Louisiana Light • 3 days | 91.16 | -0.74 | -0.81% | |||
Bonny Light • 2 days | 95.60 | -0.40 | -0.42% | |||
Opec Basket • 3 days | 95.01 | -0.81 | -0.85% | |||
Mars US • 1 day | 88.73 | -0.10 | -0.11% | |||
Gasoline • 1 day | 2.562 | -0.058 | -2.22% |
Bonny Light • 2 days | 95.60 | -0.40 | -0.42% | |||
Girassol • 2 days | 96.55 | -0.49 | -0.50% | |||
Opec Basket • 3 days | 95.01 | -0.81 | -0.85% |
Peace Sour • 2 days | 84.13 | -0.03 | -0.04% | |||
Light Sour Blend • 2 days | 84.63 | -0.03 | -0.04% | |||
Syncrude Sweet Premium • 2 days | 93.23 | -0.03 | -0.03% | |||
Central Alberta • 2 days | 84.13 | -0.03 | -0.04% |
Eagle Ford • 3 days | 86.11 | -0.65 | -0.75% | |||
Oklahoma Sweet • 3 days | 86.00 | -0.75 | -0.86% | |||
Kansas Common • 3 days | 80.00 | -0.50 | -0.62% | |||
Buena Vista • 4 days | 95.23 | -0.92 | -0.96% |
Predicting the future of oil…
The Energy Information Administration has…
BP is moving to export crude oil from the United States, but doing so in a way that avoids violating the export ban. It has agreed to take 80% of the capacity coming from a small refinery under construction in Houston. The $360 million facility to be operated by Kinder Morgan would partially-refine the oil, just enough to be categorized as a refined petroleum product, rather than crude oil. The U.S. has maintained an export ban on crude oil for 41 years, dating back to the 1973 oil embargo. The ban was intended to insulate the U.S. from price spikes and supply shortages.
Yet the surge in oil production over the last few years has sparked calls for repealing that ban, a campaign that has picked up steam in recent months. It appears BP is not waiting for a decision from Congress or the Obama administration. Refined petroleum products are not subjected to the ban, so by lightly refining crude oil, BP hopes to evade the rules. Other refineries are popping up along the Gulf Coast to refine more and more oil.
Related Article: Is it Time to Let BP back in the U.S. Oil Game?
The move is an intriguing one, and could take the steam out of the political debate over exporting crude oil. Proponents of the ban argue that lower cost crude oil is a competitive advantage for the United States (the same logic is used for not allowing LNG exports). Oil drillers argue that exports will expand the market, incentivize more drilling, and provide an economic boost for the country. BP may make the debate academic if it leads the way in an end-around the law. If other companies follow suit, the U.S. may begin exporting “crude” oil whether or not Congress makes a decision on the ban.
By Joao Peixe of Oilprice.com
The materials provided on this Web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to provide tax, legal, or investment advice.
Nothing contained on the Web site shall be considered a recommendation, solicitation, or offer to buy or sell a security to any person in any jurisdiction.
Trading and investing carries a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Individuals should consider whether they can afford the risks associated to trading.
74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money. Any trading and execution of orders mentioned on this website is carried out by and through OPCMarkets.
Merchant of Record: A Media Solutions trading as Oilprice.com
The price is the same as when we were buying it from the Saudis. So why should the American people care? In Saudi Arabia they pay sixty cents a gallon. Where is our savings? If you want the American people on your side we need to see that we are not being gouged. That is what we think is happening.
I am an investor in oil stocks and have been making money on the stocks but I am also a customer.