Phoenix stations run out of gasoline

Wednesday, 18 October 2000 18:39 (ET)

PHOENIX, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- A combination of transportation and production problems and the seasonal changeover of gasoline formulas in Phoenix led to a sudden squeeze in gasoline supplies that has caused some gas stations in the city to run out of fuel, it was reported Wednesday.

The Arizona Republic reported Wednesday that "dozens of gas stations" had run out of 87-octane reformulated gasoline beginning on Tuesday after wholesale supplies from the Gulf Coast were cut off for three days by an unspecified problem with the pipeline running from El Paso into Phoenix.

The problem was compounded by a production problem at a refinery that supplies the unique reformulated gasoline (RFG) for Maricopa County, and by environmental regulations that require stations every autumn to change from an RFG formula designed to reduce emissions during hot summer weather to a winter formula.

"The type of gas we use is in real tight demand," Jim Swatman, manager of Arco's Phoenix terminal, told the Republic. "Refinery problems did not allow them to get as much product to us as we needed."

The supply situation was expected to be sorted out by the end of the week, and the shortage only effected the Phoenix area.

The shortage was similar to the longer-running supply crunch that sent gasoline process in Chicago soaring during the summer. Demand outstripped supply and there were few fresh sources of the RFG that is specifically formulated for the Chicago area.

-- Hey CPR (!@!.!), October 18, 2000

Answers

OLD NEWS. "SPUN".

"caused some gas stations "

some.........AS IN "DOZENS" out of how many hundreds? thousands.

GIVE YOURSELF A REST AND DRIVE TO THE GRAND CANYON. LEAN OVER THE EDGE.

LET YOURSELF....................GO.

-- cpr (buytexas@swbell.net), October 18, 2000.

"Hey" -- and you point is, exactly . . . what?

Do you believe that Y2K is finally getting the refineries? Do you think the nation is running out of oil or gas? What exactly is the point of this post?

-- E.H. Porter (Just Wondering@about.it), October 18, 2000.

What exactly is the point of this post?

Gee...I think it's to prove what we already suspected. And that is that CPR is a moron.

-- It's the Refinery's Stupid! (whadya@mean?.com), October 19, 2000.

>>The supply situation was expected to be sorted out by the end of the week, and the shortage only effected the Phoenix area.<<

Most of the stations were re-supplied by later the same day even.... And most of the stations had at least one grade, usually the 92 octane, availible (and also the most expensive). I filled my tank just fine today, no lines and prices the same as two weeks ago.

-- Rob (celtic64@inficad.com), October 19, 2000.