McCain promotes drilling for oil off U.S. coast

[mendeleev 69]

That's funny, but the humour is purile because it extends this ridulous notion that not only are Democrats responsible for the gas shortages, but that they support arab terrorism movements, if not knowingly, then by default. Hello, knock knock knock, wake up to the real world.

Yep. The problem won't be solved thru partisan finger pointing. The real finger pointing should be at Big Oil and their friends in Washington.

Its weird that noone ever seems to want to solve problems - except to find ways to blame people for why it isn't solved.

Pretty pathetic.

If this problem were easy to solve, it wouldn't be a problem anymore and we wouldn't be talking about it.

Offshore leasing isn't going to help the problem in the short or intermediate term. In the long term, it is doubtful that the increased net CO2 emissions will be permitted anyway. This "solution" to current high prices will be effective only on the gullible. There probably are a lot who fit in that category, regrettably.

Building new energy industries that are truly sustainable is going to take a lot of work on the part of government, the public, businesses, and capital markets. Some of us are working hard at it ... wish us luck.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That's funny, but the humour is purile because it extends this ridulous notion that not only are Democrats responsible for the gas shortages, but that they support arab terrorism movements, if not knowingly, then by default. Hello, knock knock knock, wake up to the real world.

Yep. The problem won't be solved thru partisan finger pointing. The real finger pointing should be at Big Oil and their friends in Washington.

Its weird that noone ever seems to want to solve problems - except to find ways to blame people for why it isn't solved.

Pretty pathetic.

If this problem were easy to solve, it wouldn't be a problem anymore and we wouldn't be talking about it.

Offshore leasing isn't going to help the problem in the short or intermediate term. In the long term, it is doubtful that the increased net CO2 emissions will be permitted anyway. This "solution" to current high prices will be effective only on the gullible. There probably are a lot who fit in that category, regrettably.

Building new energy industries that are truly sustainable is going to take a lot of work on the part of government, the public, businesses, and capital markets. Some of us are working hard at it ... wish us luck.

So you've got to wonder why some in Washington are focusing on more drilling - it seems to me like they taking advantage of people's gullability (as it happened with the Iraq War) and hoping to further help out Big Oil hang on to it's stranglehold of our energy policies.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As I say I was reading elsewhere that it isn't cost-effective to explore and drill new fields. The exploration costs alone are immense.

[peejay 327]

Point of fact, states that have had big oil spills on their coasts were *not* compensated by feds for lost economic activity. That might not be so important on the TX or LA coasts, but the economic costs associated with offshore oil mining may be significant in places like FL, CA and on up the east coast. The current proposals do not offer any meaningful protection to the States.

Why is it so important to open more sites to offshore exploration when so many of the offshore leases that have been let have not been explored by the leaseholders?

Why does anyone think that a new offshore lease will result in any new production in less than 5-10 years? Why does anyone think that will help prices now?

#1-The aggrieved parties can sue the oil companies for damages in civil court just like any other business can be sued for malfeasance. The compensation I was refering to was that states associated with the federal waters should get a portion of royalty payments as compensation for the activity in their state. One of the Democratic senators from Louisiana is pushing for it. What makes the beaches in TX any less important than FL, CA, or elsewhere? Tourism is just as important in the beach areas of TX too. Louisiana doesn't have many beaches, but it has sensitive coastal marshes and wildlife habitats. All of this has coexisted with petroleum extraction. The US offshore oil industry is highly regulated and has an admirable record of environmental compliance.

#2-The millions of acres that Madame Pelosi refers to have been picked over or don't hold as much potential for significant finds. Why spend millions of $ to drill in areas that don't hold the same promise as the virgin areas? It still costs the same to develope small deposits as it does to develope large deposits. Which ones would you develope first if you wanted the biggest bang for the buck?

#3-Energy will never be cheap again. We cannot drill our way out of Peak Oil scenarios. Drilling in the USA keeps us from sending billions of dollars overseas instead of at home. We cannot keep sending our money overseas or printing more dollars to replace them. At $150 a barrel this scenario is not acceptable. Otherwise the dollar will weaken further and end up in the toilet even worst than it already is. Weaker dollars buy even less foreign oil. That is not sustainable.

Drilling, conservation, and R&D buys us time to make the changes necessary to severely reduce our energy useage and foreign dependency. Business as usual is not an option anymore. Americans must change our habits and the way we think about energy useage. We must reduce our consumption or the future in America will be much darker a lot faster.

#4-You are either part of the solution or part of the problem. Anyone that drives a car or uses energy is part of the problem. So pawning the problem off on others is rather selfish and self centered. If you don't want petroleum extracted from offshore try walking, riding a bicycle, and/or living without electricity. Maybe you can get enough people to do the same in enough numbers to make a difference.

[rclouse 0]

This is like, I'm a heroin addict and my problem is I don't have enough heroin. We're addicted to oil and the solution is to get more oil?

