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Washington & Oregon Gas Sources

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I did some research last night on where the gas in Oregon comes from and I thought it was interesting. Based on the Wikipedia article below, almost all the petroleum comes from Washington refineries. There are a total of five refineries that are in Washington (Ferndale (Phillips 66), two in Anacortes (Tesoro and Shell), Tacoma (US Oil), Cherry Point (BP)). These refineries are supplied crude oil by a few places; Alaska's North Slope (by pipeline and ship), Alberta's oil sands (pipeline or rail), "tight oil plays" in the CONUS (by rail from the Bakken fields in Montana and North Dakota), or by ship from foreign sources (Russia, Middle East, South America, etc.). Approximately 80% of it comes from Alaska and Canada though, 58% and 21.5% respectively. Washington is a net exporter of refined products, mainly to Oregon, but also California, and British Columbia. Oregon has no refineries and gets almost all fuel from Washington via the Olympic Pipeline. In NW Oregon there are six terminals mostly in northwest Portland on Hwy 30 where the gas is put on trucks for transportation to the stations. I'm not sure where each individual brand then adds their additives though, I assume it is at the terminal facility that the fuel trucks are loaded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_refining_in_Washington_state



http://www.sightline.org/2013/12/04/washingtons-oil-where-does-it-come-from/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_North_Slope



http://www.akbizmag.com/Alaska-Business-Monthly/May-2012/Following-North-Slope-Crude-From-the-ground-to-the-gas-station/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Alaska_Pipeline_System

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athabasca_oil_sands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakken_Formation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tight_oil

http://www.chevronpipeline.com/pdf/CPL-REPages506.pdf

https://www.bp.com/en_us/bp-us/what-we-do/bp-pipelines/our-pipelines-and-terminals/olympic-pipeline.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Alaska_Pipeline_System

http://blogs.platts.com/2010/08/23/unbranded_vs_br/

https://www.oregon.gov/deq/Programs/Pages/Gasoline-Terminals.aspx

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=277725
 


kivnul

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#2
Your map shows it but Eastern Washington fuel comes from a single refinery in Montana via pipeline. (Yellowstone Pipeline on your map.) A secondary pipeline (Chevron on your map) connects to it and furthers the distribution south towards Pasco and beyond. It is interesting reading how they cycle the fuels in the pipeline (Supreme gas, regular gas, diesel, jet fuel, heating fuel back to gas)
 


OP
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Thread Starter #3
Your map shows it but Eastern Washington fuel comes from a single refinery in Montana via pipeline. (Yellowstone Pipeline on your map.) A secondary pipeline (Chevron on your map) connects to it and furthers the distribution south towards Pasco and beyond. It is interesting reading how they cycle the fuels in the pipeline (Supreme gas, regular gas, diesel, jet fuel, heating fuel back to gas)
That is interesting additional info. I started by researching where the Portland area gas comes from so adding more to this discussion is great. I didn't see how they cycle the different levels of refinement.
 


danbfree

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#5
I did some research last night on where the gas in Oregon comes from and I thought it was interesting. Based on the Wikipedia article below, almost all the petroleum comes from Washington refineries. There are a total of five refineries that are in Washington (Ferndale (Phillips 66), two in Anacortes (Tesoro and Shell), Tacoma (US Oil), Cherry Point (BP)). These refineries are supplied crude oil by a few places; Alaska's North Slope (by pipeline and ship), Alberta's oil sands (pipeline or rail), "tight oil plays" in the CONUS (by rail from the Bakken fields in Montana and North Dakota), or by ship from foreign sources (Russia, Middle East, South America, etc.). Approximately 80% of it comes from Alaska and Canada though, 58% and 21.5% respectively. Washington is a net exporter of refined products, mainly to Oregon, but also California, and British Columbia. Oregon has no refineries and gets almost all fuel from Washington via the Olympic Pipeline. In NW Oregon there are six terminals mostly in northwest Portland on Hwy 30 where the gas is put on trucks for transportation to the stations. I'm not sure where each individual brand then adds their additives though, I assume it is at the terminal facility that the fuel trucks are loaded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_refining_in_Washington_state



http://www.sightline.org/2013/12/04/washingtons-oil-where-does-it-come-from/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_North_Slope



http://www.akbizmag.com/Alaska-Business-Monthly/May-2012/Following-North-Slope-Crude-From-the-ground-to-the-gas-station/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Alaska_Pipeline_System

