Oil Enron, or sabotage?

by **Dreams End** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 11:47 am

A lot of oil refinery problems these days. Here's a list I found: <blockquote>Quote:<hr> ..the third-largest U.S. refiner, said a fire at its McKee plant in Texas will cut gasoline production for five days... ...BP Plc, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Valero were among refiners that had unplanned shutdowns at U.S. plants during the past two weeks. Valero, ConocoPhillips and Sunoco Inc. reported further refinery problems yesterday... ...There were a couple of refining problems too over the weekend at some major refineries... ...Traders are watching at least six different refineries that have had some glitches... ...A two-week unit shutdown at Valero's refinery in Ardmore, Oklahoma, will cut daily gasoline output by 17,000 barrels and distillate output by 15,000 barrels, the company said... ...ConocoPhillips, the largest U.S. oil refiner, suffered a power interruption over the weekend at its Borger, Texas, refinery, according to a filing with the state's Commission on Environmental Quality... ...Sunoco Inc., the largest oil refiner in the U.S. Northeast, said two workers were injured during a weekend fire at its Philadelphia refining complex... ...refinery fires in Texas and Louisiana, as well as a North Sea oil field fire, worried oil traders on Friday... ...An explosion and fire at BP PLC's Texas City plant Thursday night came hours after a fire at a refinery owned by Murphy Oil Corp... ...BP also suffered a setback with a fire at its Schiehallion oil field in the North Sea... ...In addition to concerns about refinery operations, traders have been on edge over the world's limited excess oil-production capacity, which leaves little room for outages given strong demand from China and United States... ...Gasoline futures surged to a record and crude oil rose after an explosion at BP Plc's Texas City refinery, the third-largest in the U.S...The incident was at least the fourth in the past year at the Texas City plant that caused injuries or a partial plant shutdown... ..Giant Industries Shares Fall After New Mexico Refinery Fire...<hr></blockquote> <a href="http://www.iraq-war.ru/article/59837">www.iraq-war.ru/article/59837</a> Are these "fake" events, just meant to drive oil prices up, a la Enron? Real events indicating some kind of sabotage? Just a coincidence? Whether or not Peak Oil is imminent, these refinery issues don't help much.

by **proldic** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 1:47 pm

Excerpted from Pravda Business 8/4/05: ...Murphy Oil refinery's hydrorefining unit with the capacity of 18 thousands barrels a day caught fire last Thursday in Louisiana. An emergency shutdown of a reformer was reported later that day in Texas City, Texas, at a refinery operated by Marathon. On Thursday night another incident occurred at a different oil facility located in the same city, Texas City. One of the production blocks of a refinery operated by BP was reported on fire. The BP refinery has a processing capacity of 460 thousands of barrels a day, it is the third largest refinery in the U.S. The fire at the refinery was put out by Friday morning. The event resulted in a decrease of gasoline production by 35 thousand of barrels a day. The same refinery had suffered a major industrial accident in March when the blast killed 15 workers. However, last Thursday was not the only day in a series of mishaps and tragedy for some of the world's top oil firms. A fire broke out in an accommodation block of Schiehallion field owned by BP. As a result, operations at the field were suspended. The field has output capacity of 120 thousand barrels a day. Last week was quite tragic not only for the British and U.S. oilmen. Last Wednesday 12 people died and 367 were rescued after fire completely destroyed an oil rig 160 km off India's west cost. The oil rig is owned by ONGC, an Indian oil and gas corporation. Officials said it could take a year to rebuild the platform that produced one-sixth of the country's oil. Total damage caused by last week's events to the world oil market could be likened to the impact of a small war on the industry. Any speculative actions relating directly or indirectly to the industry may result in further destabilization of the market....

by **proldic** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 7:32 pm

From Landline Owner-Operator News 8/11/05: ...Refinery troubles and tight supplies are being blamed for skyrocketing diesel costs in California, but a Los Angeles Times story revealed there may be another reason. The Times reported that, in June, oil traders sold large quantities of diesel to Chile and Mexico. At the time, traders maintain, they were faced with an oversupply of diesel, so they sold some of the surplus to buyers in Chile. The fuel that went to Mexico was said to have too much sulfur content to be used in the United States. Unfortunately, the timing was bad. The sale occurred just days before a fire shut down a Chevron oil refinery in El Segundo, CA. So without the surplus, the state was unable to handle the post-fire shortage. Because of the fire, Chevron has limited sales to its own stores and to customers with supply contracts.

