Will the U.S. lift its 38-year ban on crude oil exports?

[xchrom]

http://grist.org/news/will-the-u-s-lift-its-38-year-ban-on-crude-oil-exports/

?w=470&h=265&crop=1

***SNIP

FuelFix explains the growing disquiet over the export ban:

As a new year dawns in the nation’s capital, the Obama administration and Congress find themselves grappling with a scenario that was unthinkable just a short time ago: What to do with the domestic oil flowing out of West Texas, North Dakota and other states?

The climb in domestic crude production has created a dilemma for both lawmakers and the White House, who are facing new pressure from oil companies to relax the nation’s 38-year-old ban on exports of the unprocessed product. …

[T]here is a growing glut of light, sweet crude that is unearthed in the U.S., and barred from export. Many U.S. refineries, particularly along the Gulf Coast, were designed to process heavier supplies from Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Canada, and while some have adapted to handle more of the light, sweet domestic product, bigger changes are unlikely soon.

And here is some nice context from InsideClimate News:

Emboldened by the recent boom in U.S. crude production, oil company executives and others closed the year by launching a highly public push for the right to freely export U.S. crude oil. The move is a 180-degree change from 40 years of telling Americans that the country needs all the oil it can get to achieve energy independence and to protect consumers and the economy from oil and gasoline price shocks.

[Historic NY]

1. We have been exporting all along......

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=MCREXUS2&f=M

If they are saying there is a glut then it isn't reflective at the pump.

[FreakinDJ]

2. "You Betcha" - permits for 20 LNG Terminals already in the works

[dipsydoodle]

3. Always has done - hasn't it ?

U.S. Natural Gas Exports and Re-Exports by Country http://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_move_expc_s1_a.htm

Subject of the OP is oil.

[FreakinDJ]

4. I guess my point is - I don't feel they are far behind

The trend is to export

BTW: I work in Oil Refineries

Currently here in Calif there is a big push to tap shale oil and use fracking methods in the mostly depleted Taft oil fields. They know they most likely can't get permits to process the heavy caustic crude here in Calif, so they are applying for permits for an export terminal.

Additionally - you can't get permits for adding capacity to any refinery here in Calif, yet the demand keeps increasing.

The answer will be to rail car the crude to SF Bay where it will be off loaded on the tankers for the back haul to China, South Korea, or possibly Beaumont Tx where they are designed to handle Heavy Caustic Crudes like Tar Sands oil