OT oil shortage

From: Chad Fernandez <fernande_at_internet1.net>
Date: Mon Jul 9 10:22:26 2001

Joe,

joe wrote:
>
> Sorry for continuing this thread but I couldn't let this one pass!

Wow, I don't' usually get that kind of response :-)
 
> I think you need to do your home work. The oil companies have been
> shutting down refineries. They've shutdown almost 30% of the refineries in
> this country in the last ten years.

Why? Even if they import the oil, they still have to refine it?

>
> > They may need to build more. or rebuild burned ones. The
> >electricity problems comes from growing and growing use, without
> >appropriate updates on the power system.
>
> That's very true but the problems with the electrical power industry
> are due to a shortage of generating stations (particularly in California)
> and has NOTHING to do with oil refinery capacity or any supposed oil shortage.

Didn't I essentially say the same thing? I don't think the oil "crisis"
has anything to do with the electricity "crisis". Our (US) electrical
grid/system hasn't been upgraded to keep pace with demand and maybe not
even kept current (no pun intended :-) I did hear that more power
stations are being built more than ever before, However. I guess
someone thought it was a good idea to build a few :-)


>
> >Drilling in new locations isn't supposed to increase refinery capacity.
> >It is part of a longer range solution.
>
> Horseshit! They're closing down wells everyday and have been for
> years! Take a drive through Lousianna sometime! I was in Alaska a couple
> of years ago and toured nearly the full length of the Alaskan pipeline.
> Even it's only running at about 40% of it's capacity. The only reason that
> they want to drill in ANWAR and GOM is because the oil companies want a
> CHEAPER source of oil so they can increase their already record profits!
> That's the same reason that the US continues to import oil from the middle
> east. Even with their price increases it's still cheaper to buy their oil
> than it is to produce our own.

What I have always heard, was that our oil, "Texas oil" wasn't the same
quality as oil from the middle east, and that Alaskan oil was much
closer in quality to oil from the middle east. I know our oil isn't all
in Texas and Alaska, but those are the two big name places everyone in
the US thinks of.

How is drilling new wells, with fancy new technology cheaper than using
existing wells with existing technology, i.e. wells and technology that
are paid for and proven already?

Don't quite a few cars get mileage in the 30's already? I drive a
truck, so I am not as familiar with car gas mileage anymore.
 
> If the government is serious about a "long range solutions" then they
> should mandate that ALL cars achive 30mpg by say 2006, then raise it to
> 35mpg by 2011, then 40 mpg by 2016, etc until we achive the best practicle
> mileage.

Don't quite a few cars get mileage in the 30's already? I drive a
truck, so I am not as familiar with car gas mileage anymore.

> 50 mpg is very possible, a number of standard production cars
> have already achived it. That's only one step, there are hundreds if not
> thousands of other practicle solutions. Another solution would be to
> mandate solar hot water heaters in all homes.

I don't think solar hot water heaters would work very well here in
Michigan. We have to many clouds and overcast days, unfortunately.

> I have one in my home and
> it's been my only source of hot water for over 15 years and I've never run
> out of hot water.

How does it work? Is it homemade, or a commercial product?

>
> > Drilling in new locations is
> >something a lot of countries are doing.
>
> Sure, because they all want to be independent of foreign sources and
> because it's a huge source of revenue.
>
> > Drilling in the North Sea is
> >being done now, or maybe deeper water than normal..... I don't recall.
> >I have seen a show on Discovery or TLC about the building of the
> >platform. It was a huge engineering feat the way they built it.
>
> Yes, the engineering is impressive but again that has nothing to do with
> the "nessesicity" for drilling in ANWAR or GOM.

Well my point wasn't really the engineering, that was a bonus :-)


> I know a good bit about alcohol powered vehicles, I've been
> experimenting with them since the late 60s. Alcohol is not nearly as
> powerfull, cost effective or as efficient as gasoline.

Then why do certain classes of race vehicles use it, if it isn't as
powerful?

> Alcohol also has
> major incompatibilities with the components of automotive fuel systems.

Doesn't it just take a switch to stainless steal for lines, tank, etc.?

> A
> number of companies have tried selling gasoline with alcohol added
> but AFIK they're all dropped it due to the cost, performance and other
> problems.

You mean gasohol... I remember that stuff :-)

>
> > Something might
> >have to be done about people drinking the contents of ones gas tank :-)
>
> That would cure the population problem!

I don't buy the whole population problem deal either, but lets save that
one for later :-)

Chad Fernandez
Michigan, USA
Received on Mon Jul 09 2001 - 10:22:26 BST

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