posted 09-05-2005 12:56 PM         

Yeah, have been here in my office since 5:00 am on Labor Day.

I have just gotten off a conference call with the logistic people with BP and selected distributors on the east coast.

For once my thoughts of my post on 9/4 are correct. The pipelines are now 95% and 65% to capacity (great news), BUT are only have product to ship from "breakout" terminals (BAD news). Breakout terminals are storage facilities at or close to refineries where refined products go to before being sent to the major pipelines. Once the product is out of these breakout terminals we are in trouble again because only about 15% of the LA and Miss. refining capacity is onstream. Permanent power is on at only 2 refineries and they are operating at 80% each.

End of this week we could have another significant supply shortage in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

posted 09-05-2005 09:28 PM         

I read Randy's report today about the Gulf state's refineries and what % they are running at,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,then I listen to a ABC New Special Report about the present happenings. Show spokesman Gill Gross is interviewing ABC News - Special Business Correspondent Betsy Stark. Stark said today that all eight Gulf coast refineries are shut down!!! Gross asks her if she is sure of that? Stark says that they are now just getting power and will be up and running in two or three weeks!

posted 09-06-2005 07:16 AM         

I'm to be on a conference call with Exxon officials on Wednesday and I'll pose your question about Mid-Western and Western states prices. I'll bet their answer will be that some of the product destined for that part of the country has been diverted to the east. I do know that several truckloads of diesel and Jet A fuel have been trucked into military facilities in NC.
The large part of the truth is that they are charging the high prices just like the dog who licks himself; BECAUSE THEY CAN. Supply & demand.