Topic: Gas Prices
started by: anotherspringborg
Posted by anotherspringborg on Sep. 15 2008,6:27 pm
If i read right oil prices are under 100 a barrel (Give or Take) Gas prices around here are between 3.60 and 3.70 a gallon. I wonder what the gas prices were the last time oil was under 100 a barrel. I bet it was under 3.00 a gallon
Posted by Botto 82 on Sep. 15 2008,7:16 pm
The difference between then and now might be the devaluation of the U.S. Dollar, through the idiotic inflationary influence of the Fed.
Posted by anotherspringborg on Sep. 15 2008,8:42 pm
Crude prices shed more than $5 a barrel and have now given up virtually all their gains for the year, extending a steep, two-month slide from record levels above $147 a barrel
Posted by Common Citizen on Sep. 16 2008,8:36 am
$95.71 a barrelSo why have the local stations increased their prices in the last few days to $3.75/gallon...$147 a barrel earlier this year and that was their excuse to raise prices at that time...wasn't it?
Posted by grassman on Sep. 16 2008,9:16 am
Back when oil was at it's peak, a refinery rep was on tv saying "we only make $.35 a gallon PROFIT off gasoline". Considering how many gallons per day, that's alot of PROFIT. Funny how they can minimize the amount by how it is phrased. 35 cents does not seem like much by itself. The continued fall of America, GREED!
Posted by Saggin'Pants on Sep. 16 2008,6:30 pm
All the easy oil is gone. We're going to wind and natural gas until we figure out to to make cars run without gas. Won't be for 20 years though.
Posted by jimhanson on Sep. 16 2008,7:12 pm
Better make it longer than that. You COULD make your car run on hydrogen--but it is explosive, not compact, and requires special handling.
You COULD make your car run on coal--but not until it has been processed into liquid.
You COULD make your car run on electricity--but that begs the question of where the electricity comes from. While commuter cars could run on electricity, longer-range cars and commercial vehicles don't make it.
You COULD run on Compressed Natural Gas, as Pickens advocates--but the energy density isn't there--in order to get 400-500 mile range like today's cars, it would take a tank almost the size of a car. Then there's the COST of CNG--auto and heating fuel competing.
People talk about ethanol--but synfuels the way they are presently being done in the U.S. are the wrong way to go--food into fuel, and a 1-1 conversion ratio. Maybe cellulose production will work.
You COULD run your car on wood-charcoal--it was done all over the world during WW II--but the engine doesn't last long, you have to build a fire an hour before you want to drive, and the pollution is terrible.
Libbies like to say that "new technology" is going to save us--and I wouldn't rule that out entirely--but I wouldn't put all my eggs in that basket, either.
Drill the North Slope, drill the coasts, develop the "new technologies"--and take whichever fuel is cheapest. Anybody want to bet on whether "new oil" or "new technologies" come on line first?
Posted by Saggin'Pants on Sep. 16 2008,7:19 pm
No Obama drama, he's not against new drilling. Drill, drill, drill! Don't let Johnny the GI mislead you.
Posted by jimhanson on Sep. 16 2008,8:13 pm
That was before Newt proved how popular drill, drill, drill was. Obama--always attuned to the political wind, changed his mind and said "OK, but only until the new technology comes on line."
From the reliably liberal Palm Beach Post
QUOTE
Obama has opposed exposing more coastline to drilling, saying that oil companies have not fully explored the areas open to drilling now and insisting that it would have little immediate impact on prices at the pump.
After speaking to a capacity crowd at Gibbs High School auditorium in St. Petersburg, he told the Post he would be open to expanding the current drilling boundaries if it meant winning approval for more fuel-efficient cars, developing alternative energy sources and making the country more "energy independent."
After speaking to a capacity crowd at Gibbs High School auditorium in St. Petersburg, he told the Post he would be open to expanding the current drilling boundaries if it meant winning approval for more fuel-efficient cars, developing alternative energy sources and making the country more "energy independent."
It's right on the computer--you COULD look it up for yourself before posting.
Posted by grassman on Sep. 18 2008,7:17 am
Everyone is saying we are not drilling. When Ike was coming ashore they had a map of all the rigs out there. Man it looked like there was quite a few rigs out there already. Something still stinks about the whole thing. Smoke screen after smoke screen.
Posted by Glad I Left on Sep. 18 2008,10:26 am
QUOTE
You COULD run on Compressed Natural Gas, as Pickens advocates
I did some research on this a while back after seeing some of Pickens commercials since I am in the market for a new vehicle in the coming year or so. The Civic GX is the only CNG vehicle available but every study I found said that refilling the car is not advised when the temp is below 5 degrees or so becuase of gasket/seal failures. Guess that rules the northern 1/2 of the country for about 3-4 months potentially.
Posted by Ike on Sep. 20 2008,12:06 am
I dont blame the oil companies on making money. I have no problem with it they will always make astronomical profits because there is unbelievable amounts of demand for there product. Oil companies run a much lower profit margins than like insurance companies so shouldnt we all be mad at insurance.
Posted by Saggin'Pants on Sep. 20 2008,1:07 pm
I got a good idea. Lets make gas out of the food and drive up the cost of food while subsidizing rich farmers who get hundreds of thousands in subsidies. Sound like a winner?
Posted by Common Citizen on Sep. 22 2008,9:14 am
(Ike @ Sep. 20 2008,12:06 am)
QUOTE
I dont blame the oil companies on making money. I have no problem with it they will always make astronomical profits because there is unbelievable amounts of demand for there product. Oil companies run a much lower profit margins than like insurance companies so shouldnt we all be mad at insurance.
No one cares about the dozens of other industries that have a higher profit margin...the donks think you're all stupid so "BIG OIL" is the flavor of the year...
