^^^^^^^^
So you're saying, to cripple NA's oil refining capacity, it would only take an accident, or couple of acts of sabotage or a localized natural disaster in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I also fully understand the oil industry's reluctance to invest in multi-billion dollar projects to diversify its refining base. I mean, where is the money for this type of investment supposed to come from? Its not like the oil industry or Corporate America is has trillions of dollars in cash hoarded and sitting around.
Sure, i guess you could TRY and sabotage refineries near the gulf coast. Too bad they are considered vital to national interests are as such have department of homeland security surveillance 24/7.
During the H1N1/pig flu outbreak in 2009 or whatever it was these were quarantined and no one was allowed in or out of the facilities to ensure they wouldn't shut down. They have full contigency plans to deal with every kind of imaginable disaster, and its why when hurricane's coming rolling into the regions they go into their emergency mode to deal with them.
To even get on site, even as a Canadian employee of the company when I was last down in Texas City, i had to go through the equivalent of immigration with Homeland Security including providing passport and stuff simply to enter the site for a meeting.
You're not the first to think that this would be a key center for an attack. Their on the list of target assets and as such are monitored by the gov't. The roads in and around Texas City you're not even supposed to stop on as it raises red flags. I stopped to take photos and was promptly met with Texas's finest asking me what i was doing.
While the general public likes to think that oil companies have money pits like scrooge mcduck they generally dont. Exxon is the exception to the rule in corporate business. Almost every company regardless of industry takes any profit and reinvests it into a different area of the their business so that that money can begin to generate its own profit. Better than sticking it in the bank and earning interest.
yes i still ride a bike…rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated