Exclusive: Keystone XL pipeline would accelerate U.S. addiction to Canadian oil: report

Calagary Herald ^ | June 3, 2011 | Mike De Souza

[scooby321]

The One said we are supposed to buy oil from Brazil.

[thackney]

why is the country of origin not on gasoline.

Because it would be impossible. Refineries often get oil from multiple sources and import small amounts from other sources on an as needed basis. Supply changes can be interrupted and back sources used.

In many areas of the country, all the gasoline stations are served from the same pipeline. The pipeline may be feed from several different refineries. Each refinery may be buying oil from multiple sources. This is specially true with refineries within 100 miles of the coast. Those refineries may be feed with oil from multiple different pipelines.

To implement the source sticker and keep it from changing would actually restricting sources and raising prices. It just doesn't make sense.

[concrete is my business]

Thanks for the explanation. If I understand correctly it means that the gas is a mixture and it can come from many different sources. Too bad really. I liked the idea of consumer choice, with the country of origin posted at the pump.

[thackney]

A few refineries, like those in Alaska, will have one source.

But most are pipeline connected to multiple sources like different ports and will import from multiple places.

Obviously a refinery in Montana is rarely if ever going to use oil from Saudi Arabia.

Also consider that most gasoline stations outside of major refinery areas, are all going to be served from the same sources.

BP doesn't only deliver oil to BP Stations, same with Shell, ExxonMobil and others.

I worked on design and construction of a few different truck loading terminals for gasoline and diesel. This is a rack where the 18 wheelers hauling gasoline for the stations load up.

All were getting the same gasoline. There was a small amount of additives for the different companies. Shell loads would get a squirt of the Shell Additive; BP stations would get a squirt of the BP additive.

Even if you implemented the source sticker, in most areas of the country, all the local gasoline stations would have the same sources.

In a place like Houston you would see a difference, but when the most of the Southeast gets most of their gasoline from a single pipeline, you are not going to have a lot of choices.

[Publius6961]

Anyone who uses the word "addiction" in a presumably adult informed debate isn't worth reading.

I am addicted to food, and I have always been at or a few pounds under my "ideal" weight.
I am addicted to energy because it affects positively every other necessity of life, from food to medicines to the ability to travel. My usual expense at the pump, I estimate at 25% of the national average.

Anyone who associates "addiction" to basic needs is a functional moron.

Let's talk about a real and destructive addiction that has all negative effects to meeting real needs : Political Power.
Addiction to power is discretionary. It is coveted by "small" people of limited intellect and unlimited ego, whether elected or writing an "opinion" column.

I don't waste my time either reading what they think or accepting that they have something useful to say.

[Publius6961]

I am curious, as someone in the industry, if you have an opinion about his idea. If the consumer gets to vote, with their fuel dollars, I think American and Canadian oil and gas products would be much more popular than Venezuelan or Saudi Arabian oil and gas. Is there any good reason the country of origin should not be posted on the pump?

That is possible only if we invent an alternate reality.
Any given refinery at any moment will be processing oil from every conceiveable source. That distribution template from the ground to the consumer is in no danger of changing any time soon.

[Publius6961]

He he...

If Texas and Oklahoma got together they could create a second Oil Cartel, or Join OPEC.