We should have an overall higher level of distillate product — This should give the industry a breather.

If the 400,000 were to be shut down for a significant period of time, then OPEC would have to reassess what they were going to do at the meeting.

Maybe what we need is surreptitious federal regulation that forces gasoline prices up for good reasons that politicians can explain.

There is still a great deal of damage that will keep natural gas and refined products tight for the next few months. The next move will be back up.

Are we going to punish the Saudis? Two-thirds of our Middle East oil comes from Saudi Arabia, and despite the ups and downs of the relationship with Saudi Arabia, they tend to be our friends.

We believe that the oil ministers are inclined to defend a $55 per barrel floor in the near term.

The economic stimulus from rebuilding will help offset the economic drag caused by higher energy prices.

The market’s mesmerized by what appear to be low demand numbers. Product supplied is not the same as demand, since it measures what is leaving refineries, not what’s being consumed.

Iran and Nigeria have got people extremely nervous.

It’s not going to be of much help unless we get refineries running again. Releasing oil from the SPR right now would be actually inappropriate because there would be no place to put it.

One-third of the production in OPEC is deteriorating and doesn’t have very good prospects of improving in the short run.

The biggest impact may be damage to the port facilities south of New Orleans. We have no way of knowing now how badly they are damaged.

The potential for a cyclical downturn in 2008-09 — or sooner if we have a global economic recession — is realistic.

Crude oil isn’t the problem right now but may be in a few weeks. The helicopters that are needed to get repair crews on the platforms are busy saving people from rooftops.

Let’s get the high-consuming cars off the road, start paying for them and recycle them — put them in a crusher.

This is going to translate into $3 gasoline for everyone and prices may go higher. The chances of another storm hitting the region are pretty high and we just aren’t prepared for it. Refineries are...