Ike Effects Columbia Stations Tonight

U.S. Refinery District Up Ike Creek, Without a Paddle

When I was showing a house today, my clients dad told me that a gas wholesaler was having trouble finding gas in Bamberg. Needless to say, I filled up on the way back from King's Grant.

Within two hours, 4 people texted/emailed me that gas stations around Columbia had capped them, at 10 gallons per car. My brother reported that the Sam's pumps were completely packed.
Someone else reported that they watched prices spike $.50, while they were sitting in the parking lot.

I happened to drive by Young's on Devine St. tonight, and the pumps were packed at 10:00 and 11:30 pm.

Below, is part of a FOXNews.com excerpt; Not a good report.

We'll see what happens on Friday, and over the weekend. Having said all of this, I'm glad I filled up, before the oil hits the big fan in the gulf. FJ

FOXNews.com; The oil and gas industry was closely watching the storm because it was headed straight for the nation's biggest complex of refineries and petrochemical plants. The upper Texas coast accounts for one-fifth of U.S. refining capacity.

Wholesale gasoline prices spiked 30 percent Thursday, or nearly $1 a gallon, out of fear of what Ike might do. That means motorists can expect higher prices at the pump, though how much higher depends largely on how long refineries are shuttered after the storm.

Exxon Mobil Corp., Valero Energy Corp., ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil Co. began halting operations as Ike closed in. Dow Chemical Co. started closing up its enormous Freeport complex, home to 75 plants producing some 27 billion pounds of chemical products each year.