by **proldic** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 7:44 pm

From Landline Owner-Operator News 8/11/05: by Aaron Ladage, staff writer Hundreds of truckers convoyed in South Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 10, to protest rising gas prices... Sandro Lerro, a trucker and Teamster, was one of the lead trucks in the convoy... “It was extremely exciting,” Lerro said. “I was the lead truck, I was the first truck in the caravan, and to look to my rear view mirrors and see (more than 630) trucks behind me, that was something that I can not explain.”... “The goal was to bring relief to either the drivers or whomever is paying the fuel cost.”... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX From KOMO News 8/12/05: Rumblings Increase About Trucking Protest To High Gas Prices By Bryan Johnson SEATTLE - Trucks drivers are telling KOMO 4 News they are hearing increasing discussion about parking rigs to protest high diesel prices. Several drivers say the talk is "all over the CB" across the country... This week, log truck drivers in southwestern Washington parked their rigs to try to force additional fuel allowance from timber companies. In the Miami area, truck drivers formed a 20-mile long protest caravan... The truckers have heard of logging trucks parking in protest in Grays Harbor. Quietly, not openly yet, they are talking of parking their rigs... ...[Trucker Mike Fox said] "I don't know (if) we can bring the price of fuel down by doing that; but, hopefully, it would get the government's attention. Something has to be done about it." The wife of another long-haul driver, Judy Looney said: "That'd get a message to just about everyone -- when your grocery store start running out of food." And driver Owen Adams said: "You would be hungry if you didn't get your food, if you didn't eat; and that's what I do, I haul produce."...

by **Qutb** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 8:04 pm

Very interesting. Fake scarcity has been engineered before.

by **proldic** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 2:16 pm

August 23, 2005 Global News Dist: Al-Qaeda Has Infiltrated US Trucking Industry An attack using our own trucks against us is likely and imminent. ...“The safety of the nation’s logistics industry and the security of the entire country has been seriously compromised by our failure to provide finger print screening for all Commercial Driver (CDL) applicants,” “Without question, terrorists, convicted felons and other undesirables are traveling the country, legally driving 80,000 lb. big rigs throughout every community in America. We have quite literally made our highways a welcome mat for terrorism.” Given that trucks are the number one tool used by terrorist worldwide, the prospect that anyone can gain access to a tractor trailer is particularly chilling. The government recently mandated finger printing only for the Haz-Mat endorsement. However, this represents an extremely small fraction of the CDL driver population and having the endorsement is voluntary. Safety and security officers with trucking companies across the country have reported thousands of drivers opting out of the Haz-Mat endorsement when confronted with fingerprinting. “You can bet there’s a reason these guys are avoiding fingerprinting,” states Mr. Evans. Thus far, the government’s only apparent response to the grave threat of terrorism using trucks has been to fund the multi-million dollar Highway Watch Program. The program presents a basic one hour awareness training session to truck drivers and other interested parties. “While this awareness training is a welcomed service, would it not make more sense to first screen people before providing them with anti-terrorism awareness training?” asks CEO Evans. “Many of my fine and talented colleagues in the Highway Watch Program have expressed the same concerns.” “Finger printing all CDL drivers must be mandatory and must be done now without further delay,” urges Mr. Evans. “Failure to take this basic security step is inexcusable and unacceptable.” Evans urges readers to forward this article to their elected representatives and demand immediate action. “Americans often wonder how they can make a difference in the war on terrorism. Here is the opportunity to make a real difference," Mr. Evans says Readers wanting more information or to contribute or participate should visit the company website at www.fleetdefender.com... <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/8/prwebxml275244.php">www.prweb.com/releases/20...275244.php</a>

by **proldic** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 3:42 pm

Samira Jafari, Associated Press August 23, 2005 GASPRICE0824 "As the price of gas climbs, people's values decline,'' MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The death of an Alabama service station owner illustrates the point that a gasoline industry group makes over and over to its members: Losing money during a drive-off isn't worth losing your life... With gasoline prices soaring, industry experts predict the number of drive-offs — and violence — will increase. "It's a very difficult situation, and you're never sure how people are going to react,'' said Sam Turner, president of Calfee Co. of Dalton, Ga., which operates 114 Favorite Markets convenience stores in the South. "It's something on everybody's mind right now because it's a commodity that virtually everybody uses. You're talking about a heck of an impact to their billfold.'' The Petroleum & Convenience Marketers of Alabama tells gas retailers to never take action themselves during robberies and drive-offs, said Arleen Alexander, the group's executive director. "But I can understand why someone would want to fight for their property,'' Alexander said. "Fifty-two dollars doesn't sound like that much, but with the little they're making these days that's a lot.''... Gasoline theft cost retailers nationwide $237 million in 2004 — more than twice the $112 million loss in 2003, according to NACS. Gas prices have jumped this summer by as much as 18 cents to an average of $2.55 a gallon nationally. "As the price of gas climbs, people's values decline,'' Lenard said. Lenard and Turner said safety and theft concerns have pushed most gas stations in the region to shift to a prepay policy, but even that is not a perfect solution. A prepay policy cuts down on browsing and buying in gas station stores — a big chunk of owners' profits. "We're in uncharted territory. We're seeing more people going to prepay than ever before,'' Lenard said. "I think we'll look back on 2005 and say, 'Remember when we used to be trusted to pay for our gas?''' <a href="http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5574379.html">www.startribune.com/stori...74379.html</a>

by **jpastoor** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 6:40 pm

All of the above?. And maybe a little economic shock testing too(?). <blockquote>Quote:<hr>Since no measure is available to encounter demand on any commodity, the only economical mean on hand is to control refined products supply and plotting production to the line of daily demand even with rough operational conditions. And while OPEC reduced oil production to obtain equitable returns, American energy firms devoted their potential efforts to find another efficacious factor, refinery production, to remain one of the decision makers to the market of the largest economy in the globe.<hr></blockquote>- Tariq Qais Alsuqair (energy economics analyst) <a href="http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=104267">www.menafn.com/qn_news_st...yId=104267</a>

by **proldic** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 7:15 pm

New England 2.60-3.00 NY Metro 3.00 +?

by **dbeach** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 7:22 pm

2.92 in RI for premium thanx bush .eat your loosh.

by **wintler** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 8:44 pm

There is no need to postulate conspiracy re the multiple refinery fires, there is a much more prosaic and probable explanation. Crude oil comes in many different grades, with diff mixes of different length carbon chains and assorted impurities. OPEC's supply of (high quality) sweet light crude appears to have peaked last year <a href="http://www.energybulletin.net/8102.html.">www.energybulletin.net/8102.html.</a> So when OPEC nations, Saudi Arabia particularly, claim they've got lots of oil and can produce more, what they're producing is more of the 'heavy sour' (high in sulfur) crude and less of the 'sweet light' crude oil. Sour crude is more corrosive than sweet low-sulfur crude and takes additional refining. Most refineries however were built and designed for sweet light crude, cos that is/was the easiest & most profitable to refine. Of course they can and are upgrading refineries to process sour crude, but its not easy, or instantaneous, or it seems always do-able, in that upgraded refineries processsing high volumes of sour crude are suffering v.high pipe/equip failure rates, probably due to the greater corrosive effect of the sulfur in sour crude. Will it be necesary to build a new generation of refineries to process the increasingly sour crude? Maybe, but nobody is building new refineries.. which is pretty curious if we've really got as much oil left as everybody believes.

Oil Enron, or sabotage?

Oil Enron, or sabotage?

Accidents Likened to "Small War" On Oil Industry

Another story behind skyrocketing diesel costs?

Convoy! Truckers Freaking Out Over High Fuel Prices

Re: Oil Enron, or sabotage?

A-Q Has Infiltrated US Trucking Industry!

"Gas Rage" Leading to Thefts, Violence

Re: Oil Enron, or sabotage?

Peak Oil: what's up with gas prices people?

Re: Peak Oil: what's up with gas prices people?

sabotage or sweet light peak?

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