Jimmy:

Remember it's always about money. If it doesn't make them money they don't do it that way,, they will do it some other way.

Why do they ship the oil produced in Prudoe Bay and brought down the Pipeline to Japan when it's closer and safer to ship down the inland passage to Washington State?

What most people don't realize and maybe you also, is that the oil companies own the crude and they can do whatever they please with it. Playing musical chairs with it it seems. But you can bet your ass it makes them money doing it that way, either in the short term or the long term.