Spot shortages of gasoline hit U. S. market

Journal Article · Mon Dec 11 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6884793

Mcafee, J ^[1]; Ikard, F N

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1. Gulf Oil Corp.

Although two large U.S. gasoline marketers have begun allocating unleaded gasoline, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), various industry leaders, and F. N. Ikard (API) feel that unleaded gasoline supplies will be adequate during the winter of 1978-79. The U.S.' largest gasoline marketer, Shell Oil Co., began allocating all gasoline grades on 12/1/78 and is seeking DOE's permission to continue through December. The U.S.' second largest gasoline marketer, Amoco Oil Co., is allocating supplies of premium leaded gasoline to jobbers and dealers but is not restricting its supply of lower-octane unleaded gasoline. Texaco Inc. has taken preliminary steps for allocations. Gulf Oil Corp. does not plan allocations. According to Gulf chairman J. McAfee, the oil industry had its highest gasoline inventory ever in the beginning of 1978, but inventories were reduced by a series of compounding factors, including unusually high demand encouraged by low regulated prices, the failure of the automobile industry to achieve estimated EPA mileage rates, equipment problems at plants, and the lack of sufficient unleaded refining capacity as a result of DOE regulations.

• OSTI ID: 6884793
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 76:50; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020500 -- Petroleum-- Products & By-Products
020700* -- Petroleum-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
ALLOCATIONS
FUELS
GASOLINE
INDUSTRY
INVENTORIES
LIQUID FUELS
MARKETERS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
REGULATIONS
SHORTAGES
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
UNLEADED GASOLINE
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA