Back in the 80's, this is how it was. Now, oil recovery work is done by Schlumberger, Halliburton, and similar firms that most people don't recognize as "oil companies." The big oil companies realized that it was simply more profitable to farm this work out. I attended a seminar on this yesterday morning and sat next to a classmate of mine who worked for Schlumberger before quitting to come back to school in 2003. I can only assume that this information is a little more up to date than whatever happened back in the 80's.
Which is why this comment wasn't directed towards you, but towards the one who said that the six cent per gallon profit was from the oil company.
[QAgain, I worked those oil fields and watched the Exxon drill rigs drill down to over 22000 feet deep. I never claimed it was an easy or cheap endeavor. My comments were that no matter how much it costs Exxon (or any other oil company) to find, extract, transport and refine that oil, we pay the same price that we are charged for this "High Price" Middle-Eastern oil...WHY?[/quote]
Because you're willing to pay it. That's how purchases work - you pay what you are willing to pay for what is being sold to you. It's also because you're not buying crude oil - you're buying the refined product, which has significant value added through processing. Middle East oil is expensive because it needs less refining to achieve the desired product, while other oils require more refining and are proportionally cheaper as crude.
I fill up my car once per month at a cost of about $35. I don't complain about the price because I'm choosing to drive 200-300 miles per month. I used to drive more, but I've been on a fixed income (grad student stipend) for years, so I couldn't keep up with the rising price of gas. I did something about it and started using public transportation rather than just whining. Your paragraph here is exactly the whining I'm talking about. You're addicted to the products of oil companies, yet you think they should lower their prices just to make it easier on your pocketbook. In reality, you should lower your consumption to make it easier on your pocketbook. Their job is to profit as much as they can, and you are the one enabling them. I recycle plastic, which does defray the cost, but I also recognize that only a certain fraction of polymers used in products can be comprised of recycled thermoplastics (about 30% for most applications) simply due to the physics of polymers. I use biopolymers - polymers excreted by bacteria - in my research. There are ways around paying oil companies through the nose, but you have to be a bit creative and actually seek a solution. Asking congress to lop their peepees off because you are unhappy that they're making money off of your reckless spending is completely irresponsible and indicative of the trend in this country against the idea of personal fiscal responsibility.
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