Marina Gas Price Comments

KnotKnormal · 05-22-2008, 01:50 PM

Orion,

I agree with you. The finger pointing isn't going to help any of us out in the long run. For some of us older folk that can remember back to the late 70's when gas almost doubled, interest rates were on the rise toward 20% as well. Not exactly the same as what is happening today, but similar. We all survived but it was painful for many. Hopefully we all survive this hickup too.

And, as for Venezuala, the government controls CITGO so I would think that it is probably subsidized to keep it $0.12 a gallon.

Chris Craft · 05-22-2008, 08:17 PM

I also am not sure that drilling more will help. There certainly is no shortage of oil now. Refinement seems to be the bottle neck as far as that is concerted. Also all the environmental regulations for so many different blends of fuel. Low Sulfer deisel has driven up the prices HUGE. The week US currency, feer generated by the media, speculation on the comodities market, demand from countries like China....... I could go on and on. The price IMO is hear to stay and I think it is not going to stop tell we hit about 5 bucks a gallon. Then it will take some kind of new technology to come into play be it hydrogen or what ever.

I purchased a Hybrid Escape last month and so far have to say that I am impressed with it. The fuel savings alone over my truck pays for the car and then some! If they came out with a hydrogen fuel cell that could let me fill up with water I would pay 100K for it (I drive a LOT). The good news is that the higher the price of fuel the more that alternatives will be pushed and they become more viable.

Orion · 05-23-2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Craft

I also am not sure that drilling more will help. There certainly is no shortage of oil now. Refinement seems to be the bottle neck as far as that is concerted. Also all the environmental regulations for so many different blends of fuel. Low Sulfer deisel has driven up the prices HUGE. The week US currency, feer generated by the media, speculation on the comodities market, demand from countries like China....... I could go on and on. The price IMO is hear to stay and I think it is not going to stop tell we hit about 5 bucks a gallon. Then it will take some kind of new technology to come into play be it hydrogen or what ever.

The $135/barrel cost driver is for crude, not refined fuels. More wells means more of the raw material. You are correct that refining is also a bottleneck, but the big driver right now is the control that the Middle East has on the cost of crude.......and China is just beginning to ramp up demand. Wait a few years and we'll look back fondly on these days when China was just starting to industrialize.

It's a 3 part fix: Reduce demand where possible (just helps slow down growth, realistically); more sources for crude; increased refining.
.....and our leaders are still just hand-wringing.

Here's how we can help here at Winni. Boats running at "no wake" speed get, on average, about double the MPG than at "cruising" speed. For most of us our purpose for coming to the lake to enjoy the lake. So, take a 2 hour cruise instead of a 20-minute cruise and enjoy the view, the quiet, and the company.

Chris Craft · 05-23-2008, 08:56 AM

Of course we could just be positioning ourselves to be the only country with oil left if they ever run out in the Middle East, Canada, Venesuela (sp)......

The reason that I do not think that the problem is supply side on crude is that we have HUGE reserves. Demand has dropped in the US (a little) yet prices continue to skyrocket. Get a strong dollar again and the price will fall about 30%. As soon as you let people speculate on a commodity like oil you drive the price up as well. Blaming the Middle East for not giving us enough or Chavez IMO is wrong. I was amazed the other day to see how much of our oil we ship out of this country.

Once the alternatives hit oil will be worthless and those countries are going to be bumming. The Middle east only has oil so IMO they do not want the price of oil this high because they know that at this price point alternative start to become more viable. When oil was 30 bucks a barrel who cared....

05-22-2008, 01:50 PM	#1
KnotKnormal Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Medway, MA Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Orion, I agree with you. The finger pointing isn't going to help any of us out in the long run. For some of us older folk that can remember back to the late 70's when gas almost doubled, interest rates were on the rise toward 20% as well. Not exactly the same as what is happening today, but similar. We all survived but it was painful for many. Hopefully we all survive this hickup too. And, as for Venezuala, the government controls CITGO so I would think that it is probably subsidized to keep it $0.12 a gallon. __________________ "Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda

05-22-2008, 08:17 PM	#2
Chris Craft Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 120 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I also am not sure that drilling more will help. There certainly is no shortage of oil now. Refinement seems to be the bottle neck as far as that is concerted. Also all the environmental regulations for so many different blends of fuel. Low Sulfer deisel has driven up the prices HUGE. The week US currency, feer generated by the media, speculation on the comodities market, demand from countries like China....... I could go on and on. The price IMO is hear to stay and I think it is not going to stop tell we hit about 5 bucks a gallon. Then it will take some kind of new technology to come into play be it hydrogen or what ever. I purchased a Hybrid Escape last month and so far have to say that I am impressed with it. The fuel savings alone over my truck pays for the car and then some! If they came out with a hydrogen fuel cell that could let me fill up with water I would pay 100K for it (I drive a LOT). The good news is that the higher the price of fuel the more that alternatives will be pushed and they become more viable.

05-23-2008, 08:56 AM	#4
Chris Craft Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 120 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Of course we could just be positioning ourselves to be the only country with oil left if they ever run out in the Middle East, Canada, Venesuela (sp)...... The reason that I do not think that the problem is supply side on crude is that we have HUGE reserves. Demand has dropped in the US (a little) yet prices continue to skyrocket. Get a strong dollar again and the price will fall about 30%. As soon as you let people speculate on a commodity like oil you drive the price up as well. Blaming the Middle East for not giving us enough or Chavez IMO is wrong. I was amazed the other day to see how much of our oil we ship out of this country. Once the alternatives hit oil will be worthless and those countries are going to be bumming. The Middle east only has oil so IMO they do not want the price of oil this high because they know that at this price point alternative start to become more viable. When oil was 30 bucks a barrel who cared....