The Cellar » 65 billion barrels of what?!?

Cyclefrance-of-old · 8/30/2026 3:51 pm

Sounds impressive, but, as is almost always the case, his big win declarations seldom deliver the results he expects and promises.

So it is with Venezuelan crude oil.

One of my first jobs as a shipbroker, this'll be back in 1975, was to manage a freight contract that delivered 40,000 ton lots each month of heavy fuel oil from Venezuela to the then UK CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board - we loved unnecessarily complex names for our nationalised industries in those days). All seemed to be going well until they started using the stuff. The oil had a very high vanadium content, which leached during burning and coated the catalytic converters in the vast boilers, rendering them inoperative. An expensive 'cleansing' solution was found to overcome the problem but it put Venezuelan fueloil on the undesirable list so far as future supply contracts were concerned.

Venezuelan crude oil is extremely thick, contains high levels of sulphur and also of various contaminating metals and other substances. Straight distillation produces predominantly heavy end fueloil products and only very limited amounts of high value middle and light end products. It takes additional, costly processes to maximise their extraction. Refineries exist in the USGulf that can process the crude, but it is an expensive exercise and one that needs to be supported by high prices of the finished products (gasoline, diesel and jet fueoil) in order to return a healthy profit. Refineries that aren't equipped to handle this complex crude cannot entertain processing it, and that represents the majority of US oil refineries. So getting through 65 billion barrels of the stuff is going to take some considerable - make that very considerable - time. The political history of Venezuela also won't have helped either, as facilities there that exist across the logistics process from extraction to quayside export, simply aren't in the best of shape.

The major oil companies (think Exxon, Mobil and Caltex for starters) that entertained extraction of Venezuelan crude in the past had their fingers burned in a variety of ways, from the nature of the crude through to the nationalisation of its oil fields and the decaying of facilities over the ensuing decades. It will be interesting to see who takes up the offer to get involved again, and what incentives will be necessary to make them do so.

Of course, he's had time to realise all this, or at least find out what the downside is. His announcement that glosses over the issues therefore can mean one of two things. Either he hasn't bothered to find out, or he has, but is incapable of putting a negative slant on anything he does. Whether its ignorance or arrogance, it doesn't change the facts, and the oil companies that have to consider the value of taking on the task will be well aware of what the risks of doing so could have on the balance sheet.

Anon · 8/30/2026 9:52 pm

Cyclefrance-of-old wrote:
65 billion barrels of what?!?

Trump is a teetotaler; so, he didn’t go for barrels of Venezuelan rum which is pretty good.

Diaphone Jim · 8/31/2026 11:15 am

You must have that wrong. He is the smartest man in the world.

tw · 8/31/2026 2:19 pm

He says so. It must be true.

Cyclefrance-of-old · 9/07/2026 2:46 am

He lies where he lies, where he lies

tw · 9/07/2026 9:26 am

Read what he has always been saying. His entire purpose in life is to enrich himself at the expensive of all others. So many companies went bankrupt when he did not pay contractors for Taj Mahal (in Atlantic City). He defaults on loans to all major banks. Even his DJT stock, that sold for almost $100 per share only four years ago is now worth only $9. DJT constantly screws others. In the tradition of Al Capone. Who he praised during his campaign stops.

And yet somehow he is a great man. Among the many adults who still think emotonally like a child.

Venezuelan oil is contaiminated. So thick that most refineries cannot process it. So full of sulfur that is cannot be burned in ocean going ships. So he will dump it onto the National Petroleum reserved. Where it wil contaminate that oil. To restore what he has seriously depleted. To protect his Pearl Harboring of Iran.

Last edited by tw (9/07/2026 9:33 am)

Anon · 9/07/2026 10:03 pm

Sounds like Venezuelan crude is about the right consistency for tar and feathering.

tw · 9/08/2026 7:49 am

That oil would be good for making asphalt. Can bodies be buried under asphalt so that they will not keep coming back?

fargon · 9/08/2026 10:48 am

Anon wrote:
Sounds like Venezuelan crude is about the right consistency for tar and feathering.

