[WFTR]

You are correct. Rita is going right over much of our domestic production. All of those rigs have likely evacuated already and are not producing oil. When Rita passes, the companies will need to get workers back to the rigs to begin repairs. They'll also have to check pipelines for damage. Once those checks are complete and damage is repaired, we can restart production. Of course, many of the rigs are already down because of damage from Katrina.

When the rigs come back online, they'll be sending oil to a smaller number of refineries. I've heard that four refineries are still down as a result of damage from Katrina. Shell has a big one at Port Arthur that could be damaged by Rita. Exxon has a big one at Bay City, Texas. Conoco and Citgo have refineries in Lake Charles. Any of these or maybe all of them could be down for the next few days to a few weeks. The three or four refineries around Houston are likely down because of the threat of Rita but now are less likely to sustain major damage. They could be producing again in a few days.

This country needs more production and more refining. Unfortunately, we have a business climate that is hostile to both.

Bill

[Jrabbit]

My husband works for the company that owns the last refinery that was built in this country....in 1976. Pathetic, isn't it?

[ElisabethInCincy]

Thanks wftr.. i was starting to get my feelings hurt after 7000000 posts no reply to mine LMBO !!! J/k that was informative thanks again..