Radical Noesis - Thinking outside the box

Q. What makes up the price of a gallon of gas?
A. From the Dept. of Energy Primer on Gasoline Prices
In 2003, Cost of crude oil made up 44%, Federal and state taxes 27%, Refining costs and profits 15%, Distribution and marketing 14%.

So if my calculations are correct (and please feel free to check them yourself):
> At $61.00 a barrel, 44% of that will become gasoline (Total of products from a barrel of gas equals 43.5 and 19.5 gallons of gas from a barrel).

> The total base cost of gasoline in the barrel= $27.33 / 19.5 gallons = $1.40 a gallon for the crude.

> Add in $1.40 *.27 for taxes (.38); $1.40 * .15 for refining (.21); and $1.40 * .14 for marketing (.20)

And gas should be costing roughly $2.19 a gallon.

If these calculations are fairly accurate, then when oil goes to $100 a barrel, the cost of a gallon of gasoline should be roughly $3.53.

Also of note from the Gasoline Primer:

Gasoline, one of the main products refined from crude oil, accounts for just about 17 percent of the energy consumed in the United States. The primary use for gasoline is in automobiles and light trucks. Gasoline also fuels boats, recreational vehicles, and various farm and other equipment. While gasoline is produced year-round, extra volumes are made in time for the summer driving season. Gasoline is delivered from oil refineries mainly through pipelines to a massive distribution chain serving 167,000 retail gasoline stations throughout the United States. 1 There are three main grades of gasoline: regular, mid-grade, and premium. Each grade has a different octane level. Price levels vary by grade, but the price differential between grades is generally constant.

Q. Where are the gas and oil pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico?
A. From page 50 of Deepwater Gulf of Mexico 2004: America's Expanding Frontier (Adobe format report published by the U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region).

Still interested in gas and oil in the Gulf of Mexico? Go to the Minerals Management Service - Gulf of Mexico Region.

Q. Where does the U.S. get its oil imports from?
A. Once again from Gibson Consulting (as of 2002)

Do you have questions like these that you have found answers to (or haven't)? Please add them to the comments.