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athabasca_oil_sands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakken_Formation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tight_oil

http://www.chevronpipeline.com/pdf/CPL-REPages506.pdf

https://www.bp.com/en_us/bp-us/what-we-do/bp-pipelines/our-pipelines-and-terminals/olympic-pipeline.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Alaska_Pipeline_System

http://blogs.platts.com/2010/08/23/unbranded_vs_br/

https://www.oregon.gov/deq/Programs/Pages/Gasoline-Terminals.aspx

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=277725
Nice find! I knew that our gas came from Washington but good details to know... but it's weird how consistent our fuel is with how it's rated as 92 minimum but seems to ALWAYS exceed that octane, you enjoying the 93 Strat tune?
 


OP
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Thread Starter #6
Nice find! I knew that our gas came from Washington but good details to know... but it's weird how consistent our fuel is with how it's rated as 92 minimum but seems to ALWAYS exceed that octane, you enjoying the 93 Strat tune?
It may sound crazy but I'm still running the COBB stage 0 stock tune. I haven't got a panel filter yet. I like being able to have the gauges though.
 


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#7
It may sound crazy but I'm still running the COBB stage 0 stock tune. I haven't got a panel filter yet. I like being able to have the gauges though.
I will give you my K&N drop in (like 2k miles on it) in exchange for your stock filter if it's in good shape. In exchange for my kindness, I'd like to drive your car to feel the suspension and those wheels/tires. Lol
 


danbfree

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It may sound crazy but I'm still running the COBB stage 0 stock tune. I haven't got a panel filter yet. I like being able to have the gauges though.
Who says you need a panel filter? The "Stage 1" just unlocks the torque that Ford neuters from the factory, makes driving it easier... But I got lucky and got a used drop in when I got my AP used as well, just cleaned it recently, but I'd even pick up one of those inexpensive foam ones from Ron if you don't take up [MENTION=7743]Speedboosted[/MENTION] on his offer...
 


danbfree

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I will give you my K&N drop in (like 2k miles on it) in exchange for your stock filter if it's in good shape. In exchange for my kindness, I'd like to drive your car to feel the suspension and those wheels/tires. Lol
Now, THAT is a helluva deal! I have a stock filter with less than 2k on it, want to drive mine just to see what a current Stratified 93 tune feels like with a Torque Solutions RMM? :D
 


danbfree

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#10
Just a quick gas comparison update: I took a quick trip down to Sacramento this weekend and filled up with their 91 octane.. more negative corrections and actual OAR fluctuation running a 91 tune than running a 93 tune with our so-called 92 octane... I REALLY think our 92 octane must be at LEAST 93 octane if not more, probably more like 94. I truly feel that everyone in the western PNW should be running 93 tunes if they care about getting the most out of their gas, otherwise you are leaving performance on the table and there is a noticeable difference between the 91 and 93 tunes too, very much worth it. Sure, I made sure to order both 91 and 93 tunes to be safe and I'd recommend that too, but the proof is in the pudding!
 


OP
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Just a quick gas comparison update: I took a quick trip down to Sacramento this weekend and filled up with their 91 octane.. more negative corrections and actual OAR fluctuation running a 91 tune than running a 93 tune with our so-called 92 octane... I REALLY think our 92 octane must be at LEAST 93 octane if not more, probably more like 94. I truly feel that everyone in the western PNW should be running 93 tunes if they care about getting the most out of their gas, otherwise you are leaving performance on the table and there is a noticeable difference between the 91 and 93 tunes too, very much worth it. Sure, I made sure to order both 91 and 93 tunes to be safe and I'd recommend that too, but the proof is in the pudding!
I wonder if we could take that one step further and get a PNW specific tune?
 


danbfree

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I wonder if we could take that one step further and get a PNW specific tune?
Every tuner other than Cobb offers datalogging adjustments, I just happen to be running the canned Stratified tune... So for $50 I can get a datalog adjustment on that or for $75 anyone can get a Dizzy tune which includes datalog refinements which includes pushing the octane/fuel related parameters. So start with a 93 tune and mention when sending in your first datalog email that our fuel is rated as 92 but have heard it is likely closer to 94. But in general I'm saying if you want to just run a canned tune then choose 93, with a 91 option also just in case you might travel or our fuel suddenly does change significantly for some reason. I've never seen much of a change even in winter, I've seen only very minor OAR down to -0.91, which is nothing... But a 93 tune is easily within range of our very underrated "92 minimum" we get in Western OR/WA, the proof just keeps coming.
 


OP
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That is a good point, and probably a good reason to go with Dizzy. I wonder if there is some sort of a publicly available resource that continuously tests the ethanol and octane of the 92 fuel coming out of the terminal on Hwy 30.
 


danbfree

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That is a good point, and probably a good reason to go with Dizzy. I wonder if there is some sort of a publicly available resource that continuously tests the ethanol and octane of the 92 fuel coming out of the terminal on Hwy 30.
Like I was saying, tuners have said it's been this way since they added e10, it was easier for them to keep formula the same way, not bother to re-rate octane and just add the e10 so it's consistent... Otherwise, it was only $10 to add a 2nd octane to my tune to be overly safe... In Wash, Mult and Clack Counties, they do hav ea very slightly different blend for winter but never seen OAR drop below -0.91 while on that either, but that was on the shitty Cobb tune that isn't as refined as Stratified is.
 


danbfree

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That is a good point, and probably a good reason to go with Dizzy. I wonder if there is some sort of a publicly available resource that continuously tests the ethanol and octane of the 92 fuel coming out of the terminal on Hwy 30.
There are portable octane testers you can get for $100 called OKTIS2, now I'm curious what ours comes out as!

Edit: Nevermind, apparently not accurate with fuel that has ANY Ethanol, guys couldn't get an accurate reading at all, they are only good in Russia where they come from, lol...
 


OP
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Thread Starter #16
I feel like this is something many auto enthusiasts in the area would be concerned about, but when I Google it I just get the regular bullshit.
 


danbfree

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I feel like this is something many auto enthusiasts in the area would be concerned about, but when I Google it I just get the regular bullshit.
The octane tester? Yeah, forget it, I just go off actual experience and what other tuners have said, and the enthusiasts who do care to look into it will tell you the same thing, works for me and should work for everyone else. Apparently everyone just assumes and doesn't bother to look into in but once I started asking around and finaly got others who cared to look into it is when I learned... Again, I filled up with 91 in Cali and had OAR fluctuations and negative ignition corrections more on a 91 tune than I get running a 93 tune with our "92" gas. We simply really have 93+ and if no one wants to believe it and continue to doubt it, oh well, their loss throwing away power for the same priced fuel. You can lead a horse to water situation, at least I made the effort to try to spread the word.
 


OP
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Thread Starter #18
The Department of Agriculture manages the regular testing of fuel. They didn't start testing until 1997, which explains why I grew up thinking we had crappy gas. The fuel has to have 9.2 to 10% ethanol. I pasted some more info below, I will have to look up the ASTM standards tomorrow. I might send them an email to see what the average test shows.

http://https://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/ISCP/Pages/MotorFuelQuality.aspx

Per the site above:
Anti-Knock Index, or octane, is used to price gasoline in the US market. ODA checks all grades of gasoline offered for sale at each gas station to make certain that the posted octane rating correctly represents the gasoline sold. Three basic checks are routinely performed:

Dispenser blending ratios are verified
Product certification documents are inspected
Fuel is tested using portable octane analyzers

The laws ors:
“Ethanol” means ethyl alcohol, a flammable liquid having the formula C2H5OH used or sold for the purpose of blending or mixing with gasoline for use in motor vehicles.

“Gasoline” means any fuel sold for use in spark ignition engines whether leaded or unleaded.

646.913 Limitations on gasoline sales; requirements for ethanol content in gasoline; rules. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, a wholesale dealer, retail dealer or nonretail dealer may not sell gasoline or offer gasoline for sale unless the gasoline contains 10 percent denatured fuel ethanol by volume. Gasoline that contains anhydrous ethanol in concentrations between 9.2 percent and 10 percent by volume complies with the requirement set forth in this subsection.

