Pregled posta

Oil Storm was a docudrama portraying a future oil-shortage crisis in the United States. It originally aired on FX Networks on June 5, 2005. The program was an attempt to depict what would happen if the highly oil-dependent country was suddenly faced with gasoline costing upwards of $7 and 8 per gallon (as opposed to the national average of around $2 per gallon when the show first aired).
The crisis arises from a hurricane wiping out an important pipeline in Louisiana, a tanker collision closing a busy port, terrorist attacks and tension with Saudi Arabia over the oil trade, and other fictional events. The program followed several fictional people, being portrayed by actors, in various situations (a couple that owned a mom-and-pop gas station, stock market and oil analysts, government officials, etc.), and includes a substantial amount of human drama.
A subtle blooper in the movie is when gas prices are at above $8, the filmed gas pump still shows the total price and the total gallon corresponding to current 2005 prices.

On August 28, 2005, Hurricane Katrina was in direct path to hit Port Fourchon and New Orleans. Many of the initial scenes of Hurricane Julia were playing out in real-life with Hurricane Katrina, such as the mandatory evacuation of New Orleans, the opening of the Superdome, and the changing of traffic to contraflow. On August 29th it was reported on CNN that Hurricane Katrina directly hit Port Fourchon, another fictional event in the movie come true in real life. Also it was reported that the fate of many oil rigs set up in the Gulf is currently uncertain. Saudis agree to up oil production to help with the crisis.
On August 30th, 2005, many gas stations raise prices by a considerable amount putting most of america over $3.00/gallon as shown in the movie. Some analyists predict that gas will hit $4.00/gallon.

Detailed Synopsis of Oil Storm
The movie deals with the impact that a fictional Category 4 (not a Category 5, the highest actual category) hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico would have if it hit New Orleans, destroyed large numbers of offshore oil rigs in the Gulf, and crippled the primary nerve center of the Gulf Coast petroleum industry at Port Fourchon, Louisiana. It shows how the effects of that disaster could reasonably ripple throughout the United States, even in areas far removed from landfall.
While the loss of life and property in the storm is staggering, the greater impact is on the crippled energy industry. Due to the destruction at Port Fourchon and in the Gulf, oil prices skyrocket, and the U.S. government is forced to take immediate action to rebuild the Gulf's energy infrastructure. Once the storm passes, the government starts to rebuild the infrastructure at Port Fourchon (requiring a minimum of 8 months) and repair or replace damaged offshore rigs (requiring a similar amount of time). Also, shipping that would normally go to Port Fourchon is rerouted to the Port of Houston, and the government requires Houston's port facilities to work around-the-clock.
With widespread gas lines and prices over $3.00 per gallon, the U.S. persuades Saudi Arabia to increase its oil production. The Saudi decision to aid America causes a backlash among a restive Muslim population already energized because of the U.S. intervention in Iraq. Local terrorists stage an attack in an upscale shopping mall in Riyadh which kills about 300 Americans associated with multinational oil companies. This attack leads the U.S. to send troops to Saudi Arabia. In the meantime, the oil crisis escalates when two large tankers collide in the narrow Houston Ship Channel, shutting down the Channel.
Immediately after the Houston accident, the same Saudi terrorists assassinate the Saudi Oil Minister who made the deal with the U.S. and then blow up sections of the mammoth Ras Tanura refinery complex, killing many U.S. soldiers who were protecting the Saudi oil infrastructure. Once winter sets in, gas lines take a back seat to critical shortages of heating oil during a bitterly cold winter, with many Americans dying in the cold. The U.S. makes a deal with Russia for 3 million barrels of oil per week, but Russia is compelled to shop the deal to China, which outbids the U.S., leaving America in a state of chaos.

However, a spirit of sacrifice not seen in America since World War II emerges, with a move toward agrarianism and self-reliance. The country also fast-tracks development of alternative energy sources. While this occurs, the U.S. government, showing unexpected diplomatic skill, resurrects the Russian oil deal, and the China-bound tankers change course to the U.S. The crisis finally eases to a degree a year after the hurricane when the U.S. and Russia agree that Russia will supply oil to the U.S. in exchange for $16 billion of investment in Russia's developing oil industry. The story concludes with the American people reconciled to their losses and the U.S. government determined to rebuild the country. The U.S. emerges stronger and more dedicated to preserving its way of life—even with gasoline permanently at nearly $4.00 a gallon.