What a wonderful idea.

tw · 10/01/2026 9:38 am

Trump will again bomb iran into the stone age. Since he has massively depleted American weapons inventory. Is pulling troops out of NATO. Has spend at least a trillion to 'Pearl Harbor' a nation that was not a threat. Disparages all (essential) American allies. And praises Putin. Who is now invited back into the G20.

Russia has, for years, been constructing new bases for a military attack on (apparently will be) Latvia. Even Estonia and Lithuania have confirmed hundreds of Russian incursions to intentionally test NATO defenses. All typical of what the Russian army does before it attacks.

Russia recently arsoned a major military factory in Tallinn, Estonia. Germany believes hundreds of sabotage events have occurred there. If you did not know what was coming years ago, then why are your information sources only promoting local gossip?

522 documented Russian sabotage incidents in Europe have been confirmed since February 2022. Anyone who does not know that must learn how defective his information sources are.

Those sources should now be screaming. For a first time since the Cold War, Russia has just threatened nuclear war. Putin needs excuses. He now adds Kaliningrad to a list of justifications. Creating excuses to attack Europe. Doing exactly what Trump and Netanyahu did to Iran. Using same logic that Putin put forth to invade Ukraine. Doing what Xi is expected to do to justify an invasion of Taiwan sometime after 2027.

We will need the National Oil Reserve. Trump depleted that to keep gas prices low. To protect his popularity. While repeatedly claiming we have almost won in Iran.

What were the secret documents he took in 2020 and tried to hide in Myr-a-Lago? Secret defense department plans for a surprise attack on Iran. Those assumed we would have sufficient oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. It is now at less than 40%. Or 14 days at current consumption rates.

Some report a last 30% cannot be recovered due to structural integrity of salt caverns.

Why is it the Secretary of War? Exactly what any nation needs when its purpose is to unilaterally attack other nations on mythical pretenses.

Hitler also said he will 'Make Germany Great Again'. Our military munitions are now at all time lows. Putin knows that.

A war with China will probably require 20,000 Patriot missiles. Our current inventory is now suggested to be 800. Great.

Cyclefrance-of-old · 10/01/2026 3:27 pm

Whether by design or stupidity, just as Trump bankrupted his businesses, he is well on the path to bankrupting the USA, and has now embarked on bankrupting the free world with his wreckless actions.

Sadly, your president is a man singularly focussed on growing and protecting his own wealth and self importance by whatever means available no matter what the consequences of doing so may be.

It remains to be seen whether or not the mid-terms will provide the opportunity to curb his vicious programmes. Acknowledging his total disregard for the rule of law, doing so may not be as straightforward as ought to be the case.

As you have pointed out, the other dictators are well aware how he has weakened the western alliances and their military strength.

Anon · 10/01/2026 8:39 pm

Nuke ‘em till they glow, then shoot ‘em in the dark.

I’ve already booked reservation futures at the Trump Towers Tehran and made a great deal for the 4 day, 3 night apocalypse vacation package with complimentary hazmat suits included.

I’ll be looking for a souvenir that’s easy to decontaminate. Any suggestions?

tw · 10/02/2026 10:23 am

Cyclefrance-of-old wrote:
It remains to be seen whether or not the mid-terms will provide the opportunity to curb his vicious programmes. Acknowledging his total disregard for the rule of law, doing so may not be as straightforward as ought to be the case.

In 2024, Democratic 'troops' were saying Trump would take the state. Their peers and higher ups said that would never happen. Since so many Democrats were thinking emotionally. Were ignoring facts on the ground. And (according to my friends) were not aggressively doing campaigning. Did not even have a relevant message.

We know that the emotional brain (using hate, insults, and negative attacks that also made the Nazi party popular and is now working for the Afd in Germany) only needs tweets to be entrenched in beliefs.

