"Matt Barrow" wrote in message
...

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
nk.net...
That total capacity figure might just be wrong. The DOE has every major
product up over the period.


The DOE is measuring output, not capacity. Capacity is measured at the
100% level, but only a fool runs long-term at or near 100%.

Historically, heavy equipment runs at 65-80% of capacity, so as to allow
maintenance and fallbacks in the event of a partial system failure. There
are strategic issues as well.


True but unless refiners were running about 60% capacity in 1982 then
capacity must he higher today. My cousin ran Chevron's refining business
for a period in the 80s and they were *always* spending a hundred million
here and a hundred million there to expand capacity at existing refineries.

Mike
MU-2