Bloomberg reports today that 13% of the nation's gasoline output relies on the refineries on the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans.

2.5 million gallons/day. If they all go under water I would guess that we could see a huge spike in gasoline prices no matter what happens to the price of oil.

Seems like now days, all someone has to do is sneeze by a refinery and gas goes up. So an increase is likely if even just one or two go down for a few weeks.

 

Just when the speculators started loosing and our prices coming down...this happens...more speculation and more it goes up...they are making more money then the oil companies....they need to make it a 60/70% requirement before you can buy...not 20/30

 

I don't remember seeing any refineries along the banks of the Mississippi...down around New Orleans they are in Norco which is closer to the Bonnet Carre Spillway than the river - they are opening the flood gates to shunt water into Lake Ponchartrain which will allow the refineries to keep producing.

 

They showed a graphic of 11 refineries within the flood zone on each side of the normal banks.

Keep in mind that the flood zone could be inland as much as 3 miles...maybe even better.

 

Why do we continue to try and make rivers go where we want

 

Because we think we can move mountains....

 

True...the river usually always wins!

 

Mother nature is so much more powerful then all the dirt we can move

 

The same reason we build nuclear facilities on fault lines, or in tsunami zones, and cities below sea level.

 

O-so we can thin the heard

 

river crested today, but the water will be around for weeks. Ya'll should be here in Shelby/Desoto counties . water everywhere in historical proportions. it really is amazing to see

 

I cannot imagine the misery and devastation.

 

people round here are very optomistic and never cease to help each other out with sandbags, shelter, etc

 

I rode my bicycle on the levee Sunday morning. The water was up, but no more than I have seen it before. I will probably go again tomorrow.

The stretch of the Mississippi between Baton Rouge and new orleans is also known as "cancer alley", due to all the refineries along its banks. They are on both sides of the river.

There are also huge amounts of underground storage of oil stored all along the area also. How it is kept under there with our water table is beyond me.

 

Refineries -

The 'local' "Exxon" gas station had been charging $4.099 per gallon, then dropped to $3.999 for 87 octane in the last several days.

This morning, as I drove past this place, he's got $4.499 on his billboard!!!!!

The "BP" station directly across the street from this guy, is advertising $3.939 for 87 octane, and the "Sunoco" that is beside the "BP" is $3.939 per gallon.


I've got one question. . . . . . HOW can this guy possibly stay in business, when he's 56¢ per gallon more expensive than his competitors that are directly across the street from him??????