What's In A Barrel Of Oil?

[Schrowang]

I originally posted this over in 5. 9 Engines & Transmissions as a response to a thread started by Master Chief. It was suggested that it be reposted as a starter thread of its own. Here it is and I still believe every word that I wrote.



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What's In A Barrel Of Oil?



I did some on-line research about what's in a barrel (BBL) of oil. I came up with the following.



A standard barrel of light sweet crude is exactly 42 gallons. During the refining process, with the addition of other petroleum distilates, that goes up to 48. 43 gallons. Here's the best breakdown that I could get:



51. 4% or 24. 9 gallons for gasoline

15. 3% or 7. 4 gallons for fuel oil

12. 3% or 6. 0 gallons for jet fuel

21. 0% or 10. 13 gallons for other petroleum products.



I'd guess that those figures are an average among the oil producers and the given times of the year.



But think about the demand for the 7. 4 gallons of fuel oil that our #2 diesel comes from. All the homes and businesses in the U. S. A. that are heating with oil; all the commercial diesel trucks and buses on the road; every diesel locomotive on every railroad and finally, us. Basically its the old law of supply and demand. Demand High & Supply Low = High Prices at the pump.



And don't think that all those commercial users are paying what we pay at the pump. They all buy in bulk and get far better rates than we do.



Here's some thoughts on why the cost of a BBL of oil is so high. I think that some factors include, the very high U. S. debt overseas (weak dollar), greed (oh yeah, OPEC has to get it's pound of flesh), fear (just watch what happens to the cost of BBL when a refinery fire happens, or a hurricane even threatens) and again, high demand for that BBL of oil. India and China are direct competitors for the same BBL of oil that we go after. All that dickering and bargaining drives the price up.



If you really want a rant, here's one from me.



I think that the French sit over there in Europe and laugh down their noses at us. 80% of their electrical power grid is supplied by nuclear energy. Yet we sit here and allow our elected politicians to be guided by a group of ecological idiots that wouldn't have the brains to pour sand out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel.



Do you think for one minute that if Germany, France, England, China or India owned Alaska and the ANWR that they wouldn't be up there right now drilling for that oil and using it for their own country. But, the tree huggers and bunny lovers in the country have got our politicians scared stiff to even suggest tapping that vast reserve of oil.



Cuba is selling drilling rights to the Chinese to drill for oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Again the EcoIdiots have that blocked too.



When the hell is this going to stop. I'll tell you when. We have an election comming up in 2008. Start writing letters to those congressmen and senators that are up for election. Tell them that you are damn sick and tired of taking crap from the Enviroterrorists and you want them to pass a sensible energy policy for this country that the average American can live with. Do it or we won't vote for you.



Boy do I feel better.



ADDENDUM:



I don't care what anyone says. The reason our sons and daughters are in Iraq, Afiganastan and elsewhere in the world is to stand on the walls and protect us here in the U. S. A. You may have your opinions, and I have mine, but please, don't ever paint these wonderful soldiers, sailors, airmen marines and coasties as dupes. They are not. They deserve our everlasting thanks for their sacrafice. I honor them and I hope you do too.



U. S. Air Force Vet - Vietnam era (1965 - 69)



Nuff said.

 

[WHazelwood]

They deserve our everlasting thanks for their sacrafice. I honor them and I hope you do too.



U. S. Air Force Vet - Vietnam era (1965 - 69)



Nuff said. [/QUOTE]



AMEN!

Walt

 

[betterthanstock]

But think about the demand for the 7. 4 gallons of fuel oil that our #2 diesel comes from. .

Here's a link that shows different processes. The high percentage of gasoline in the USA, vs other countries has to do with demand and the process. Back in the older days, more diesel was produced than gasoline, and still is in some countries. And the common (USA) FCC produced gasoline is very unstable and clogs carburetors/injectors with polymer deposits.



Cracking (chemistry) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[HBarlow]

I originally posted this over in 5. 9 Engines & Transmissions as a response to a thread started by Master Chief. It was suggested that it be reposted as a starter thread of its own. Here it is and I still believe every word that I wrote.



-------------------------------------------------------------------------



What's In A Barrel Of Oil?



I did some on-line research about what's in a barrel (BBL) of oil. I came up with the following.



A standard barrel of light sweet crude is exactly 42 gallons. During the refining process, with the addition of other petroleum distilates, that goes up to 48. 43 gallons. Here's the best breakdown that I could get:



51. 4% or 24. 9 gallons for gasoline

15. 3% or 7. 4 gallons for fuel oil

12. 3% or 6. 0 gallons for jet fuel

21. 0% or 10. 13 gallons for other petroleum products.



I'd guess that those figures are an average among the oil producers and the given times of the year.



