Oil Exec Warns of Gas Lines, Civil Unrest and More

by BMCWrites | February 27, 2009 at 11:17 am

390 views | 6 Recommendations | 10 comments

Two days after Gary Luquette met with members of the House Natural Resources Committee, the president of Chevron North America Exploration and Petroleum Company warned that gas lines, price hikes, fuel shortages and incidents of civil unrest could surface as components of a worst-case scenario resulting from reinstatement of the moratoria on offshore drilling.

Luquette's ominous outlook came in response to a question I asked him during a blogger conference call hosted by American Petroleum Institute officials at 10 a.m. Central today.

Asked to describe a worst-case scenario that might occur if the 111th Congress and President Barack Obama reinstated the offshore drilling moratoria that was lifted in September 2008, Luquette offered a glimpse.

"What we can look forward to is a heavier reliance upon foreign sources of oil to continue to sustain our way of living and our economy until the fuel mix transitions, long term, into something that represents a higher percentage of renewables and alternatives," Luquette explained. "Worst-case scenario is, if you're highly dependent upon foreign sources of oil, you'll be more exposed to price hikes...civil unrest...and disruptions," he continued, "potentially going back to situations where you might not have enough product to meet demand and going back to some of the lines we saw back during the days of the Arab oil embargo."

He added that reinstatement of the moratoria posed additional economic risks associated with jobs and revenue going outside of the country instead of staying inside.

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To read the statement Luquette made Wednesday before the House Natural Resources Committee, click here. To read other BMW posts about the offshore drilling moratoria, click here.

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Skagit Information Management Systems

at 12:37 on February 27th, 2009

Thanks for running my photos.

It's time the oil companies leveled with America and America as well said, "we'll support domestic drilling like never before... but like never before, we want accountability for environmental impacts."

BMCWrites

at 15:15 on March 1st, 2009

Lefty -- I suppose you would rather be dependent upon foreign sources of oil (i.e., Saudi Arabia, Russia, Mexico, Venezuela et al)? As long as Congress, President Obama and environmentalists oppose offshore drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf and in places like the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, we'll continue to be dependent upon people/countries who do not regard our best interests to be a top priority.

GenBug

at 12:11 on February 27th, 2009

GenBug has contributed a photo to this story.

Upcountrysmiles.com

at 13:06 on February 27th, 2009

This shot was taken on Valentines Day in Paia town of Maui, Hawaii. I noticed the prices had gone up within a weeks time from $2.44/gal to $2.53 on this day.

Upcountrysmiles.com has contributed a photo to this story.

lefty_liberated

at 13:09 on February 27th, 2009

we're sick of being dependant on oil, period. I suggest this douche and all his buddies start working on new technology.

mtammas

at 18:03 on February 27th, 2009

Ditto to previous comments: new technology, accountability for environmental impacts. Let's all move away from fossil fuels, no matter where in the world we are.

King Burger

at 20:40 on February 27th, 2009

The price hike is settle but it is going up. A lot of motorists do not even notice it. I, as well as my other bike friends do choose the alternative way of transportation. The times are hard and money is tight. We have to save and this is one way.

King Burger has contributed a photo to this story.

BMCWrites

at 15:17 on March 1st, 2009

mtammas -- See answer to Lefty above.

Art_By_Alida

at 19:51 on March 4th, 2009

That's just fear mongering....when the president of a large coal company in Kentucky was being questioned about the dangers to the environment from coal mining, he called environmentalists, "communists."

It's amazing what comes out of the mouths of some CEOs...let him join the ranks of Pat Robertson and the other Christian far-right preaching about uprisings and chaos in society. Fear mongering seems to be the way to try to scare people into getting what you want.

I have heard that the price of coal may spike five times what it is today because of rising need for coal overseas. Can you imagine if the cost of running a hybrid electric car would increase to the equivalent of what we experienced with $4.00 a gallon fuel for gasoline powered cars in the USA? All of a sudden the electric hybrids would not be any better than gasoline powered vehicles.

(((( Hmmmm, I wonder how that air car is coming along in India?

Fear mongering is the "reality TV" of politics today...remember the rumours of marital law being enacted if the bailout money was not approved? This is just more of the same.

What a hoot....

Art_By_Alida

at 13:31 on March 16th, 2009

Bob. this is old news...Info Wars and Prison Planet has already posted this fear-monger's words all over the net.

It's nothing more than an idle threat to try to get permission to do offshore oil well drilling.

With the possibility of earthquakes off the California coast always a consideration, digging for oil there is just insane. And drilling in the Gulf? Heck, the gulf couldn't take an oil spill..the dead zone there is growing daily.

Russia has so much un-mined oil...they will be the next middle east in that respect.

There is oil around...maybe we should worry more about what we can produce that other countries cannot do without so it will be an even trade balance.

Maybe the oil companies should start looking to partner with Russia to drill there.