Gas Panic

http://www.readingeagle.com/ap/artic...late=mobileart

Valero says pipeline blocking bid to ship more fuel after Harvey

WRITTEN BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday September 2, 2017 09:47 AM
(c) 2017, Bloomberg.

The nation's biggest independent refiner says the operator of the largest U.S. gasoline pipeline is blocking its efforts to supply more fuel to the East Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Two of Valero Energy's Gulf Coast refineries kept operating throughout the storm, churning out gasoline. After the U.S. government waived fuel specifications, allowing refiners to ship winter-grade gasoline two weeks early to ease supply shortages while flooded refineries recover, Valero was ready to ship more fuel. The problem, according to a letter from Valero to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, obtained by Bloomberg: Colonial Pipeline won't accept the extra barrels.

"Valero is nearing containment and is having to hold the refineries at reduced rates or potentially even shutdown," according to the letter. "Valero cannot get Colonial to take product."

Panic at the pump is spreading nationwide just as the long Labor Day weekend sets in, boosting the nationwide average price for regular gasoline at the pump by 7 cents a gallon Thursday to $2.519, the steepest single-day increase in a decade, AAA data show. Valero started telling its customers that sell fuels to gas stations Wednesday that it can't meet its contractual supply agreements.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday expanded fuel waivers that allow winter-grade gasoline, normally not allowed to be used until mid-September, to be released to the market now to help ease shortages caused by massive refinery shutdowns along the Gulf Coast. Colonial told its shippers Thursday that it will start taking the fuel, which is less expensive to make because of its higher Reid vapor pressure, but only if the shipper's customers says they'll accept that quality.

"The supplier of the product would need to get approval from the customer who is receiving the product," said Malesia Dunn, a Colonial spokeswoman, by telephone. Then "nominations can be changed to the correct product."
Abbott's press office didn't immediately respond to email or phone requests for comment.

The company is operating its pipeline at reduced rates east of Lake Charles, Louisiana, while the western portion in Texas is shut. Operations at Houston-area terminals are expected to return on Sunday, and then Colonial can by-pass waterlogged stations in between to get supplies to the East Coast.

On Wednesday, Valero told its East Coast customers that it would stop supplying customers that don't carry its logo at all northeast terminals from Pennsylvania up to Maine, according to a customer who asked not to be named because the information isn't public. Early Friday, Valero said it was limiting branded fuel to customers in San Antonio and Austin, Texas.

"We believe this to be an unreasonable precondition given the situation in Houston," Valero said in its letter to Abbott. "This is effectively precluding us from providing fuel."

I noticed the Chevron's started running empty last wednesday night. Shell and valero seem to be rotating gas/no gas every other day now. Looks like a Mad Max movie out there.

Last week KSAT reported there isn't a shortage - wonder why the prices are going up then?

And you know what usually happens when somebody says "don't worry."

Lastly - for whatever it's worth - both chevron and shell have a rewards program if you buy a lot of gas.

Now they are fighting over the gas.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/nort...ource=Facebook

I know this will come as a shock, but apparently the gov't is lying again. I was buying into the idea of their being plenty of gas on Thursday and Friday, but today that story is a bit threadbare. I didn't find gas at any station today where I live. I really don't care about pipelines to the east coast, just the ones to central Texas.

I've been refueling family members' automobiles in the Stone Oak area at 4 in the morning while they sleep. My own car is an electric car so I don't give a shit about all of this stuff. What I've been doing is scouting locations in my electric car & as soon as I know there's fuel that's actually pumping, I switch cars and wait in line & refuel. That way I'm not driving around in a gasoline-powered car & wasting gas while LOOKING for gas. I waited 2 hours Friday night. 28 minutes at 3 AM this morning. So it SEEMS to be getting better, but who the fuck knows? I'm just damn happy I have an electric car.

http://tracker.gasbuddy.com

Just gonna leave this link here. Originally Posted by Blubbster

Blubbster, a helpful resource... IF you don't have a car that requires premium gasoline. I got up 4:00 AM (my usual wake-up time), drove to a couple stations -- one where the tanker was replenishing. They were open, just as gasbuddy.com had indicated. And no lines; breezed right up to the pump. Problem was: they had regular only. My car needs 93 octane.

Have half a tank left, but I'm saving it for emergency use only.

Fortunately, I still use public transportation, live inside Loop 410 (where service is good), and know the bus routes quite well. Until this shortage ends, looks as if I'll be putting my VIA Metro 31-day pass to heavy use.

Yes; above link does not say anything about available octane levels AND updated info. is skeptical at best.

I just got home from filling up. Took about 2 hours. Went to HEB where gasbuddy said there was fuel - and there was. Problem was they ran out when I was 1 car away. However, the 2 stations I drove by prior to going to HEB (per gasbuddy) did not have gas.

Found a Shell that had a $15 max purchase and they only had regular unleaded AND you had to pay cash. Ended up at the Shell @ 700 N Alamo.

Meanwhile, with a gasoline shortage, this stupid fuck kills himself while drag racing 100 mph -- on a surface street, no less:

https://www.ksat.com/news/family-hol...rollover-crash

Meanwhile, with a gasoline shortage, this stupid fuck kills himself while drag racing 100 mph -- on a surface street, no less: Originally Posted by Bush Pilot

It's called "Thinning the Herd."

If your car needs premium and all they have is regular, you can add some octane booster to your tank. Available at any car part store or wal mart.

Not ideal for long term, but will get you through the pinch.

And yes, the whole govt. / media "there is no shortage" was a lie. They knew this was coming.

Remember when you do stupid shit like this "You must pay to play". Unfortunately his playing days are over.

If your car needs premium and all they have is regular, you can add some octane booster to your tank. Available at any car part store or wal mart.

Not ideal for long term, but will get you through the pinch.

And yes, the whole govt. / media "there is no shortage" was a lie. They knew this was coming. Originally Posted by tpepsi

One thing to say about the shortage. Officially, there is no shortage. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. If there WERE a real shortage, stations wouldn't be refueling. But they very obviously ARE refueling! The only reason it seems to be a shortage is because of the panic buying.

City of San Antonio (or some other government entity) sent out a tweet the other day that fuel purchases have been 250% above normal. Not 50%, not 100%....250%. That is absolutely crazy.

Consider an average week. Fuel tankers come in imperceptibly and refuel the stations. People refuel on different days on a rotating basis &!there is enough fuel for everyone! It's a system that's worked wonderfully since the 1970's Arab Oil Embargo. But you have all those motorists refueling at the same time? Plus those giant containers we've been seeing on the news and social media? No. There's no buffer anymore. Fuel reserves are obliterated. And "shortages" begin.

The only way to solve it? Newton's third law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. And the opposite reaction in this case? To bring in 250% the normal amount of fuel into San Antonio for a few days until buyers are confident in the supply again and no longer panic! Problem with this is, refineries are still down. Ha!

On the subject of the octane booster, I stopped by Auto Zone and Advance Auto Parts and they were all completely out. Someone mentioned that O'Reilly's may have octane boosters but I hadn't gone out of my way to check. I'm actually not going out of my way very much these days.

Hope all of y'all are hanging in there.

As Blubbster said, I got one of the last octane boosters at my autozone