data from Halifax, England-based tanker tracker Oil Movements released late last week, continuing a recent trend that shows “enhanced compliance” with pledged production quotas.

OPEC members agreed to three separate reductions in their production in late 2008 amid the widening economic morass at the time that pummeled global demand for crude oil, culminating in a 4.2 million bpd cut from their September 2008 output level. The pledged reduction in their production took effect Jan. 1, which doesn’t require compliance by Iraq in the 12-member cartel.

OPEC-11 output in September 2008 was 29.045 million bpd, so their pledge would drop their collective production total to 24.845 million bpd.

A study commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute shows that the United States will be more dependent on imports of gasoline and other petroleum fuels while U.S. refining production would be shifted overseas if the climate change bill which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives becomes law, according to an API news release.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act, which passed in a 219 to 212 vote in June, seeks to reduce greenhouse gases through a cap-and-trade system.

The study done by consulting firm EnSys Energy showed that investment in U.S. refining capacity would drop while the cost of business would rise substantially. The study also states that the reduction in U.S. emissions would be offset by increased emissions in other countries as refining becomes outsourced.

API President and CEO Jack Gerard said the study shows that the legislation could have a “devastating impact” on U.S. jobs and energy security.