GasBuddy Blog

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: GasBuddy Official Blog > Topics	Add to favorite topics Post New Topic

Author	Topic: Refinery snags result from cold weather	Post a Reply Back to Topics

PD Moderator	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2010 1:26:10 PM Ignore PD Report Abuse If things haven't gotten bad enough from the cold weather, add one more thing into the mix: refineries. Some Texas refineries have been reporting weather-related issues as of late, temporarily adding concern to traders already balancing many issues. Preliminary reports show that Motiva shut a unit at its Port Arthur, Texas location, a facility that has a total capacity of 290,000 barrels per day. In addition, Valero, ExxonMobil, and Shell all reported issues as well. Valero shut a unit at its 315,000bpd plant in Corpus Christi this weekend, and blamed the cold weather for the shutdown of another unit and other malfunctions. Corpus Christi woke up to temperatures of 24F on Friday, over 20 degrees under the normal for this... Visit GasBuddy Blog for full article

Moderator

Message Posted: Jan 11, 2010 1:26:10 PM

Ignore PD Report Abuse

If things haven't gotten bad enough from the cold weather, add one more thing into the mix: refineries. Some Texas refineries have been reporting weather-related issues as of late, temporarily adding concern to traders already balancing many issues.

Preliminary reports show that Motiva shut a unit at its Port Arthur, Texas location, a facility that has a total capacity of 290,000 barrels per day.

In addition, Valero, ExxonMobil, and Shell all reported issues as well. Valero shut a unit at its 315,000bpd plant in Corpus Christi this weekend, and blamed the cold weather for the shutdown of another unit and other malfunctions. Corpus Christi woke up to temperatures of 24F on Friday, over 20 degrees under the normal for this...

