21.   An increase in demand would come after more than a week of mild weather drove prices lower and left U.S. natural gas and heating oil supplies larger than expected.

22.   An escalation in the dispute to a military confrontation could endanger Middle East oil supplies.

23.   And it was the year that the real reality of oil supplies and power grids took its revenge.

24.   And the entry of U.S. companies into the country might increase the global oil supply.

25.   As long as Saddam Hussein holds power in Iraq, the potential for war, and the disruption of oil supplies, remains.

26.   As part of the campaign against President Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia, the Clinton administration and NATO have tried to cut off his oil supply and his bank accounts.

27.   At bottom, however, is the need to protect a large part of the U.S. oil supply.

28.   Asked whether the administration was considering how any retribution might affect oil supplies, a spokeswoman for the Energy Department directed questions to the State Department.

29.   Barring unforeseen disasters, oil supplies are generally believed to be too abundant and diversified to allow critical shortages that might require rationing or long lines at gas stations.

30.   A conflict in the Persian Gulf could limit oil supply and drive oil prices higher, benefiting oil companies.