Would someone please give me information (or where to look) on the following topics? 1). Actual historical statistics on US consumption figures for gasoline, diesel, and propane, going back as far as possible to the 1900's. 2). What is a RAM? I infer that it is required by the EPA on oil wells, functioning something like a check valve. Manufacturers? 3). Do hydroelectric plants require specialized lubricants for their operation? 4). Does Texas have its own internal electrical grid, with two main DC to DC connections to the rest of the country? 5). Does the strategic oil reserve consist of low grade crude, which ncan take several years to completely pump out? 6). Is it true that Mobil oil y2k remediation effort was projecte to cost $460 million and take about three and a half years to complete? 7). How many oil refineries are there? How old are these plants, or when were they designed and built? What is their production status concerning repairs? Are there more or less accidents at these plants this year? 8). Are there EPA monitoring sensors at gas gathering lines? Their function? 9). What is a NCIC type problem?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, it's a matter of no small importance.

-- Anonymous, October 30, 1999

Answers

Sweet Jezebel, Sure, what I look like an encylopedia. You got the part about it being a matter of no small importance right though. Actually the only thing that looks vaguely familiar, 1) strategic petroleum reserve is supposed to make up for an absence of imported oil for I believe something like three to six months. 2) You don't mean random access memory, nah, you wouldn't be on the encylopedic internet if that were the case.

-- Anonymous, October 30, 1999

Sure M. Worried,

Yes, hydro electric plants do require some special lubricants as follows:

The turbine shaft seal (often a carbon seal requires water as a lubricant. Fortunately most hydro electric stations have an adequate supply. :)

The lubricating oil in used in the turbine and alternator guide bearings, and the generator thrust bearings is a fairly low grade, low detergent oil, (we use DTE) but almost any oil will do.

The one truely speciallised lubricant is a high pressure water proof grease used in the turbine wicket gates. We normally keep only 2 years supply on hand, but I have worked at stations with a 10 year supply.

Malcolm

-- Anonymous, October 31, 1999

Here is where Sure is coming from.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001gGj

But before you go over, pour youself a stiff drink.

dave

-- Anonymous, October 31, 1999

Dave

You didn't give us enough warning. You should have said three or four stiff drinks before you read your article. For those who can't or won't go over to the article, someone who says she is an expert in the oil and gas field claims that most all is lost and that at best we will see only about 45-50% of our normal supply of oil produced. If this is true, Gary North is a polly. Banks and electrical can say anything they want but without gasoline we are hurting big time. I hope this individual is mistaken or crazy but she sure sounds credible. Take Care all

Chuck

-- Anonymous, October 31, 1999

No/not enough oil = no electricity.

Been saying that for over a year. This info. about refineries is exactly what the fellow in charge of y2k for Galveston County, Texas, said in early 1998. He had worked in refineries for 20+ years. Said they couldn't possibly make it and it was cheaper and easier to build a new plant when the old one dies. I put that on this forum, I have been telling you over and over if crude fails due to overseas connections or delivery to this country and/or refineries fail, we all fail, period.

I keep hoping I am wrong. Please let me be wrong.

-- Anonymous, November 01, 1999

Marcella,

What goes around, comes around. It is now time to reconsider these, and other, early statements about probable success in remediation. I have noted that Chevron was *very* honest about their own assessments last year on their 10Q, and paid dearly for their openess. I'm sure that was very big talk within the oil and gas sector. So, we will have to dig, dig, dig for the realities. For me, it's a no brainer that there will be massive shortage of fuel. Just the 1974 oil "slow down" which was so small (5-7%) created a bad recession here. How can anyone seriously think there will no massive bottlenecks in the oil flow and the resultant refined products? Unless they just don't think Y2k will be that big a deal, everywhere. But I do think it will. Once again, for those that wish to ponder the vulnerable energy points:

www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001gGj

-- Anonymous, November 01, 1999