U.S. Oil Export Boom Putting Infrastructure to the Test

Reuters via gCaptain ^ | Oct 30, 2017 | Catherine Ngai and Bryan Sims

[Oatka]

Link only (Reuters)

[Oatka]

Some planning going on, but it looks like more is needed.

At some point there will be a slowdown and then the cry will be that we built too much, but right now, IMO, it's a good problem to have.

[Zenjitsuman]

If we ever get the Keystone pipeline built and more natural gas is powering electric plants we will be in the era of big engine cars again.

[Jeff Chandler]

we will be in the era of big engine cars again

Massive cubes are no longer necessary; 200 cu engines are putting out 300HP.

[Wonder Warthog]

I seriously doubt that there is a lack of infrastructure. The same pipelines, pumps, etc. that were originally installed to import crude can also be used to export it.

The real problem is the “left coast”, which has in the past blocked construction of port facilities and refineries to import crude and process crude, and is now blocking construction of port facilities to export it. Back in the day, it didn’t make sense to import crude to the left coast, as all the refinery expansions were taking place in Texas and Louisiana.

The Seattle-Tacoma area has just blocked construction of a port facility to export LNG, one of the cleanest and easiest to handle export materials there is. They claim it will “harm salmon” and “pollute Puget Sound”.