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GasBuddy News Article

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Fire at Chevron's Richmond, CA refinery should push Calif. gas prices upward

GasBuddy Blog --
Once again, refinery problems are biting California motorists. A fire at Chevron's Richmond, CA refinery Monday, the third-largest refinery in the state with production capacity of 245,000 barrels per day (bpd) forced the closure of the refinery and damage assessment remains under way.

Earlier this year a variety of mishaps and maintenance problems shut down 4 of California's 12 refineries pushing gasoline prices to $4+ per gallon and it appears that Californians in some cities should be ready for a return to prices near that level at least temporarily.

In addition to the Chevron Richmond refinery, a Valero refinery in Benicia, CA closed last month. With capacity there at 132,000 bpd, the combined production represented...


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Submitted Aug 07, 2012 By: PD
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Author Topic: Fire at Chevron's Richmond, CA refinery should push Calif. gas prices upward Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Aug 11, 2012 10:27:29 AM

FuelPump: you're right about the reasons. The sad part is, there is enough regulation already on the books. But what good do laws do when they aren't enforced?

The consumer loses more than once. And these are so easily preventable situations, but Pig Oil appears to rather reap near record profits quarter after quarter than pay money to maintain the refineries.
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FuelPump
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Aug 9, 2012 5:20:30 PM

As I said before, there are only two reasons a refinery fire can occur. Equipment failure, which means either inadequate maintenance, or poor design, perhaps in an attempt to save money and increase profits, or human error, meaning the people running the refinery are either inadequately trained, or are taking cost saving shorcuts. Either way the problem is the refinery's not the consumer, yet guess who gets to pay for the problem? Yep the consumer loses again. These constant 'accidents' at various refineries are the kind of events to lead to more regulation and government intervention. There is something very wrong with this whole picture!!!!
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J Eric
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Aug 9, 2012 1:58:24 AM

Prices went up 12 cents a gallon over the past two days -- at USA Gasoline, which has its own refinery locally.
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strakey
All-Star Author California

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Message Posted: Aug 9, 2012 1:56:41 AM

this is pure bull***t, this fire has absolutely nothing to do with the gas prices!! this kind of logic is like charging your work a ton of money because you broke your foot at home!!! does this make any sense? NOPE!
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vcsuksu21
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 5:30:50 PM

ok
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txrojo2005
All-Star Author Austin

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 3:09:44 PM

Prices have already has jumped.

[Edited by: txrojo2005 at 8/8/2012 3:10:19 PM EST]
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Alfied
Champion Author Riverside

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 12:13:57 PM

Up and down, up and down, makes the world go around.
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tomok
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 12:12:00 PM

Another refinery fire? What's with all of the refinery fires lately? Does Big Oil have a plan in the background to keep prices extremely high? We don't know what Big Oil has up their sleeve, they can do what they want!
When will all refineries have far superior fire suppression devices to smother the fire immediately with foam, etc.! Instead they let refineries burn, burn, burn.
Here comes higher prices at the pump.
Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost.
The price of fuel at the pump is too high!
12/22/2012
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bell05
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 12:09:57 PM

Yesterday news
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Gmsclecarparts
All-Star Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 11:37:06 AM

"warn the public before it caught fire" LOL
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reeneedan
Champion Author San Jose

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 11:10:23 AM

this was a diesel unit that caught fire so why is gas going up. I would like to know how long they knew that this unit was leaking and why they did'nt warn the public before it caught fire since their fire department was there watching this unit for hours before it caught fire. I know this was an accident but its stuff like this that makes it look like big oil could care less about the people who live near their refineries and consumers who buy their product
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Fitwit
Champion Author Stockton

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 11:08:49 AM

I wish they wouldn't.
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AriesMMD
Champion Author Sacramento

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 11:08:04 AM

up, down, up and up again, what else is new?
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ethanol_is_bad
Sophomore Author Boise

