Considering the fact that Canada's proven oil reserves are second only to Saudi Arabia, why are we paying so @#$% much for gas here in Canada? Do we need to become members of OPEC?

Canada's reserves are different than the middle-east. The oil in Alberta, for example is mixed with sand. In order to extract this precious commodity the oil companies are basically raping Alberta's environment, and using a stupid amount of energy and fuel to get it out. (I'm an American but I live in Canada.) I was watching a CBC documentary on it and I think they said that it would take more oil than the world currently has to get it all out. Sure sounds like they're going to try though. Meanwhile it's become impossible for normal, middle-class Canadians to live in Alberta. A friend of mine is an electrical engineer and his wife is a nurse and they are moving back to Manitoba because they can no longer afford to live in Alberta (he gets paid something like 30 bucks an hour.)

On the flip-side of the coin, Americans get fuel cheaper than almost anyone else in Western-society and yet they're the ones complaining the loudest about how expensive it is. I've got news for you guys: it doesn't say anything in the constitution about cheap fuel. This is OUR fault. We've sat idly by scratching our behinds and drinking beer while the same greedy, wealthy, group of people that have been trying to enslave us since the beginning of time made us totally dependent on a substance they can shut-off anytime they want. Get ready...this is only the beginning.

Ok.
I am sitting here REALLY trying not to get this way, but, I can't help myself....to all of you Europeans and in particular those you from the UK....comparing gas prices to the U.S. isn't at alll an accurate statement when saying gas is "more" expensive. I have lived in the UK, Ireland and Europe......but have spent most of my time in the States. You Europeans have NO concept of the sheer size and distances involved in driving in the U.S., plus public transportation isn't practical in 70% of the U.S. with low population densities (by the way there is more to the U.S. than NY and LA).
I wish I lived in a country one quarter the size of my state, then I wouldn't mind paying 10 Br. pounds a gallon!

The price of gas just reached $3.39 in my area. I read the other day that electric hybrids won't be introduced until at least 2 or 3 years from now. In the laboratory, they successfully converted wood and non edible parts of plants to fuel at an equivalent cost of around $1.70 a gallon and think they might be able to get the cost down to $1.00 a gallon. However then I read they need to experiment in the real world with bigger equipment and it may take 8 to 10 years to perfect the technology. I'm curious about hearing a story where some guy grew some algae and converted it to a biofuel. Algae can grow in waste water and has a much higher and better conversion rate to biofuel than ethanol does. I heard that at least. Unfortunately all these cheaper fuels seem to be years away.

Brazil won't be too affected by the fuel prices since they converted to run on biofuel produced from sugar cane if I remember correctly. I thought I read the US has placed restrictions on certain imports related to this biofuel. Then the oil companies here are claiming they need to do maintenance to their refineries right now. I see what they are up to. Refining profit is down so they take the refineries offline which drives up the price of gas by reducing supply. They do this every year and then claim it's the time to do maintenance. This time they took so much offline that it matches the level of operation right after Hurricane Katrina I read. This sounds like Enron except the product is gasoline instead of electricity.

I guess the oil companies are only speeding up their own demise since high gas prices will hopefully speed us off the use of gasoline for transportation. I'm not sure why they aren't charging more to refine gasoline unless the oil companies fear congress will tax their big profits if the oil companies gouge us too much. On the other hand, I guess they thought they would just reduce the supply of gasoline and gouge away. It worked for Enron and electricity in California for a while I heard. The oil companies will probably get the price up, then ramp up their refineries and claim the maintenance is finished so the issue will blow over. Then hopefully prices will go back down a little. I'm ready to use the equivalent wood biofuel that costs a whopping $1.70 a gallon now instead of waiting 10 years.

Originally posted by alphabetaone

Originally posted by ColdWater
Those pretty straight up honest to a fault gas station owners are BSing you about being out of 89 octane. 87 and 91 or 93 are mixed at the pump to make 89.

The station knows most people will buy 87 now that gas is rising. A few used to buy 89 because everyone in America believes if something costs more it is better. Those with sports cars are being pushed to 93 to make up for the lost revenues on 89.

I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound condescending, however youare so wrong in so many venues it's not even funny.

First off, they are NOT mixed at the pumps. Any retailer who is mixing them at the pumps is breaking the law and should be arrested.

Secondly, and this would address more than one post, as an ASE certified automotive professional, I will tell you this much about the higher octane rating. The higher the octane doesn't JUST necessarily mean higher HP throughput...it also has vehicular therapeautic value in that, the higher the octane, the more efficiently the fuel burns-the more efficiently the fuel burns, the more of the fuel that actualy burns AWAY from the cylinders, valve guides, valves, converters, etc. The less carbon buildup in a motor, the less propensity it has for breakdown, and extends the longevity of the motor.


AB1

no he is right they do blend at the pumps i drove a gasoline tanker for 10 years!
most do now only have 87 and 91 in california and blend 89 at the pump its a 50/50 blend for 89
and it is the additive that makes it better and cleans the motor i happen to have a bit of techron from my old days so no matter where i get gas ill add some every month to my tank!


[edit on 28-4-2008 by Neutron580]

[edit on 28-4-2008 by Neutron580]

Update:
Fuel in my lab area of Bowie, Md. has hit $4.25 for 93 the four stations in that were out of 89 are STILL OUT! Regular is now @ $4.01