Visit GasBuddy Blog for full article

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

First

Next Last

djgunrunner Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:10,087 Points:2,346,655 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Feb 16, 2010 1:19:59 PM Ignore djgunrunner Report Abuse Well that ought to give them an excuse to raise prices.
lodawg48 Champion Author Columbus Posts:14,148 Points:2,722,200 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2010 8:20:18 AM Ignore lodawg48 Report Abuse 1PCVkQ /
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,599 Points:1,607,570 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 8:34:18 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse whatever happened to business planning....? Oh, right, greed.
skybiker Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,287 Points:1,557,565 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 8:14:00 PM Ignore skybiker Report Abuse Like Winter is a surprise!!!
TJC47 Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:6,191 Points:1,140,660 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 2:18:07 PM Ignore TJC47 Report Abuse Should winterize their plants!
GatorGuy Champion Author Columbia Posts:2,220 Points:1,205,235 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 1:17:03 PM Ignore GatorGuy Report Abuse Just the threat of cold is enough to drive prices up.
SUV2009 Champion Author Orlando Posts:4,403 Points:1,140,290 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 8:38:08 AM Ignore SUV2009 Report Abuse Cableman31 has a point why do we have problem when places that are colder do not. Why do not we learn and prevent these issues.
cableman31 Champion Author New York Posts:8,823 Points:2,014,850 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 8:35:32 AM Ignore cableman31 Report Abuse Big deal. Houston was in the 20's the other day. Canada can be -20 and they keep working. Texas, you have a lot to learn. Stop being babies and work like men.
bluebird1 Champion Author Toronto Posts:15,721 Points:3,106,070 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 8:19:26 AM Ignore bluebird1 Report Abuse dks2000 is likely right about the worker issue but if kept more refineries open then less likely for all to be hit with issues at once. Here in Canada a major Shell refinery is closing in Eastern Canada which will definitely lead to more unstable prices in the future & higher prices overall as Canada moves further into importing gas from the US. This & the above will lead to increased profits - overall that is, the one plant will suffer a bit but the margin rise on all Big Oil's bus. will more than offset the one location.
dks2000 Veteran Author Houston Posts:276 Points:275,020 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 8:05:11 AM Ignore dks2000 Report Abuse I don't claim to know all about refineries, but I can guess why they had troubles. The refinery is more than just a machine that runs. It takes people to run it. If the cold weather affected enough people getting to work (remember down here in Texas we're not used to sub-freezing), then there may not have been enough people to reliably run the refinery. I'd bet that shutting down these plants did not increase their profits. If the refinery is not running, then it's not getting any revenue - if I remember correctly, about 25 - 30 cents per gallon of gasoline goes to refining, so if no output - no revenue.
w4kh Champion Author Tennessee Posts:11,660 Points:2,227,040 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:55:34 AM Ignore w4kh Report Abuse The refiners have been in this business for a long long time and have been through cold weather before... they are simply using the weather as an excuse to trying reducing supply to hold prices higher than they "should" be, taking a profit from us... Conserve! Drive Smarter! Seek Alternatives!
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,337 Points:1,537,705 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:55:22 AM Ignore danreino Report Abuse I heard the wind chill was -69f in College Station, TX.
must87searcher Champion Author Maryland Posts:8,971 Points:1,777,730 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:54:41 AM Ignore must87searcher Report Abuse Could some of these incidents to the oil refinaries also include the lack of attenttion and care we have been giving thes while we have been reliaing more on importers for oil supplies?
goodbuy Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,658 Points:1,419,880 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:52:10 AM Ignore goodbuy Report Abuse SISSIES!! What do they think the refineries in Wyoming do when it gets to -20 and lower and a wind chill of -50 or more. SISSIES!!
BartBuzz Champion Author Atlanta Posts:8,875 Points:1,773,810 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:50:37 AM Ignore BartBuzz Report Abuse Old post. Keep conserving.
fratt Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:9,815 Points:2,642,980 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:50:33 AM Ignore fratt Report Abuse Keep conserving!
mazdaboy Champion Author Portland Posts:7,878 Points:2,096,305 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:49:32 AM Ignore mazdaboy Report Abuse Good one Wwagon, "snow job", I like it.
misterray Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,178 Points:721,865 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:48:34 AM Ignore misterray Report Abuse Conserve. Drive less, walk more.
Wwagon Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,030 Points:253,675 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:46:20 AM Ignore Wwagon Report Abuse Keep conserving. This sounds like a "snow job".
DWME Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,223 Points:251,725 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:45:36 AM Ignore DWME Report Abuse Lot of refineries experiencing problems. I'm shocked that gas isn't a lot higher than it is.
Gassed01 Champion Author Toronto Posts:6,344 Points:1,800,240 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:44:35 AM Ignore Gassed01 Report Abuse Like it has never been cold before in any of these places? Give me a break.
flyfast Champion Author Kansas City Posts:9,238 Points:1,823,860 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:43:18 AM Ignore flyfast Report Abuse more BS
karmadrome Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:1,290 Points:554,455 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:42:15 AM Ignore karmadrome Report Abuse its not like there was a blizzard in tx, what's the problem?
I10Express Champion Author San Antonio Posts:8,659 Points:1,638,020 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:42:06 AM Ignore I10Express Report Abuse "Blamed" the weather is the correct word because caused cannot be used. If the cold caused a shutdown there would be no refineries north of the Mason-Dixon line.
bell05 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,245 Points:1,874,660 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:41:50 AM Ignore bell05 Report Abuse I understand that the cold weather does effect the refinerys.