This last week, many different ads on TVs from many other friends (since no one today watches same networks). Of all 15 or 20 ads, not one said anything positive or constructive. Everyone only demeaned the other candidate. Not one mentioned the name of the running candidate (or who paid for the ad). Reading fine print, every candidate and his opponent were even accusing the other of a same thing. Because hate makes one popular among the many who do not think; only feel.

This environment promotes a Trump (or Hitler or Putin). Do not trust polls. Since polls do not accurately measure attitude of those not using a prefrontal cortex. The landslide against Trump will not be anywhere near what so many are predicting. Based, for example, on what my Democratic friends are again saying.

All adds are negative. Never once mention a candidate who is promoted. How uneducated are a majority? A most often used expression (fiction) even promotes hate data centers.

Anyone, using a prefrontal cortex, knows all 'hate data center' reasoning is lies. Lies target adults who are still using their child (emotional) brain. I see very few who are truly addressing reality. That only exists when one is reading more than ten paragraphs - is literate.

Anyone, who was thinking, saw Trump long before he had a TV show. Signs said "Slow. No wake". So that big waves did not damage all other boats. Trump ordered his captain to leave port at full speed. He never cared for anyone else all through life. He does not even have a close friend. Even brags about being indicted more times than Al Capone. As if screwing everyone else is something honorable. And yet large numbers now praise him for it. Even as Chinese Xi Jinping played him again.

How many saw none of this? Remain entrenched in rock solid beliefs.

Nixon massacred how many tens of thousands of American in Vietnam. To not be a first American president to lose a war. How many so hated America and American servicemen as to love Nixon? A majority could not even recognized evil that massive. The limbic brain making decisions. To openly love a man so evil.

So evil that he was even planning to nuke North Vietnam.

Worse, they never apologized to every servicemen for wasting them on an obvious lie. Such ignorance is that widespread again today. These least patriotic Americans even get angry when confronted by facts. Rather than discuss constructively.

tw · 10/02/2026 10:35 am

What should concern everyone is this from Newser:

In the translation, Putin didn't explicitly cite nuclear weapons. But Moscow also sent a diplomatic note to NATO that did, per Reuters. "Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, in order to defend its territory," it reads. In response, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reiterated that the alliance is defensive in nature. "Stop the nuclear threats," he said. "This is absolutely not called for and not helpful." The friction comes as NATO members—which have been backing Ukraine—accuse Russia of acts of sabotage within their countries, which Moscow denies.

To justify a clear threat to use nuclear weapons, Putin also invent a threat to Kaliningrad. Which never existed.

Hitler used same reasoning to take Sudetenland. Next year to invade all of Czechoslovakia. Then invaded Poland on another lie:about unprovoked attacks by Poland on Germany.

Ironically Trump has used same logic to justify a war on Iran ... that was supposed to be over in three days. And is now also planning the invasion of Cuba. If one is paying attention to what the 82 Airborne, et al is now doing.

Cyclefrance-of-old · Yesterday 5:22 am

The only consistency in what Trump says and does on the international scene is that it moves the markets, either up or own, depending on the narrative. This allows him, his family and favoured cohorts to be advance-informed either to sell or to buy ahead of Trump's announcement that, once delivered, will cause the market to rise or fall sharply. Insider trading at presidenttial level! We've seen it throughout the Iran war.

He doesn't care about the consequences of acting this way as his objective has been accomplished well before the fallout hits, and he can deal with this the way he does with everything, constantly, by lying.

Which neatly brings me to his golden rule - admit nothing, deny everything. He plays it almost automatically, even when it doesn't make sense. Hence we get the response 'he's not someone I know' or 'i don't know the man' . It doesn't matter that he contradicts himself, it stops the questioner dead.

Beyond this it seems a compendium of actions and responses that all go to support his narcissism and absence of respect for the rule of law wherever that contradicts his plans, actions and ambitions.

