"During the time that crude oil prices were dropping to their lowest levels since the Great Depression, Shell, Texaco and Saudi, by and through Equilon and Motiva, agreed to and did in fact fix and raise the price of gasoline sold to the independent Shell and Texaco branded retail dealers."
A case, filed Tuesday in US District Court in San Francisco said. Nearly two dozen gasoline stations owners have filed suit against Shell, Chevron and Saudi Refining, alleging that the companies conspired to fix gasoline prices for 23,000 Shell- and Texaco-branded dealers nationwide between 1998 and 2001.

"We don't expect any operational disruptions because of the hurricane. At this point, we don't think [a disruption in Mexican crude supply] would matter."
Valero spokesman Bill Day said. A temporary halt in production and exports of Mexican crude due to Hurricane Dean this week appeared to have virtually no impact in the Latin American crude market, sources said Thursday.

Updated: August 24, 2007