This is just great. Could we build some new refineries, please.
Lousiana has 17 active refineries, producing about 16% of America's fuel.
Total American refinery capacity utilization was at 93% in 2004.
American refineries are now operating at 97% capacity, processing 17 million barrels of oil a day (American consumes 20.6 million barrels of oil a day.)
If Katrina takes refinery capacity off-line, the effect at the pump will be immediate. Ther is no more capacity available to up output within the counry. Shortfalls will have to be made up from imported gasoline suppliers. They are unlikely to be moved by complaints of gauging from American congressmen.
At this point Americans may ask why no new refinery has been built in the United States since 1976. (There is one on the drawing board for Yuma, Arizona.)
There were 315 refineries operating in the United States in 1981. There are 144 operating today.
BTW: 25% of American oil and natural gas production comes from off-shore drilling in the Gulf. No word yet on Katrina's impact on those operations.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment