At work we have recently been working with an oil company. Even on a project fully funded by this oil company it took us months to convince them to send us a few bottles containing about 100mL each. Getting rock samples from their oilfield, which is what they really want us to do tests on, was much harder.
I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil
11–20 of 191 posts
Re: I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil
#12Just buy it on Alibaba [http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_...].
Re: I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil
#13Just buy it on Alibaba [ http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_... ].
500000 Barrels (Min. Order)
Re: I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil
#14Just buy it on Alibaba [ http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_... ].
Those minimum orders are astronomical it's almost funny. Does anybody actually purchase manufacturing-level quantities of goods on alibaba? Genuinely asking.
Re: I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil
#15Another notable excerpt from the linked state safety agency document ( http://www.michigan.gov/documents/cis_wsh_cet5041_90142_7.do... ): -- Two employees of a fertilizer company in Riga, Michigan, were assigned to install a new float valve in an old 35-foot deep cistern for a new 300-foot well. This cistern was covered with a concrete slab with entry through a covered manhole. The first worker entered the cistern an…
Shit kills. I guess this happens everywhere in the world, but over here (Finland), there are the occasional deaths at farms where H2S released from remains of cow manure, stored in a tank, kills people.
https://www.mela.fi/sites/default/files/lietelanta.pdf
"Description of event
A farm-owner suffocated inside a manure tank which was lacking oxygen and contained toxic gases. Also his brother, who went in to help, died.
A tank of liquid-form manure was almost empty. A pipe at the bottom of the tank was blocked. The farm owner decided to enter the tank and finalize emptying the tank. However, he lost consciousness and fell to the bottom.
His brother, who was close by, saw what happened and went in to save the unconscious man, but he was also overcome in a moment. Four hours later a family member discovered the victims. Fire service was called to help, and with pressure air breathing equipment, they retrieved both men. They were both found to be dead. Cause of death was a poisoning by methane and hydrogen sulfide."
(Taken from farm advisory leaflet on manure https://www.mela.fi/sites/default/files/lietelanta.pdf )
Re: I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil
#16Another notable excerpt from the linked state safety agency document ( http://www.michigan.gov/documents/cis_wsh_cet5041_90142_7.do... ): -- Two employees of a fertilizer company in Riga, Michigan, were assigned to install a new float valve in an old 35-foot deep cistern for a new 300-foot well. This cistern was covered with a concrete slab with entry through a covered manhole. The first worker entered the cistern an…
> The fire chief entered the cistern wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus. After reaching the plank platform, he removed his face mask to shout instructions to those on the surface and he, too, was instantly overcome. Now that one is probably deserving a Darwin Award...
Well, maybe not. It's a mistake, a lapse of judgement, but not that extraordinarily stupid mistake.
Re: I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil
#17It was awesome he was eventually paid for it on the blockchain.
Interesting that traders are using it for personal transactions these days.
Re: I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil
#18Not in petrochemicals, but neither is this is this reporter. I get it, it's supposed to be a joke, but it's such a poorly executed one fraught with so many major components glossed over that it detracts from any humor the article could have had. When the Onion writes something, it's humor is wonderful because not only the wit is there but there are few if any inconsistencies even for pedants who dissect things such a…
To reply with the response such posts usually get: You must be really fun at parties!
This post was entertaining to most of us because we are not in the industry, knew little about the presence of hydrogen sulfide, and did not realize that the industry was so reluctant to sell to random interested buyers. Yes they could have written "This reporter tried to buy a barrel of oil, but sellers were reluctant, and it was calculated that individuals buying crude oil is not a profitable venture. She was also cautioned that Hydrogen sulfide is toxic, and is released by crude oil". They chose not to do that because, well -- that's not fun to read.
You are being downvoted because you are essentially telling us: 'you idiots, this is not funny, this is not news, this is stupid, there are smarter people there doing serious work, why waste your time on this' in extended form.
One might be well suggested to, as they say, 'cheer up'.
Re: I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil
#19Just buy it on Alibaba [ http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_... ].
Those minimum orders are astronomical it's almost funny. Does anybody actually purchase manufacturing-level quantities of goods on alibaba? Genuinely asking.
Yes. Alibaba is indirectly responsible for many containerloads of goods traveling from the east to the west.
Re: I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil
#20Another notable excerpt from the linked state safety agency document ( http://www.michigan.gov/documents/cis_wsh_cet5041_90142_7.do... ): -- Two employees of a fertilizer company in Riga, Michigan, were assigned to install a new float valve in an old 35-foot deep cistern for a new 300-foot well. This cistern was covered with a concrete slab with entry through a covered manhole. The first worker entered the cistern an…
> The fire chief entered the cistern wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus. After reaching the plank platform, he removed his face mask to shout instructions to those on the surface and he, too, was instantly overcome. Now that one is probably deserving a Darwin Award...
The problem is understanding just how fast it affects you, and how little you need in your system. I imagine his line of thinking was "Well, if I just shout and don't breathe in, it'll be fine".
Simple mistake to make.