Augustus

Suburban Propane's Future Looks Bright

Propane can be more dangerous than LNG. Propane is a heavier molecule and is stripped from the naturla gas stream. When there is a leak, it does not disperse as LNG does. It will collect as a gas in any low spot and can be more concentrated so that it could create a breathing problem, as well as an explosive problem.

Does Big Oil's Apathy Justify Proposals to Tax Windfall Profits?

This article has a few correct points. Then falls apart when trying to place blame for high oil prices.

80% of the oil reserves have been nationalised. If it was only Aramco that had control over the Saudi fields, they would bve selling the hell out of it NOW. Chavez has taken over his fields - production down over 1mm bbl per day. On and on with the benefits to the market by having allowed nationalisation.

However, one of the nuttiest statements by the author is that the government has "guaranteed the oil companies asured profits from refining and distributing the product." What a load of uninformed BS. Check the crack spread. It has been very tight and is getting tighter. So bad that some refineries might shut down.

The only place that Big Oil is making a profit is from selling the reserves that they have developed. Sure prices are high. But that is thanks to OPEC, not Big Oil. Why should XXX producer headquartered in the USA not be paid the same as Chavez or a Canadian? When they do make a profit here, the govt gets their share in taxes - 30% or so.

Pretty idiotic. Domestic producer invests in oil and gas - price goes up - they get a super extra tax for causing inflation. Joe Shmuck invests in homes 15 yrs ago. Price goes up and causes inflation. Sell with no taxes.

If I were running one of these Big Oil companies I would move the HQ offshore. Sell all US assets. When they asked me to testify in Congress - I would send them a FU message. If you want some energy, send your boat to get it. We stopped making deliveries.