[Cyclefrance]

Might be some queues at the pumps this weekend...

Refinery repairs crucial to economy
OIL prices dropped from all-time highs to under $70 a barrel yesterday after the US government offered to loan oil to the petroleum industry from strategic reserves - but industry insiders say that gasoline will remain expensive and in short supply until refineries are brought back online from damage sustained during Hurricane Katrina. ExxonMobil sources said yesterday restoring products pipeline and marine links, including Mississippi River traffic, was the key to boosting crude runs at its capacity-strapped Baton Rouge, Louisiana, refinery. "The release of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil may be beneficial to some refiners, but restoring pipeline and marine links is most important to restoring runs at our Baton Rouge refinery," said Exxon Mobil's Prem Nair. In addition to the Exxon 394,000-bpd refinery now running at reduced capacity, the following refineries remain shut: Chevron's 325,000-bpd refinery in Pascagoula, Mississippi; Valero Energy's 260,000-bpd facility in Norco, Louisiana; Marathon Oil's 245,000-bpd refinery in Garyville, Louisiana; ConocoPhillips' 255,000-bpd Alliance refinery in Belle Chasse, Louisiana; ExxonMobil's 183,000-bpd refinery in Chalmette, Louisiana; and Murphy Oil's 125,000-bpd plant in Meraux, Louisiana