chvygrl All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:931 Points:911,420 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:41:39 AM Ignore chvygrl Report Abuse I'm with ya mysub
mysub Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:8,901 Points:2,328,515 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:40:20 AM Ignore mysub Report Abuse Just another excuse for raising prices.
SaltyDogMA Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:2,310 Points:768,315 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:40:08 AM Ignore SaltyDogMA Report Abuse Ah; globAl warming hits Texas. How soon before we hear Al Gore and his band of loony liars say "It's the globAl warming that's causing this globAl cooling!"
Dennisjk Champion Author Detroit Posts:6,476 Points:1,923,500 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:39:53 AM Ignore Dennisjk Report Abuse Yesterday's news
gilfarm Champion Author Alabama Posts:6,781 Points:1,945,915 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:39:19 AM Ignore gilfarm Report Abuse Weather is changing now!
ricebike Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,026 Points:1,854,745 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:38:54 AM Ignore ricebike Report Abuse wrong, joe, they can increase the price because they will cry, less supply and incresed demand... and you can't do anything about it but bend over and take it
dan30thz28 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:5,903 Points:1,980,065 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:38:30 AM Ignore dan30thz28 Report Abuse We had lot temps here with no refinery problems...hmmm...
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:9,984 Points:1,739,885 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:37:15 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse not making any $$$$ if they ain't makin' any gas....
PD Moderator	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:35:40 AM Ignore PD Report Abuse If things haven't gotten bad enough from the cold weather, add one more thing into the mix: refineries. Some Texas refineries have been reporting weather-related issues as of late, temporarily adding concern to traders already balancing many issues. Preliminary reports show that Motiva shut a unit at its Port Arthur, Texas location, a facility that has a total capacity of 290,000 barrels per day. In addition, Valero, ExxonMobil, and Shell all reported issues as well. Valero shut a unit at its 315,000bpd plant in Corpus Christi this weekend, and blamed the cold weather for the shutdown of another unit and other malfunctions. Corpus Christi woke up to temperatures of 24F on Friday, over 20 degrees under the normal for this... Visit GasBuddy Blog for full article
rtw777 Champion Author Florida Posts:9,386 Points:1,840,045 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:35:21 AM Ignore rtw777 Report Abuse The problem isn't the units, it is the workers. It too damn cold out for south Texas.
6642337 Champion Author Illinois Posts:48,310 Points:1,884,495 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:34:34 AM Ignore 6642337 Report Abuse And how else to raise prices
Buffalo Joe Champion Author Alberta Posts:8,586 Points:2,506,925 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:34:07 AM Ignore Buffalo Joe Report Abuse They money EXXON and SHELL have made over the years, they get no sympathy from me.
rippinusoff Champion Author Lexington Posts:7,393 Points:1,485,825 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:32:58 AM Ignore rippinusoff Report Abuse wow, it's cold in January and they didn't see it coming... maybe they should use speculators..
sb0804 All-Star Author Dayton Posts:838 Points:101,640 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:31:07 AM Ignore sb0804 Report Abuse So I gotta ask a question. Is this the first time in history this country has had a cold snap in JANUARY? Didn't think so.
condé Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,731 Points:1,811,715 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:30:53 AM Ignore condé Report Abuse COLD EFFECTS US ALL1
niceguytx Champion Author Houston Posts:13,685 Points:2,710,810 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:30:52 AM Ignore niceguytx Report Abuse This does not help.
rjoeh Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,071 Points:2,468,115 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:30:51 AM Ignore rjoeh Report Abuse They had these problems in the past and that did not stop production... so what has changed now??? Answer: The business mentality that they are no longer serving a buying public but instead are serving the profits going to their back pocket.
us412 Champion Author Arkansas Posts:22,801 Points:2,414,305 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:30:49 AM Ignore us412 Report Abuse Maintroll, that poor attitude is what got us in this mess.
salog Champion Author Columbia Posts:7,710 Points:1,636,985 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:30:37 AM Ignore salog Report Abuse with all the heat these refineries generate making fuel, how does a little cold weather cause them to have to shut down?
bad_sailor Champion Author London Posts:7,768 Points:1,671,395 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:30:18 AM Ignore bad_sailor Report Abuse An excuse to raise prices.
torch347 Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:1,065 Points:1,031,075 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:29:20 AM Ignore torch347 Report Abuse Blah, blah, blah. Anything to raise the price of gas. They should have had these problems a long time ago and fixed it, but no, now in the worse time they find all these problems and have to shut down refineries. All that will do is raise the price of gas, just when it was going down.
RdHogg Champion Author Houston Posts:30,994 Points:2,892,110 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:29:06 AM Ignore RdHogg Report Abuse Don't worry, it is back up in the 70's this week.
wwcj Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,600 Points:387,025 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:21:43 AM Ignore wwcj Report Abuse This is why we should have diverse refineries across the USA, close to where we are extracing oil. Oh, that right we have the not in my back yard and greenie issues, and the progressives do not want any progress in making it easier to get gas. What did the Dems change their name to progressives when they only block any progress that we could have in most of our problem areas?
jeepman64 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:909 Points:847,660 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:20:09 AM Ignore jeepman64 Report Abuse Blip
bicycler Champion Author Ontario Posts:14,815 Points:2,598,445 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2010 7:19:41 AM Ignore bicycler Report Abuse terrylea; So true,so true. The other truth is that it will cost the consumer as always.