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Post by Woody Williams on Sept 12, 2006 13:45:45 GMT -5
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Post by kevin1 on Sept 12, 2006 15:04:31 GMT -5
The high demand driving season ended , same as it does every year at this time .
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Post by Woody Williams on Sept 12, 2006 15:11:12 GMT -5
BP Tells Senate Panel of Plans to Resume Operation of Alaska Pipeline
WASHINGTON — BP PLC plans to ask federal regulators this week to resume operation of a segment of its pipeline so further tests can be made in hopes of restoring full production on Alaska's North Slope, a company executive told a Senate hearing Tuesday.
Robert Malone, chairman of BP America Inc., said hundreds of tests on the pipeline segment, shut down after extensive corrosion was found in early August after a spill, "have shown little corrosion" and that damaged segments can be bypassed. If remaining inspections "show that the line has integrity we will request permission to restart the line," likely this week, said Malone. He cautioned that further tests will still have to be made before full oil flow could resume.
Any resumption of the system will have to be approved by the Transportation Department's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Thomas Barrett, the agency's chief, said in remarks prepared for the Senate hearing that the agency is ready to hear BP's request for resuming operation.
"We recognize the importance of these pipelines to the nation's oil supply. ... But at the same time we must be assured that even a temporary, limited restart can be operated safely before it can proceed," Barrett said.
The shut eastern leg of BP pipeline system has cut production from the Prudhoe Bay fields in half to 200,000 barrels a day. The western leg had been restored earlier.
Malone, testifying before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, apologized for the pipeline corrosion problems that have interrupted the flow of oil from Alaska.
"BP has fallen short of the high standards we hold for ourselves, and the expectations that others have for us," said Malone. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., the panel's chairman, opened the hearing by saying that the discovery of extensive corrosion, resulting in oil leaks, from BP's pipeline system was "inexcusable" and "a black eye on BP."
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Post by jwkimber45 on Sept 12, 2006 15:33:02 GMT -5
It needs to get wher it belongs, about $1.25 - $1.40.....we'd all be happy the oil barrons would still be rolling in $$$$$.
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Post by hornharvester on Sept 12, 2006 15:42:27 GMT -5
ITS CALLED ELECTION TIME! The republicans don't have a prayer to win any office with gas over 3.00 a gallon. Gas in ft wayne today was 2.29, after elections this fall it will be right back to the high price they gouged us for most of this year. why wouldn't they continue with record profits when no one in the government will stop them. h.h.
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Post by dbd870 on Sept 13, 2006 4:12:50 GMT -5
I know there is the whole supply and demand issue, but that thought crossed my mind as well.
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Post by mbogo on Sept 13, 2006 5:30:55 GMT -5
And what exactly is the government supposed to do to regulate the price of gas, fix the price? That didn't work out very well when Carter tried it in the 70's.
If you want to blame someone blame the environmentalists that work to make it all but impossible to build new refineries, drill for oil, and require special additives to gasoline, all of which adds to the price.
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Post by Decatur on Sept 13, 2006 6:29:27 GMT -5
I blame the oil company's! It's great to make a profit, but not when you're raping the consumers!! They know we have to have it, and are taking full advantage. Now, before all of you technical types start saying, "you don't HAVE to have it, you could walk", let's be realistic!They are the ONLY ones that should be blamed. I was thrilled yesterday to get gas for $2.19 a gallon in Decatur, hard to believe that $2.19 is considered a bargain now.
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Post by jwkimber45 on Sept 13, 2006 7:24:15 GMT -5
I blame the oil company's! It's great to make a profit, but not when you're raping the consumers!! They know we have to have it, and are taking full advantage. Now, before all of you technical types start saying, "you don't HAVE to have it, you could walk", let's be realistic!They are the ONLY ones that should be blamed. I was thrilled yesterday to get gas for $2.19 a gallon in Decatur, hard to believe that $2.19 is considered a bargain now. I agree!!!! We don't need the governement to have their hands in anymore than they already do.....
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Post by mbogo on Sept 13, 2006 7:32:40 GMT -5
The job of the oil companys is to make a profit selling us gas not to provide us with gas as cheaply as possible.
Whenever there is a monopoly or a near monopoly in the production of a product prices are bound to be higher than they would be with competition. Add in the environmental hurdles and the artificial supply "shortages" they cause and its no wonder gas is as high as it is.
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Post by dbd870 on Sept 13, 2006 7:38:32 GMT -5
That's the problem. I'm thinking Anti Trust; however that would be a nightmare as well.
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Post by dwhunting on Sept 13, 2006 9:22:46 GMT -5
Could it be the new find in the Gulf? My thought is that we have to find alternatives and stop being so dependent on foreign oil.
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Post by jkd on Sept 13, 2006 11:54:42 GMT -5
DW - the story I saw on the new Gulf deal was that it would be 4-5 years before they had a well tapped into that and running... the big problem still is lack of additional refinery capacity... doesn't matter how much oil is on the market if the US doesn't have capacity to refine it... that's the crunch...
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Post by bsutravis on Sept 13, 2006 13:18:17 GMT -5
I heard yesterday that OPEC was "concerned" over the costs of crude dropping like it is....and I'm sure they will be looking at ways to stabilize the prices, however isn't it curious that when crude prices were skyrocketing OPEC claimed that there was nothing they could do to stop the price rise.
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Sept 13, 2006 14:08:32 GMT -5
I heard yesterday that OPEC was "concerned" over the costs of crude dropping like it is....and I'm sure they will be looking at ways to stabilize the prices, however isn't it curious that when crude prices were skyrocketing OPEC claimed that there was nothing they could do to stop the price rise. Excellent point!
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Post by bookert on Sept 14, 2006 20:48:29 GMT -5
Hey guys, I hate high gas prices too, but relative to the rest of the world we're doing okay. I just got back from Germany and diesel was over $6 a gallon and a couple of years ago in Turkey it was even higher. If gas prices kept prices with inflation it would be well over anything we could imagine. Don't get me wrong, having to dig deeper into my wallet just to get back and forth to work really chaps my hide, but they have us over a barrel, literally. I don't have a solution, but we do have to pay whatever the oil companies want to charge.
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Post by hunter480 on Sept 15, 2006 1:07:53 GMT -5
Hey guys, I hate high gas prices too, but relative to the rest of the world we're doing okay. I just got back from Germany and diesel was over $6 a gallon and a couple of years ago in Turkey it was even higher. If gas prices kept prices with inflation it would be well over anything we could imagine. Don't get me wrong, having to dig deeper into my wallet just to get back and forth to work really chaps my hide, but they have us over a barrel, literally. I don't have a solution, but we do have to pay whatever the oil companies want to charge. What they`re paying "over there" doesn`t enter into it here-our oil companies are raping us and it`s only because we`re a capitalist society that it can happen. I don`t buy into the theory that because Bush is in office, he`s allowing the oil companies to take advantage of us, it`s much broader than that, but, it still is a shame they get away with what they do.
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