Black Gold
by C. Scott Parker

"Why Gas Costs More" by Alan Caruba reminds me of a book I have been writing in my head for some 15 years. I already have the title selected "Black Gold or Fools' Gold."

I graduated from The University of Texas-Austin in 1958, with a BS in Petroleum Engineering. I went to work initially for The Texas Company (Texaco, etc.) before starting my own businesses from 1962 to the present. Caruba has struck on chord with a theme that I have been preaching about in Washington, DC, Austin, TX, and most other areas of the USA. I was never a paid lobbyist. My personal involvement was derived from regulation controls initiated by President Nixon and then attending the hearings conducted by FERC and the DOE concerning the 1977 Gas Act that was originally touted as a deregulation act, but proved to be just the opposite.

That was the same time government regulations were attempting to prioritize heating oils and natural gas to hospitals and other front line institutions and how the increased costs were to be borne by producers and pipeline companies and not the end users. I also heard a U.S. Senator state on the record that the only reason a Major Oil Company drilled a dry hole was for tax purposes. I visited with Congressman Ammerman from the Pennsylvania District that included Titusville, the home of Col. Drake #1, the first true oil well that was drilled in 1859 by Senaca Oil Co. on Aug. 27th. 1859. The Congressman knew absolutely nothing about fossil fuels.

I admit to being in the generation that screwed up the energy business. We were good about talking to each other, but spent no time talking to Joe Filling Station hand or John Q. Grocer, trying to explain our business. Our special talent was creating new terms for old tax concepts along with an entire dictionary of new names for equipment, i.e. Christmas Tree, Depletion, Intangible Development Costs, et al. Remember also that "Dallas" and J.R. Ewing came along and was the favorite of the entire World. However that gave the "Universal Image" of Energy Companies and their Management the wrong image.

At 72, I am still working full time for myself, but as a Professional Engineer mostly in Structural Engineering. The Energy Sector has a bleak future in the USA, and I see no turn around as long as the Hate Groups are controlling the information highways.

Sincerely,
C. Scott Parker, San Antonio, TX