I agree wholeheartedly with Matt Janowiak's comments regarding responsible energy use (OGJ, Aug 27, 2001, p. 10). It's time for everyone, particularly the politicians in Washington, to wake up and realize that the hydrocarbon age will not last forever.
Currently, the United States consumes approximately 20 million b/d of oil, of which 55% goes to making gasoline and jet fuel. By the way, almost 60% of that oil is imported. This nation's thirst for oil will not diminish anytime soon, and if we don't take some positive action to become more energy independent, then we could certainly be held hostage in the future by the very countries from which we import our oil today.
These comments are not intended to alarm, but rather to inform those individuals who are not aware of recent current events that all signal potential disruptions in oil, gasoline, and natural gas supplies to this country in the near future.
On the oil front, the continued turmoil in Israel and surface-to-air strikes in Iraq only get worse each week. It is not inconceivable that the US, as an ally of Israel and an enemy of Iraq, could suffer as a result of either reduced OPEC oil production or an all-out Arab embargo of oil to this country.
I submit to you that if another Arab oil embargo is put into place, it will be far worse than what we went through in the early 1970s.
As far as gasoline supplies, we have just seen an increase in prices at the pump in advance of the Labor Day holiday weekend due to diminished refinery capacity and a recent refinery fire. The possibility that a Citgo refinery in Illinois could be shut down for 6 months sent gasoline prices soaring in the Midwest. However, I am sure that the Democrats in Washington will view this as price gouging by the major oil companies instead.
Finally, with respect to natural gas, California may not be the only state dealing with rolling blackouts and shortages of natural gas in the coming months. Another tropical storm or, worse yet, hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico would send oil field workers to shore, shut in production, and send natural gas prices higher. Follow this up with a cold winter and you have a recipe for gas shortages from coast to coast.
All of the aforementioned circumstances have one thing in common. We as consumers have no control over any of them. What we can do instead is take a proactive stance and insist on an energy policy in this country that:
- Develops the oil and natural gas resources in our own backyard.
- Develops and promotes the use of more fuel-efficient cars and trucks on this nation's highways.
- Encourages and rewards consumers who conserve energy through the use of fuel cells and solar power.
Jeffrey R. Hughes
President
HTK Consultants Inc.
Houston