But think about the demand for the 7. 4 gallons of fuel oil that our #2 diesel comes from. All the homes and businesses in the U. S. A. that are heating with oil; all the commercial diesel trucks and buses on the road; every diesel locomotive on every railroad and finally, us. Basically its the old law of supply and demand. Demand High & Supply Low = High Prices at the pump.



And don't think that all those commercial users are paying what we pay at the pump. They all buy in bulk and get far better rates than we do.



Here's some thoughts on why the cost of a BBL of oil is so high. I think that some factors include, the very high U. S. debt overseas (weak dollar), greed (oh yeah, OPEC has to get it's pound of flesh), fear (just watch what happens to the cost of BBL when a refinery fire happens, or a hurricane even threatens) and again, high demand for that BBL of oil. India and China are direct competitors for the same BBL of oil that we go after. All that dickering and bargaining drives the price up.



If you really want a rant, here's one from me.



I think that the French sit over there in Europe and laugh down their noses at us. 80% of their electrical power grid is supplied by nuclear energy. Yet we sit here and allow our elected politicians to be guided by a group of ecological idiots that wouldn't have the brains to pour sand out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel.



Do you think for one minute that if Germany, France, England, China or India owned Alaska and the ANWR that they wouldn't be up there right now drilling for that oil and using it for their own country. But, the tree huggers and bunny lovers in the country have got our politicians scared stiff to even suggest tapping that vast reserve of oil.



Cuba is selling drilling rights to the Chinese to drill for oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Again the EcoIdiots have that blocked too.



When the hell is this going to stop. I'll tell you when. We have an election comming up in 2008. Start writing letters to those congressmen and senators that are up for election. Tell them that you are damn sick and tired of taking crap from the Enviroterrorists and you want them to pass a sensible energy policy for this country that the average American can live with. Do it or we won't vote for you.



Boy do I feel better.



ADDENDUM:



I don't care what anyone says. The reason our sons and daughters are in Iraq, Afiganastan and elsewhere in the world is to stand on the walls and protect us here in the U. S. A. You may have your opinions, and I have mine, but please, don't ever paint these wonderful soldiers, sailors, airmen marines and coasties as dupes. They are not. They deserve our everlasting thanks for their sacrafice. I honor them and I hope you do too.



U. S. Air Force Vet - Vietnam era (1965 - 69)



Nuff said.

Thanks for reposting it Schrowang. It is an excellent informative post. I also appreciate and agree with your addendum comments.



Harvey

US Navy 1960-1987

 

[GCroyle]

Please accept my appreciation for your service, I noticed that all of you are Vets, you served our Nation, THANKS



We need to say thanks to Vets any time you see one, I travel a bit these days and it's a nice sight in airports to see a WWII, Korea, Viet Nam or any Vet wearing a service hat. I sat next to an Army officer that flew all the way home from Afganastan to SC to stand at one of his unit's Soldiers funeral, it was quite a flight for me.

 

[Loren]

When the hell is this going to stop. I'll tell you when. We have an election comming up in 2008. Start writing letters to those congressmen and senators that are up for election. Tell them that you are damn sick and tired of taking crap from the Enviroterrorists and you want them to pass a sensible energy policy for this country that the average American can live with. Do it or we won't vote for you.

Schrowang,



I wish that were true, but the politicians know that we'll re-elect them anyway. We do it every time. What we are stuck with is the government that we deserve, since we are too stupid to throw the bums out.



Loren

U. S. Navy 1970-1979

Viet Nam

 

[Parks]

Good thread, just moving to correct category.



Thanks Guys!



Brandon

 

[JOdell]

Schrowang,



I wish that were true, but the politicians know that we'll re-elect them anyway. We do it every time. What we are stuck with is the government that we deserve, since we are too stupid to throw the bums out.



Loren

U. S. Navy 1970-1979

Viet Nam

No Truer words were ever typed. I am just as guilty as the next guy when it comes to that. You find something you like about one person ( or don't like about the other person). Then you stick with that point. Mine is gun control. I WILL NOT vote for ANYONE that has any kind of policy to get rid of guns or hinder MY right to have/carry them. So you keep the guy you have in there because he hasn't touched your point.

I do like the break down of a barrel of oil. I never knew how they did that. Thank you for posting that. AND ALWAYS God Bess our Troops! Here and abroad. -Jason

 

[daveshoe]

President of Gulf Oil on energy costs

I saw the CEO of Gulf talking to Charlie Rose about the energy situation in the USA. They discussed the whole shebang, from Nuclear and solar to the possibility of energy riots in the poor urban areas of the USA. He said essentially the following

1. Automobile fuel MILEAGE needs to be the focus of the automakers. Fewer gallons equal fewer overall emissions. We are focusing on too narrow an area when we sacrifice gas mileage for a certain set of tailpipe emissions.

2. Importing finished gasoline is insane--we need to build more refineries

3. Drilling AMWAR is not politically feasible at this time,but drilling off the coast of AMWAR probably is,and offshore drilling there would yield vastly more oil than AMWAR anyway.

