[aahala]

I think the fall in gasoline prices is partially because of excess hoopla
regarding the hurricanes effect in the gulf.

There were three issues: production, refinery capacity and receiving
imports. Production in the gulf was about 30% of US production but a much smaller percentage of US consumption as most oil used is imported.

Refinery capacity was a bottle neck, but as we have seen, other countries
were able to increase the import of already refined products.

Receiving imports seemed to have great possible effects as about 60%
is received from the region. But apparently the damage was less sever
on this issue than the other two and other regions were quickly able to
increase the amounts they could receive.

[KevO]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TT', '
')
Kev. Not everything is about bird flu.

[frankthetank]

I've been thinking too about gas prices. Something is seriously not adding up right here. If demand has fallen that much, then why do i see (what seems) like the same amt of people on the road. People i know still drive pretty much the same they drove before high gas prices.

Must be something going on behind the scenes.

Natural Gas has still been stuck over 13bucks for a while now. I really need another cheap gas winter! The pellet stove i was looking @ buying sold out almost immediately and now i have to wait. Crapola! I'm about ready to just throw a woodstove in and say screw the pellets!

Heating season up here has begun. I've been smelling the sweet smell of burning timber in the air for a few nights now. Not looking forward to scrapping my windows, however!

[KevO]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('frankthetank', '
')
Must be something going on behind the scenes.

[NonToxic]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('frankthetank', 'I')'ve been thinking too about gas prices. Something is seriously not adding up right here. If demand has fallen that much, then why do i see (what seems) like the same amt of people on the road. People i know still drive pretty much the same they drove before high gas prices.

Must be something going on behind the scenes.

Natural Gas has still been stuck over 13bucks for a while now. I really need another cheap gas winter! The pellet stove i was looking @ buying sold out almost immediately and now i have to wait. Crapola! I'm about ready to just throw a woodstove in and say screw the pellets!

Heating season up here has begun. I've been smelling the sweet smell of burning timber in the air for a few nights now. Not looking forward to scrapping my windows, however!

[KevO]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('NonToxic', '
')Not to change the subject but here is my problem with a pellet stove. What good is it if the power goes out?

[ohanian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Leanan', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'w')hy isn't there shortages in other parts of the world?

[cube]

I wonder how many Americans can point out those nations on a map?

And lets not also forget Zimbabwe!

[MrBill]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cube', 'I') wonder how many Americans can point out those nations on a map?

And lets not also forget Zimbabwe!

[seldom_seen]

Saw this on the EIA site via theoildrum.com. Surely that surge in gasoline imports must be helping keep a lid on the prices.



glad to see we're becoming a little more dependent on foreign oil!

[MrBill]

Those higher gasoline imports are mainly coming from Europe. They refine oil to make gasoline & diesel and other products, but use more diesel than gasoline for transport. Therefore, they export their excess gasoline. Especially since Katerina/Rita, the US has been taking more imports. The issue this winter is that Europe has a refining bottleneck to produce the diesel it needs, so it probably will not have excess capacity to export heating oil or diesel to the US. Given the supply disruptions for nat gas and America's own refinery limitation post-hurricane season it is not sure that they will be able to keep up with demand for heating oil or supply enough nat gas, especially if they have a colder winter? If there is even a small mismatch in supply versus demand it could result in price spikes to correct the imbalance (i.e. ration demand).