Posted on 05/09/2007 4:22:15 PM PDT by jdm
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton Wednesday demanded a probe into recent maintenance closures of several U.S. refineries, and questioned whether oil firms were guilty of price gouging.As anger mounts in the Congress over hikes in gasoline prices ahead of the key summer holiday season, the New York senator argued oil firms should not pass the cost of temporary shortages onto motorists.
"Consumers simply cannot continue to absorb the crippling cost of these rising gas prices," Clinton said.
"I am very concerned that oil companies are not being held responsible for their own infrastructure and are being allowed to pass shortages onto customers at the pump."
Clinton said that oil companies should be forced to use some of their windfall profits to cushion price hikes and asked the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to mount an investigation.
Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid hit out at high prices and huge oil firms. "Every year, about this time, a refinery goes down for repairs. Is that coincidental?" he asked.
"Or is it part of a plan that these multinational, huge companies who are making obscene profits in the tens of billions of dollars — is this part of their game to keep the profits going."
On Tuesday, Democrats in the House of Representatives accused President George W Bush of presiding over a rise in gas prices over the course of his presidency.
When he took power in 2001, the average price of a gallon of petrol in the United States was $1.47, while today it had average 3.05 dollars, and was much higher in some areas, they said.
But Republicans have accused Democrats of doing little to ease the pain at the pump since taking control of the Congress earlier this year.
"Despite their promises, House Democrats have done nothing to address high energy costs this year — and history shows they have consistently opposed common sense energy solutions," a statement from the office of Republican Majority leader John Boehner said.
Gas prices in the United States are among the lowest of any industrialized nation, and its roads are awash with large, gas-guzzling cars.
But rising concern over greenhouse gases and global warming, and wallet pounding prices at the petrol pump have prompted rising concern about heavy petrol consumption.
On Monday, another Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama castigated U.S. automakers for their crusade to build faster and bigger cars, and unveiled a plan to encourage the development of more fuel-efficient cars.
Hillary demands assistance in ridding Bills shirts of Ring Around His Collars.
More grandstanding. Refineries ALWAYS need at least a partial annual shutdown for repairs and refitting.
What is the best time to do that? When the weather is good.
If they didn’t have maintenance shutdowns there would be a lot more catastrophic failures and then Hitlery would b!tch about that, too.
“Consumers simply cannot continue to absorb the crippling cost of these rising gas prices,” Clinton said.
“I am very concerned that oil companies are not being held responsible for their own infrastructure and are being allowed to pass shortages onto customers at the pump.”
Clinton said that oil companies should be forced to use some of their windfall profits to cushion price hikes and asked the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to mount an investigation
Does Hillary understand free enterprise economics?
Does Hillary understand that the “windfall profits” are largely paid out in dividends to investors, so there is not a windfall sitting in a bank somewhere for oil companies to subsidize the prices in the future?
Does Hillary understand how the economy works? She would have to impose major controls on the oil industry to change the way prices are set.
I guess the pols should ask this question:
WHat would pi$$ off more people?
Gas at $3/gal anytime you want
or
Gas at $2/gal but signs at (most all of) the pumps say “out of gas”?
Been there, done that - I’ll pay the bit extra, thank you.
Which costs more - the price spike due to limited shortages or the various gas taxes?
Hmmmm . . .
Here’s the rare thing I agree with her on.
These maintenance shut downs should occur in October.
Ask her about Cattle Futures... it's amazing how much she knows from just "reading the Wall Street Journal."
Hillary, in my opinion, is saying what went over well in the polls. People are angry about gas prices, she blames big oil. I notice she says nothing about the Eco-terrorists/tree huggers/dirt worshiping types who have passed laws that make new refineries just about impossible.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
That one rates right up there with
"I can't be responsible for every under capitalized business in America"
And I'm thinking, Dammit woman, pick up an econ book every once and a while.
Have you seen the pice of hookers lately? Hillary needs to hold hearings on Big Ass.
So how would you like to have your vacation time limited to October? Chances are, 'Big Oil' is also considering their own employees vacation requsts and staffing needs in contemplating the outages.
If the employees wish to take a summer vacation so they can take their children with them, then why not shutter the plant while the contractors perform the maintenance work?
Have you seen the price of hookers lately? Hillary needs to hold hearings on Big Ass.
Exactly. But the MSM will not ask her why the Government makes more off a gallon of gas than the oil companies or the gas station does.
Well that would work out well for the northerners filling their oil tanks for the winter!
Actually, I think the 'maintenance' shutdowns every April-May are for the refineries to switch their processing to make the EPA required summer formulation gas. When they are up and running for the required selling date (used to be June 15th, but I think it's earlier now), the prices level off. Come August, they start doing 'maintenance' shutdowns to return to normal gasoline, which is allowed again in September. It's the federal government driving the seasonal supply shortages, not the refiners on their own.
Big oil....big insurance, big pharma, wal-mart, big banks are all bad...the only big thing they like is big government and big unions.
