Howdy Steven,
The 2005 estimate USA crude consumption was some 20 million barrels per day
and change, in other words, nobody actually knows for sure.. you can
estimate the consumption is now some 21-22 mbd and counting. again nobody
knows the actual tally ,nor do they know refining amounts and imports of
refined fuel.. just guest estimate... its like estimating the number of jobs
lost or found.
The guv-ment politicos love these statistics cuz they they can perform
wonders with numbers while eating cucumber as you noticed this week reports
of falling jobs and the roiling of the stock market.
This sudden announcement trimmed some 5 trillion off the stock market...
it's fun to watch how easily it's done with statistics.
The oil under the ground around North Dakota an over into Canada has been
well known for a long time... its near worthless cuz it's so hard to get to
and it's heavy near like asphalt. The only nearby plant capable of refining
is near Billings, Montana until Canada brings on their new refinery for tar
sands.
Today's game for politicos is to keep the economy from slipping over the
edge until after the November election and after it don't matter because the
losers will make it happens and the winners will become the losers and the
people will blame us.
Richard