(2) The State Department of Agriculture shall adopt standards for gasoline blended with ethanol that is sold in this state. The standards that the department adopts shall require that the gasoline blended with ethanol:

(a) Contains ethanol that is derived from agricultural or woody waste or residue;

(b) Complies with the volatility requirements specified in 40 C.F.R. part 80;

(c) Complies with ASTM International specification D 4814, Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel;

(d) Is not blended with casinghead gasoline, absorption gasoline, drip gasoline or natural gasoline after the gasoline has been sold, transferred or otherwise removed from a refinery or terminal; and

(e) Contains denatured fuel ethanol that complies with ASTM International specification D 4806, Standard Specification for Denatured Fuel Ethanol for Blending with Gasolines for Use as Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel.

(3) The department may review specifications adopted by ASTM International, or equivalent organizations, and federal regulations and revise the standards adopted under this section as necessary.

"Octane rating” means the rating of the anti-knock characteristics of a grade or type of gasoline determined by dividing by two the sum of the research octane number and the motor octane number.

646.949 Signs identifying octane rating. (1) A dealer who sells or offers for sale any gasoline shall conspicuously display a sign on each side of the dispensing device, using descriptive commercial terms that accurately identify the octane rating of the gasoline being dispensed from that device. The sign shall be of such size and design and shall be posted in such a manner as the Director of Agriculture determines will adequately inform the purchaser of the octane rating of the gasoline.

(2) Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall conform, to the greatest extent practicable, to rules of the Federal Trade Commission regarding automotive fuel rating certification and posting. [1997 c.310 §3]



646.951 Testing of motor vehicle fuel. (1) The Director of Agriculture may test motor vehicle fuel for the purpose of inspecting the motor vehicle fuel supply of any service station, business or other establishment that sells or offers for sale, or distributes, transports, hauls, delivers or stores motor vehicle fuel that is subsequently sold or offered for sale, for compliance with the motor vehicle fuel quality standards adopted pursuant to ORS 646.957.

(2) The director or the director’s authorized agent shall have access during normal business hours to all places where motor vehicle fuel is sold to or by a retail dealer, nonretail dealer or wholesale dealer for the purpose of examination, inspection and investigation of the establishment’s motor vehicle fuel supply, shall collect or cause to be collected samples of the motor vehicle fuel and shall test or analyze the samples for compliance with motor vehicle fuel quality standards adopted pursuant to ORS 646.957.

(3) Before taking any enforcement action under ORS 646.953 or 646.963, the director shall cause motor vehicle fuel samples to be tested in accordance with standards, reproducibility limits and procedures that are, in the director’s judgment, consistent with ASTM International standards and procedures.

(4) The director or the director’s authorized agent shall notify the owner or person in charge of the facility of the sample collection as soon as is practicable after a sample is taken. The volume of the sample taken for testing must be adequate for the tests to be performed and to allow for a portion of the sample to be retained for subsequent testing, if the need arises. A sample with a test result that is outside the test reproducibility limits, when compared to the applicable limits, shall be properly stored to preserve the sample for at least 90 days. [1997 c.310 §4; 2013 c.1 §83]
 


XanRules

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#19
I know they make ethanol content gauges, I would assume there's a way to do the math do know what your exact octane is given the current ethanol content of your tank. I would suspect you couldn't get it exact due to different additives, etc, but that an interested party could get pretty close and it might be an easier workaround.
 


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#20
You can buy one of these to test the ethanol content. https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Fuel-Technology-36-E85-Sample/dp/B007ZJ749O

Jay's garage in Portland sells E85 out of the pump and between April-October it tests very well, always abover 85, usually 88-90.

Dizzy is coming out with an ethanol content gauge soon which would be a nice option, but I don't think it's really neccessary for us locally where there are only a small handful of places to get ethanol. For me having actual race blend E85 out of a barrell, I never need to worry about it. Plus Dizzy recommends a 3:1 ratio when mixing to make things even easier. 3 gallons of pump 92 with 1 gallon of E85. Or for the Fiesta with it's 12.4 gallon tank, 3/4 full of 92 and top the rest off with E85.

Edit: This tester may be more useful since it offers more than just 85 and up. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073HLSVH...Hc&pd_rd_r=Y1N54ZNF25RZPBBHY175&pd_rd_w=57ZvK
 




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