Not any business of politicians anyway.
in her infinite wisdom and logistical acumen, would the Beast rather they shut down in the middle of summer and the middle of winter to do PM etc, or in the spring and fall when they are switching from heating fuel to gas or gas to heating fuel to do it???
“If the employees wish to take a summer vacation so they can take their children with them, then why not shutter the plant while the contractors perform the maintenance work?”
Because it drives the price of gas to $4/gallon, wrecks consumer spending, and spikes inflation.
Haven’t you ever worked for a company that has a season where vacations are pretty much off limits during that time of year?
Why don’t we just shut the crabbing fleet down, for example. Never mind that crabbing season can be measured in weeks - some employees might want to take their kids to see the largest ball of twine or something.
Let’s see. The democrats don’t want us to drill in ANWAR. They don’t want us to drill off the Atlantic or Pacific Coast. Our refineries are running at 95% capacity and yet the environmentalists (democrats one and all) block new refineries with impact studies, high costs and lengthy bureaucracy. Democrats don’t want nuclear power. Every State has a different blend(s) which is being changed over at this time. Demand is up in the Spring and Summer (market forces). Fuel oil production is being phased out and refineries are converting to produce gasoline (which at 95% capacity subtracts from the ability to meet demand). Our refineries are old and held together with wires and tape so little surprise when a refinery hiccups. And who is responsible for our shortfall? Democrats, one and all.
If she is elected President she will!
Hillary and Harry Reid could do away with the need for “summer blend” gasoline, and thus, scheduled maintenance closures. I’m sure that GWB would sign such a bill from the Democratic Congress.
Why are the Dems in favor of higher gas prices?
Hillary should demand an investigation into the Vince Foster murder. Now, there would be a story.
She sounds more like Hugo Chavez every day.
Why doesn’t Hillary investigate the “excessive” windfall of taxes the government is stealing from us.
No prob, lady. Get off your large posterior and write some legislation to fast track 10-20 refineries, off shore drilling, oil shale research, etc.
There's plenty that can be done. Quit yer bitching and get to work!
“Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid hit out at high prices and huge oil firms. “Every year, about this time, a refinery goes down for repairs. Is that coincidental?” he asked. “
Road apples. The refineries go down to convert to the STUPID, GOVERNMENT MANDATED odd ball fuel mixtures. Harry, you are an ass.
Uh...no. She's a socialist/communist.
A candidate who cannot understand basic economics has no business attempting to become President of the United States. Zimbabwe could do with another President perhaps Ms Hillary would like to apply for that job.
But, she believes it's perfectly fine for the cost of idiotic government policies and regulations to be passed on to motorists.
ROFL!
Which ones? and why October?
Or are you being sarcastic?
First, they are called turn-a-rounds or overhauls.
Second, there are at least two types: 'major overhauls' and minor overhauls (a third type would be an emergency turn-a-round)
Let's look at them individually:
Major turn-a-round -- These are usually refinery wide, especially in medium to large refineries. They are scheduled years in advance. During such a turn-a-round they may be: installing more modern equipment, working through a long planned debottlenecking program, o verhauling major equipment (pumps, compressors, etc.). They are planned to the T, with contracts pre awarded to dozens of companies to come in and work in their areas of specific expertize. They are also planned so as to be quick and efficient, as down time is lost revenue time.
Minor turn-a-round -- similar to above but usually limited to one or two units within a refinery. A major refinery may have 4-7 Units (I am not a process guy so I may be off here). The turn-a-round may be for reasons similar to above or may be for more routine maintenance. For example, the loss of one unit during a turn-a-round may mean that refinery cannot produce Diesel, or jet fuel or a few other specific products. But they will still have revenue. They are also schedule 12-18 months in advance and are rotated between the units.
Limitations on turn-a-round's:
Sub contractor schedules/availibility
Pump repair facilities work load
Compressor repair facilities work load
Lead times on major equipment
vacation schedules
Availability of key people.
Additional comments:
Since refineries are concentrated in limited areas (Houston, Louisiana, Los Angeles), there is a need to spread out the schedules of shut downs so that sub contractors are ready and available to them.
In a major turn-a-round I would guess that as many as 200 to 300 workers for the sub contractors may be involved either at the refinery itself, or in supporting roles.
turn-a-rounds are scheduled preferably during spring and fall, as summer is when gas is at it's highest price and thus they do not want to lose revenue during this time.
Major turn-a-rounds occur each 5-7 years, depending on many factors.
Comment on me: I am not in the refining business, but more of a sub supplier for refiners during normal operations and often during turn-a-rounds.
October is after the summer driving season.
Fortunately, the refiners have a better sense of running their business then Hillary and most of the others that add comments w/o knowledge.
that’s a laugh!
the democraps make just as much money from “big oil” as the republicans.
Oh speaking of Big Oil. I heard you have no problem taking donations from BP? If you think the Oil companies are so evil, then return the money they gave you for your campaign. I know I know you will NEVER do that!
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