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 11:07:17 AM

CA, the state that keeps on giving...
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Double_Golden
Champion Author San Francisco

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 11:05:49 AM

already see the price hike at the pump...
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LongPlay
Champion Author Albuquerque

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 11:00:22 AM

CA gets what it deserves!
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Black Wagon
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:59:47 AM

Now they will have an excuse to raise prices all across the country.
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gasper
Champion Author Edmonton

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:59:40 AM

I wonder when they will get their act together and get things right.
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RockCity
Champion Author Denver

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:56:08 AM

You'd think the insurance arson investigators would have a convincing mo into these six week apart refinery fires, perhaps.
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tco9436
Champion Author Connecticut

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:55:31 AM

Joke!
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SUSANCK
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:54:48 AM

Not good...
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TBecker1415
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:54:33 AM

ok
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RUNNINONEMPTYFL
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:54:16 AM

Here we go again...
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Martillo
Champion Author Dallas

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:53:49 AM

Bad News.
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dickboyOC
Sophomore Author Orlando

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:53:32 AM

Gotta love it.
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SandeeC
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:53:06 AM

Any excuse to raise pump prices.
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belladog
Champion Author Mobile

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:52:55 AM

ok
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fcdriver
Champion Author Tennessee

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:51:48 AM

one day we will find better alternatives then we wont worry about stuff like this
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9C1
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:50:52 AM

The oil companies will post record profits again.
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packards42
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:50:48 AM

Everybody, get prepared for price increase.
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firechief
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:49:57 AM

boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
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BCM1
Champion Author Pennsylvania

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:48:18 AM

The people need gas to get to work. The refinery fire didn't help consumers.
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DougtheEconMan
Champion Author Akron

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:48:14 AM

KEEP YOUR TANKS FULL! Early last week, I started posting my concern over how many refineries went down or were down for emergency repair. Four in the Midwest and a pipeline, over and above the scheduled shutdowns. Since then, a fire in Tulsa plant, and now in California. I will continue to post...KEEP YOUR TANKS AND GAS CANS FULL! We may be facing higher prices and possible spot shortages in the next 5 or 6 weeks.
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N4PIP
Champion Author Miami

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:47:33 AM

Though the fire is not good news at all, this will be used as an excuse to drive up prices across America. I think the oil companies should eat the expense, not consumers.
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computernut2008
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:47:22 AM

Sure it will ....GREED
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mikesr11
Champion Author New York City

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:46:30 AM

WAS OBAMA IN CALIFORNIA PLAYING WITH MATCHES?
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FJCruiserCA
All-Star Author California

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:46:05 AM

Yep :-(
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radstoy
Champion Author Pennsylvania

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:45:52 AM

old news
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regasaz
Champion Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:44:20 AM

Same comment as yesterday when first posted.
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craigrm
Champion Author Connecticut

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:44:17 AM

yikes
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smqua
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:43:02 AM

Seem to be quite a few refinery fires
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chyguy3
Champion Author Wyoming

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:42:33 AM

Just Calif???? I don't think so! It will be used as an excuse for everybody raising their price.
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bindox
Sophomore Author Chico

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:42:21 AM

Hey dlemma, if you don't what you're talking about, STFU. Not everyone in Cali is an Obummer lover. Some of us were not duped by the hype and fake birth certificate.
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OaklandInvaders
Champion Author San Jose

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:42:09 AM

Fire Contained that's good news. Now repair and revisions
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Amanstrom
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:41:59 AM

Yup, as if it wasn't high enough already.
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Bill100
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:41:23 AM

No sh_t!
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JXQW
Champion Author Kansas City

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:40:24 AM

Doh!!
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kosciak
Champion Author Hartford

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:39:44 AM

old news
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bart_reed
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:39:39 AM

Stop the overseas exports to fill domestic supply.
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bridgerunner
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:38:55 AM

California, ya gotta love 'em.
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