re: #346 austin_blue

The problem is that Louisiana has only one refinery that can crack low grade crude. That’s Chalmette Refining, downriver from New Orleans. But it’s feedstock comes from Venezuela and is secure (Venezuela owns 50% of that refinery and Exxon the other half). Venezuelan crude is a lot cheaper than Canadian tar sands crude. So, again, Keystone sends a bunch of shitty crude to Texas where it can only be exported. If buyers can be found. Which is more and more unlikely.

Venezuelan crude is about as pure a crude as there is if I remember correctly. They use to call West Texas oil “sweet” because the minimal refining that it took to take it to market.

Btw, the Chavez (and heir) crowd sure have been quiet lately haven’t they?