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TexasBushwhacker

(20,174 posts)
Fri May 2, 2014, 04:56 PM May 2014

What's the least bad oil company

Because I live on a very tight budget, I've decided to buy cards at the beginning of the month for anything I can. Grocery cards so I'm less tempted to buy fast food and have less money in my pocket to do so. The same goes with buying a gas card. I'll put the amount I have budgeted for gas for the month on it and then only fill up with those stations. So I'm not going with Exxon or BP because of the Valdez and Horizon spills. I'm sure all oil companies have their sins, but which one would you consider the least offensive? I'm leaning towards Citgo, but I'm open to suggestions.

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What's the least bad oil company (Original Post) TexasBushwhacker May 2014 OP
Mozzola lostincalifornia May 2014 #1
3 in One L0oniX May 2014 #8
That's like asking, Which is best...getting killed by injection or the electric chair? Same ending. Auntie Bush May 2014 #2
What are your town choices? JaneyVee May 2014 #3
I'm in Houston, so all of the biggies TexasBushwhacker May 2014 #6
I've heard Citgo was the best. Don't know if that is true though. Auntie Bush May 2014 #4
I'd go with Citgo if they were around here, they were often cheapest back east. Warpy May 2014 #5
Marvelous Mystery Oil L0oniX May 2014 #7
CITCO. jwirr May 2014 #9
Seriously? Savannahmann May 2014 #10

TexasBushwhacker

(20,174 posts)
6. I'm in Houston, so all of the biggies
Sat May 3, 2014, 01:13 PM
May 2014

Exxon, Shell, Chevron, Conoco, Citgo etc. Walmart and Sam's Club are often the cheapest, but I don't shop those stores. There's also Valero, which has Texas based refineries and ethanol plants in the midwest. They have a few of their own stations and also sell unbranded gas to mom and pop stores.

Warpy

(111,245 posts)
5. I'd go with Citgo if they were around here, they were often cheapest back east.
Fri May 2, 2014, 05:08 PM
May 2014

Besides, they have a neat sign in Kenmore Square in Boston, I used to stare at that thing when I'd get stoned.

My own poverty strategy was paying cash for everything. As I saw the money in my pocket dwindle down to a couple of quarters, I learned not to impulse buy. Also, no-name and small chain gas stations around here are cheaper than brand name. I also have a Costco card but rarely think of buying gas there. Another thing I'd do is clean the change out of my pockets and dump it into a jar before I went to bed. One year I had $450 in change and had a place to blow it all and I did.

Don't forget, you're also paying for the card on top of the cost of premium gas.

I'd save the money and budget for one fast food meal per month with the money saved if I ate the stuff.

There are no clean gas giants. Venezuela is a mess--that's Citgo. Chevron is trying to stonewall an environmental suit in Ecuador, one it would have been cheaper to settle 6 years ago.

I get most of my living from oil stock. I don't think they like the proxy votes I mail in, I wish more stockholders would fill them out and mail them in.

 

Savannahmann

(3,891 posts)
10. Seriously?
Sat May 3, 2014, 01:28 PM
May 2014

I'm actually stumped as to where to start. I mean, you've ruled out two of the most prevalent producers. So let's look at Citgo.

They don't really drill, but they do refine, and then sell. So if they don't drill, where do they get the oil? From others that drill, and then transport from the location. Companies like BP, and Exxon. So Citgo is out. In fact, all the companies are out. You can't buy gas anywhere. Because they all buy and sell to one another. If the Citgo refinery has capacity, but is short of product, they'll buy from anyone. If Exxon doesn't have a tanker due in in time, they'll buy from BP to keep their plants moving. So you see the problem yes? Take a look at the trucks delivering the gas next time. They no longer say Standard, Chevron, Exxon, or whatever on the side. Because they are transporting from one location, to another. It doesn't even have to be Exxon Gas in the tanks at the Exxon gas station. The gas is what is important. That's why you don't see advertisements about how BP had the first tanker trucks rolling into the area ravaged by Hurricane Sandy. Because the trucks were local, the gas was shipped from somewhere, and divide up among all the customers, the local gas stations.

I might see the occasional Flying J tanker truck, but usually it's whomever has the local contract to distribute. Nobody cares where the gas comes from when they're filling their tanks up, they just care about the price, and if you are operating on a fixed budget, and intend to limit your purchases in such a way, then getting more for your dollars is the goal. Walmart, Enron, and Parkers locally have cards which knock a few cents a gallon off the price. Walmart is prepay, and just like all the other gas stations, get the gas from the same place as the rest.

Interesting point to consider, many cities, like Atlanta, get their gasoline pumped in by pipeline. Now, do you think that all the companies have separate pipelines? Or do you think that the companies all put gas in, and then get gas out of the same system? I doubt that Exxon, BP, Standard Oil, Citgo, and who knows how many others are all running individual pipelines for the use of their corporate locations.

BP and Exxon do a lot of drilling. Other companies, like Halliburton, do service and operational support. Enron does not drill and refine the oil to it's own standards. Citgo buys oil from anyone who will sell it. They refine oil to the various products for anyone who will buy the products. It isn't McDonalds and only official McD raw materials are used from approved suppliers. In fact, many regions have specific gasoline formulation requirements. Then there is winter and summer mix of gasoline.

So even if you drive past the BP station, and buy your gas from Citgo, you're still buying it from BP indirectly. My suggestion, get the best price you can, and burn as little as possible, so you can spend as little as possible.

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