[Heracles 417]

I highly recommend people watch the history channel tonight. There is a show on about Environmental technologies on Modern Marvels. Tonight at 7:00pm

http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=det...pisodeId=281383

After watching the show earlier, it is quite evident that sustainable technologies are out there. A combination of them / a hybrid system is the key here. Wasting $400 billion to basically bail out shareholders in Freddie Macs is not the way to go.

In comparison, spending a fraction of that on future technologies (science/engineering) is not only money better spent but also creates a hell of a lot of jobs. Which the country desperately needs.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I highly recommend people watch the history channel tonight. There is a show on about Environmental technologies on Modern Marvels. Tonight at 7:00pm

http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=det...pisodeId=281383

After watching the show earlier, it is quite evident that sustainable technologies are out there. A combination of them / a hybrid system is the key here. Wasting $400 billion to basically bail out shareholders in Freddie Macs is not the way to go.

In comparison, spending a fraction of that on future technologies (science/engineering) is not only money better spent but also creates a hell of a lot of jobs. Which the country desperately needs.

Guess which Party has been pushing for that?

[peejay 327]

This is like, I'm a heroin addict and my problem is I don't have enough heroin. We're addicted to oil and the solution is to get more oil?

If you are able to comprehend it. Read the Hirsch Report.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirsch_report

http://www.energybulletin.net/node/12772

[Heracles 417]

This is a national issue. We are sending billions of dollars each month to countries who not only hate us, but are actually determined to see us fail. The country needs to immediately turn this situation around. A combination of technologies and appropriate grants is the key here. We are willing to waste $700,000,000,000+ overseas, buying our enemies oil, but are not willing to spend a fraction of that subsidizing research and new technologies, which keeps the cash in the US.

This current situation we are in is the same thing as being forced to hand over half a pay check per week, after tax, to someone you hate. And seeing this person get richer and richer while you are getting poorer and poorer.

Edited July 29, 2008 by Aficionado

[Heracles 417]

I highly recommend people watch the history channel tonight. There is a show on about Environmental technologies on Modern Marvels. Tonight at 7:00pm

http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=det...pisodeId=281383

After watching the show earlier, it is quite evident that sustainable technologies are out there. A combination of them / a hybrid system is the key here. Wasting $400 billion to basically bail out shareholders in Freddie Macs is not the way to go.

In comparison, spending a fraction of that on future technologies (science/engineering) is not only money better spent but also creates a hell of a lot of jobs. Which the country desperately needs.

Guess which Party has been pushing for that?

Sending money to OPEC nations is extortion. Anyone profiteering from it, like speculators, should be financially punished.

Time Wall Street gets the memo that they don't run the show or America. And if they do, this needs to change.

[Heracles 417]

Politicians and their buddies need to look at Pickens Plan for a start.

LPG has been used in Australia for years now. Actually the federal government has a $2,000 rebate for anyone who converts their car to LPG. The conversion costs about $2,600.

My friend recently had the conversion and now fills up $10 a week.

[diadromous mermaid 36]

This is like, I'm a heroin addict and my problem is I don't have enough heroin. We're addicted to oil and the solution is to get more oil?

Nonsense! Oil is a precious commodity, in fact, too precious to burn, but that doesn't mean that we can obviate the need for it, or cease producing it. Petrochemical usage is impacted by low reserves. Even if we were to effectively wean ourselves from using oil as a fuel, and we are underway but with a long way to go, let's not kid ourselves into thinking narrowly. We still oil for so much more. I wholeheartedly agree with this sensible statement ...

Drilling, conservation, and R&D buys us time to make the changes necessary to severely reduce our energy useage and foreign dependency. Business as usual is not an option anymore. Americans must change our habits and the way we think about energy useage. We must reduce our consumption or the future in America will be much darker a lot faster.

And what's wrong with drilling offshore? I'm all for it. Those that shout "foul" in reference to spills should be aware that spills are rarely the result at drilling sites. Edited July 29, 2008 by diadromous mermaid

[mendeleev 69]

OP post should know the problem -- even if offshore sites are opened for drilling, there is a five year back log on availability of drilling rigs.

Is it possible that both McCain and Peejay, the OP, who admits to working in this industry for over 20 years, are both demagoging the issue? Looks to me the answer is *yes*.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/2008...806190306/0/APN

[one...two...tree 2,762]

OP post should know the problem -- even if offshore sites are opened for drilling, there is a five year back log on availability of drilling rigs.

Is it possible that both McCain and Peejay, the OP, who admits to working in this industry for over 20 years, are both demagoging the issue? Looks to me the answer is *yes*.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/2008...806190306/0/APN

[kerewin21 2]

And what's wrong with drilling offshore?

Well, ruining our precious environment and shorelines for one.

I posted this before, but there's this great radio show, This American Life, and they had an episode on this island called Nauru. Basically it was an island paradise, with fish and fruit and fresh water. