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So you think you know oil: maybe not
Townhall ^ | June 24, 2008 | John David Powell

Posted on 06/24/2008 2:10:40 PM PDT by John David Powell

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1 posted on 06/24/2008 2:10:41 PM PDT by John David Powell
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To: John David Powell

Excellent info - thanks for posting!


2 posted on 06/24/2008 2:16:30 PM PDT by EdReform (The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed *NRA*JPFO*SAF*GOA*SAS*CCRKBA)
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To: John David Powell; thackney; Smokin' Joe; Eric in the Ozarks
Not bad for a rookie, John old boy.

If you want to know what's what in the 'awl bidness', you've no further to go than FreeRepublic. Ask FReeper thackney (a real live petro engineer), or Smokin' Joe (hands on in the Bakken formation(s)), or Eric in the Ozarks (long-time trader of lower-end product), to name a few.

Others here might offer a thought or two on the actual (as opposed to the public perception of) workings in the crude and products. Some of us have even written books on the subject.

BTW, did you know that there's no such thing as a physical 'barrel' of oil? Doesn't exist, and the reason for it traces back to the kerosene mkt in the 1880s.

3 posted on 06/24/2008 2:19:58 PM PDT by SAJ
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To: John David Powell

There is another aspect the “we need to focus on alternatives because oil is bad” crowd doesn’t consider. Oil is more than just gasoline. There are few aspects of modern existence that don’t depend on petroleum based products.


4 posted on 06/24/2008 2:20:42 PM PDT by Mygirlsmom ("My advice: Quit supporting the party that is symbolized by an ass." Ted Nugent)
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To: John David Powell

BTTT! Great article!


5 posted on 06/24/2008 2:21:48 PM PDT by kcm.org (I was paying $0.99/gal before dims stole Congress!!!)
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To: kcm.org

First time at the plate and hits one out of the park. Way to go!


6 posted on 06/24/2008 2:25:31 PM PDT by 11Bush
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To: SAJ; John David Powell
Just for honest disclosure, I am not a petroleum engineer. My degree and professional registration is in electrical, specialized in power systems. But my experience is almost entirely oil/gas/petrochem.
7 posted on 06/24/2008 2:26:39 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: John David Powell
What products that you buy on a regular basis are sold with tax included? Answer: Gasoline. For everything else, you add the tax at checkout.

Maybe the author never buys any form of alcohol but it also has the taxes included, not added at the checkout stand.

8 posted on 06/24/2008 2:28:57 PM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP (Make all taxes truly voluntary)
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To: John David Powell
Elected Liberal Democrat Politicians are attempting to modify American's energy habits by hindering any attempt to lower energy cost.

Since they can't outlaw American's SUVs and force them to ride public transportation, keeping energy prices high is another way to achieve their goal.

If American's lose their jobs due to cutbacks related to high energy cost, then too damn bad. Mother-Earth comes first.

9 posted on 06/24/2008 2:28:58 PM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: thackney

Way to go, John. Once again, we geeks, with just a little bit of research, have no trouble completely trouncing even the most above-average lib. They are - well, they’re marshmallow-major, latte drinking lib arts sponges.


10 posted on 06/24/2008 2:31:42 PM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: Libertarianize the GOP

Exactly what I was thinking.


11 posted on 06/24/2008 2:34:32 PM PDT by Codeflier (We just had 8 more years of a democrat president in office, we already know what happens!)
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To: SAJ; John David Powell
" Not bad for a rookie, John old boy.

If you want to know what's what in the 'awl bidness', you've no further to go than FreeRepublic. Ask FReeper thackney (a real live petro engineer), or Smokin' Joe (hands on in the Bakken formation(s)), or Eric in the Ozarks (long-time trader of lower-end product), to name a few."

I can attempt seismic survey questions: 5 years in the GOM on a seismic ship and another 12 as a software engineer developing seismic processing software for a seismic company here in H-Town.

12 posted on 06/24/2008 2:35:48 PM PDT by avacado
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To: Libertarianize the GOP

And cigarettes?


13 posted on 06/24/2008 2:37:14 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: Libertarianize the GOP

“Maybe the author never buys any form of alcohol but it also has the taxes included, not added at the checkout stand.”

Also, tobacco taxes are included in the price, and then many places, the sales tax is added on top of all that. No breaks for the tobacco users.


14 posted on 06/24/2008 2:41:28 PM PDT by Will88
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To: John David Powell

Good job!


15 posted on 06/24/2008 2:43:57 PM PDT by TigersEye (Berlin 1936. Olympics for murdering regimes. Beijing 2008.)
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To: John David Powell

“Folks float the idea of a moratorium on state and federal gasoline taxes without explaining its minimal impact on gas prices,”

And isn’t the federal gasoline tax used, or is supposed to be used, primarily for highway construction and maintenance?

That idea strikes me as silly, though it has appeal to many.


16 posted on 06/24/2008 2:45:55 PM PDT by Will88
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To: thackney
My apologies, Hack! Sorry for the error...

:^(

17 posted on 06/24/2008 2:47:20 PM PDT by SAJ
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To: Mygirlsmom

I saw a show the other day about the Bra industry. You guessed it...petrolium and ofcourse the almighty silk worm.
Very interesting show.


18 posted on 06/24/2008 2:47:21 PM PDT by devistate one four (H I V Homophobia Is Vindicated)
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To: John David Powell
I fail to see how knowing all the answers (quantitative perfection) is any better than qualitative adequacy, the position where someone knows not what is exact, but what is not true, or what is irrelevant. I fail to see why knowing that Canada provides 12% and 20% of the oil we use and import is critical to our understanding the problem, so much as knowing that Canada is our #1 import supplier! Let's get real here.

The same can be said for most of the other "trivia facts".

That taxes at all levels is greater than the obscene profits of the oil companies is very relevant when the idiot politicians zero in on "obscene profits" or "gigantic executive salaries". At least the oil companies are producing something useful for the amount of profits they make. And it is not irrelevant that those profits are distributed among millions of shareholders of oil company stock.

When was the last time government shared "their" obscene income (profit)?

Knowledge is always power, and being able to recognize BS when we hear it is useful, but so far has contributed zero towards solving the problem. The politicians still argue irrelevancies, suggest old and tired alternatives and, bottom line, contribute zero towards solving the underlying issues.

Isn't that wonderful?
If we BS our problems to death we lose our homes and our jobs and starve. If politicians do it, they can do it forever with no price to pay whatsoever!

What's wrong with that picture?

19 posted on 06/24/2008 2:47:50 PM PDT by Publius6961 (You're Government, it's not your money, and you never have to show a profit.)
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To: John David Powell

Thanks for the post. great info.


20 posted on 06/24/2008 2:48:29 PM PDT by Ron Jeremy (sonic)
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