In Defense of 'Big Oil'

We have oil, in places we aren't allowed to drill for it. Like Alaska. If we pumped our own oil, and had significant amount of it, gas prices would fall drastically, because we'd be able to supply for ourselves what we need.

 

I see.
From the well to my car, 10 yrs. It doesn't take that long to process (or whatever the correct word is) crude into gas. Does it? I would doubt it.

 

Let's burn up the Arab oil first and save ours.

 

I would imagine that one reason big oil has not built any new refineries is because they want gasoline expensive. Also, they could build refineries if they were willing to make a little less profit on the products. :tonofbricks:

 

Oil companies haven't built a new refinery in 30 years(thought they greatly expanded existing refineries) because of the attitude of people who would be living near new refineries - the NIMBY attitude(Not In My Back Yard).

Also, there is very little profit at the pump. In a good month a gasoline station will net $0.10/gal. profit. And there aren't very many of those kinds of months during a calendar year. Now, the credit card companies are making a lot of money at the pump each and every month.

The big profits are made upstream at the wellhead as I showed a couple of weeks ago in another thread.

 

Ah, good logic and insight. There's the Ken we all know :laugh: Seriously, NIMBY is killing us. Credit card companies can hand out 20% interest credit cards to 18 year olds on college campuses (19 in some states) but no one bats an eye. But OIL COMPANIES!!! Why, satan himself runs them, you'd think, if you listened to the warblers (especially on the left). Wait...I just dissed birds. Sorry, my fine feathered friends. To make up for it, I'm gonna go fill my feeders. :thumbs:

 

Thank you, sir.

Having worked 30 years for an oil company come this June 1, plus three summers laying flow lines, painting "Christmas trees", etc., plus my dad working for an oil company for 34 years(he was a farmer before that), I hope I can speak with some credibility on the subject of the oil industry.

And I don't take kindly to folks unfairly and inaccurately criticizing the oil industry. His criticism of the oil industry after he took office is what led to my split from support of President Jimmy Carter.

 

I believe that's what seperates you. On this issue, insted of regurgitating the party talking points like some do, you actually speak out of thoughtful analysis and experience. I try to bring the same things to bear where I have such. May your tribe increase.

 

Bingo....you nailed it.

Our refining capacity is "set up" for the numbers (and the standards) set in 1970's....much more requirements today, lots more people, and lots more vehicles. And we as a country are too stupid to understand supply/demand.

I say drill today, build refineries today....it won't help this year, but it will send a message to the Saudi terrorists, and it will make us independent of their whims in a few years.

 

As long as they build the refinery beside your home and not mine.:laugh:

It would help if people ditched their gas guzzling SUVs, Hummers, etc. and bought smaller high mph vehicles.

 

this assumes that crude oil is a finite quantity, but for all practical purposes, it probably is not.

 

Oh brother, the only way to save the planet is to increase the highway death toll. Why is life so cheap to liberals ?

 

Well, you could slow down and that would both save lives and save gasoline. :laugh:

 

Slow has nothing to do with it. You can hit a deer at 25mph and die in an accordion.

Smaller cars = more deaths. No thanx. Let's drill our own oil, cuz there's plenty of it, and let's stop telling others what to drive.

 

Well, if you are not willing to take steps to conserve then don't complain about prices. I'm not sure you have. Big cars are more for egos and self image than for safety. How many deer have you hit? I live where more deer are killed by cars than by hunters and I've never hit one ... and hope I never do. Hope you do not either.