4. Wind power is the best/ cheapest to put online right now

5. Nuclear is one answer,but the entire infrastructure of the nuclear construction industry in the USA has been eliminated. {he did not say this,but I wonder if anyone is considering having French companies come over here]

6. Gulf is investing in the "new" non-silicon solar, but they are being cautious about the amount of money they are spending in case a better cheaper system is found than dual thin film solar now under research. Germany is subsidizing its citizens with a guaranteed rate for electricity from solar ; this has sparked ordinary citizens building solar arrays in just about any suitable location. That is why Gulf is centering its research efforts in Germany as there is a rapidly growing soilar industry there

7. The USA is the only industrialized country that has no plan for managing their energy requirements. We just simply pay the market price. Because there is no infrastructure for moving people cheaply, this can really hurt rural and urban people of modest incomes. This CEO was located in LA during the Rodney King riot, and fears that the people in "the Hood" are approaching a flash point as food and fuel are rapidly increasing in price

8. Partisan politics is really screwing up most of what needs to be accomplished--the longer we wait to get started,the worse things will become

Even though Charlie Rose is usually agenda driven, he just basically just sat there and listened. I almost forgot --the Gulf guy invited all the presidential candidates to a forum about improving the situation,and only one showed up

 

[DJW]

betterthanstock, a friend on a Tanker ship, said that North Sea oil has to have Mid-East or a similar crude even to process it, granted that was then, and new processes are being tried, after all it depends on cost. His tanker carries all types from crude, diesel, gasoline etc. of talk regarding oil energy he can burst a lot of bubbles owing to have the pulse of the whole industry. Speculation drives the market for all commodities, crap you could do the same for peanuts if they were essential to life and industry.

 

[fest3er]

... 7. ... Because there is no infrastructure for moving people cheaply ...

I'll only address this point. There's a reason we do not have much in the line of mass transit. It is simply that we do not have large masses of people going from point A to point B. Rather, we have large numbers of people going from everywhere to everywhere. That, in itself, makes mass transit useless because it cannot ever be cost effective or efficient in any way *given today's available technology*. Time is money whether we like it or not; because existing mass transit costs us a half hour or more of time, personal transportation remains the more economically efficient method of travel.



I could challenge all of you to design a mass transportation system that will work in the US, in general, but I won't. I guarantee you would fail, because it is not possible to create any kind of system that:

• moves people where they want and need to go,
• moves people when they want and need to go, and[*]moves them at a price people are willing to pay.

It is not possible to create a mass transportation system that is efficient in time, cost and location; the technology simply does not exist.



And to head off protestations otherwise, yes, many of you could design a mass transit system that works for this microcosm or for that microcosm of US geography. But none of you could design a system that works for any reasonable fraction of the microcosms of the US. If it could be done today, we would see such systems springing up everywhere. We don't see them because they cannot be made.



Forget about mass transit until adequate technology exists.

 

[Loren]

fest3er,



I won't take that challenge, mostly because I agree with you, but perhaps for different reasons.



But here are some thoughts:

It would be possible, and very efficient, for Americans to drive to a location where they could enter the mass transit system, then take mass transit for the main portion of their trip, then drive (or even walk) to their final destination.



This is done, for example, to some extent with BART in the San Francisco Bay Area and with Metro in the Washington, DC, area. These systems work because people want to go to and from the city, and can walk to their final destinations, and because these systems, in many cases, are able to provide huge parking facilities at their outlying stations.



Another mass transit system in America that works (sort of) is airline travel. Almost all major airlines use a "hub and spoke" system. This enables the airlines to serve smaller markets that otherwise wouldn't warrant a stop. A small plane picks up a small passenger load in a small market and flys to a hub. Arrivals at the hub are timed so that almost all the planes arrive at the same time (hence the airport congestion). All the planes are on the ground for an hour or so while the passengers all run to get on the outbound plane that is going to their destination, or another hub that serves their destination. The planes all leave at about the same time (more congestion).



With air travel, the result is a system that, while inefficient in resources such as airplane useage and airport congestion, is fairly efficient with the passengers' time. People have proven that they are willing to use it, in spite of the huge hassles of getting on a plane these days.



Having said all that, I still agree with your basic premise: That Americans won't use a mass transit system. The real reason is that we live in a wealthy country. Our time is worth more to us than the money we spend on fuel or vehicles, and we can afford the money. Mass transit works in poorer countries because the masses have no alternative.



Loren

 

[BigPapa]

5. Nuclear is one answer,but the entire infrastructure of the nuclear construction industry in the USA has been eliminated. {he did not say this,but I wonder if anyone is considering having French companies come over here]

Canada uses nuclear energy also. My wifes uncle is a nuclear engineer that now lives in Canada working with nuclear plants. Went up there because nuclear dried up here in the States.



Scott