Humanity is non-existent. His apparent displays of care for others only extends to those who show total loyalty and constantly massage his ego with praise and gifts. They are of the moment and will be dispatched when he no longer needs them. He doesn't see this way of treating everyone he engages with as anything but appropriate, and, once ejected, cannot accept their refusal to comply if called upon to do so again. They will then qualify to be attacked. Loyalty is his to control along with everything and everyone else and failure to submit will result in punishment.

So there you have it. The qualities of a person you would, under no circumstances, want to have as president of your country with its commitment to freedom, honesty and fair play. And yet, enough Americans voted for him to be just that, not once, but twice!

Or did they? I have often wondered why, when campaigning for his second term, he didn't give much attention to the risk of losing or claim of cheating by the democrats. Why would that be? The srongest reason is that he knew he couldn't lose. That makes sense, and I have seen a post-election study generate valid concerns that there was manipulation, the reason being that, across many States, the percentage difference between numbers of republican and democratic votes was too similar to be acceptable. There should have been variance. One study put this phenomena when compared to previous elections as causing some 3 million votes be mis-directed. In terms of swing States, enough to move the result the other way.

Last edited by Cyclefrance-of-old (Yesterday 7:08 am)

Anon · Yesterday 10:11 am

Cyclefrance-of-old wrote:
...Which neatly brings me to his golden rule - admit nothing, deny everything…

Oh man, you shortchanged the guy. The motto is - Deny, deny, deny AND COUNTER-ACCUSE. The golden rule is - Do unto others before they do unto you.

This is what got him elected, twice, to pit our leader against like-minded leaders of other globally influential countries. Fight fire with fire so to speak. Backfires can work; but, they’re not without their downsides and not without greater risk. The USA decided it didn’t want the long, lingering death of its culture that it was experiencing under the moderate trends of recent leaders and opted to raise the bar to sudden death… all or nothing now… before we’re no longer able to and we go the way of other countries in the Americas.

Recognizing the aforementioned downsides, risks, and human fallibility, We The People of the USA have set a limited duration for how long any one leader will be employed to implement our will. We reserve the right to empower another like-minded leader should we deem it appropriate. The matter is at our sole discretion.

We appreciate the input from others who are riding our coattails while reminding them that if they actually knew better than us, they would be in our position rather than playing second fiddle. If someone really wants to have influence here, we invite them to immigrate.

tw · Yesterday 6:03 pm

Cyclefrance-of-old wrote:
The only consistency in what Trump says and does on the international scene is that it moves the markets, either up or own, depending on the narrative. This allows him, his family and favoured cohorts to be advance-informed either to sell or to buy ahead of ... the market ...

The purpose of a business school graduate. As taught in school. Enrich the Central Committee of the Communist Party. That is quite obviously himself and his family.

Only two Presidents were business school graduates. Trump and George Jr. Both Pearl Harbored another nation for no purpose. With no justification. How ironic that even Blackwater enriched their people (ie Cheney). What makes Trump any different? He is even batter at it.

A stock called DJT was first sold for about $90. Money donated to Trump by the least intelligent investors. In one year, it dropped to $15 a share. Now is at $8.90. Because Trump lives on the least intelligent who automatically believe any lie they are ordered to believe.

Always obvious to the many (a minority) who bother to think using a prefrontal cortex. That means learning facts and numbers long before even trying to have an opinion. By not using the limbic brain of a child. Trump NEVER ran a single successful company. But enriched himself massively at the expensive of all others. Including all contractors. He even defaults on loans to every major American bank. And still the least intelligent love him. Because he is a criminal more despicable than even Alphonse Capone.

Even [url=[url]http://www.google.com/search?q=Daffy+duck+dispicable&rlz=1C1LENP_enUS847US847&oq=Daffy+duck+dispicable&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i10i11i512l3j0i22i30j0i10i22i30j0i22i30l2j0i390i512i650l2.9357j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:e6bf0b83,vidfsTk5i7mPw,st:0[/url]] Daffy Duck[/url] says so.

Last edited by tw (Yesterday 6:05 pm)