Posted on 11/06/2011 11:23:06 AM PST by blam
This Might Be The Most Exciting Chart In America
Joe Weisenthal
Nov. 6, 2011, 9:26 AM
Last night we were examining the latest rail industry data supplied by the Association of American Railroads in its monthly Rail Time Indicators Report (.pdf).
This chart really caught our eye.
Image: Association of American Railroads
Suddenly, domestic transfer of petroleum products, via rail, is growing like crazy, far surpassing pre-crisis levels.
See, there's a shale boom in America, most prominently in North Dakota, in a big area called the Bakken.
This chart from the Energy Policy Research Institute (a pro-domestic energy DC-based lobbying group) says it all.
Image: http://eprinc.org/
Anyway, this is moving the needle big time domestically, as the above rail chart shows, but also as this look at domestic energy production form the EIA shows... the US is reversing its decline in domestic production.
Image: EIA.gov
Now obviously we're aware that all this is incredibly controversial, as shale is associated with all kinds of environmental concerns, and controversial pipelines, and whatnot.
But the fact that somewhere there's a sign of real secular growth is pretty intriguing.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Someone once said “Drill Here! Drill Now!” and the media laughed her off stage.
Same thing is happening in south Texas right now.
You’re right and when we can get to the “Rock Oil” on Federal lands the graph line will head straight up.
We are witnessing the rebirth of o/g in America.
I also understand that a part the increase in rail traffic is coming out of Canada. That is another reason they want to build the pipeline as it is a cheaper method to transport the oil.
***controversial pipelines***
???? The existing ones or are there proposed new pipelines???
http://www.theodora.com/pipelines/united_states_pipelines.html
- Lack of a new pipeline, a current US political issue. (Apparently Obama does NOT want to facilitate oil transport and prefers "green" energy.
- Higher prices for pipeline transport (given the lack of pipeline capacity)
- Overseas demand: Many of the rail shipments going to ports for overseas delivery, with the high oil prices paid making it a cost effective method of transport.
- Also noted was a limit to the number of tanker cars available at this time.
I guess Obama will claim credit for it.
Sorry for the confusion. I did not mean to imply that Sarah Palin invented the complete art and science of extracting petroleum products from the ground for use as an energy source.
I was merely implying that some politicians understand the value of using domestic resources, and some do not. Some politicians laugh and say "That will take 10 years to make a difference!" and then use that as an excuse not to even start.
We have an advanced society only because someone decided that "Now" is always the right time to start the important stuff.
I love trains. Maybe I’ll ask Santa for train stock shares.
Dont get too excited. I have been seeing a lot of military equipment moving. They could be prepping for iran.
This is great news and I don’t want to rain on the parade but the dip with oil price is characteristic of a reservoir that has high initial or flush production than tapers off to some long term very low level. Drilling like mad is the only way to sustain the rate and the increase. When the drilling ends the rate falls like a rock. Good while it lasts though.
As for rail transport, a train wreck would make a pipeline spill look like a non-event. Trains have no spill containment or pipeline segmented valves for spill minimization. Train wrecks are frequent, pipeline spills are not. Ever see an outfit called Hulcher Emergency services running up and down the highway with the big sideboom cats? They are train wreck clean up people and they do a brisk business. You don’t see a pipeline break and recovery clean up outfit running up and down the roads do you? There isn’t much demand for one.
The railroads, Burlington Northern owned by Buffet, doesn’t want to see the Keystone pipeline or any other pipeline built... EVER and they will fight it tooth and nail. Buffet’s suction is in the right pit with obastard to fight the pipelines. People have no idea what goes on behind the scenes.
Years ago the railroads and barge lines fought the slurry pipelines for coal by blocking rights of way and they won. This is why coal trains run all the time through towns and cities all across the United States. I’ve seen the barge lines and railroads fight against each other too. Even to the point of keeping draw bridges down under dangerous conditions to prevent passage of tow boats.
Business can be a nasty nasty affair and it is only always one sided.
His chart is for rail shipped petroleum and petroleum products.
Tank and cannon transport are not included in this graph.
Or for when TSHTF.
Is this the series of photos of when tugboat and coal barge meet bridge?
http://www.maritimeconsultant.com/tugboat.htm
What a scene.
What!? How? Thanks for posting that!
Serious bragging-rights down the pub.
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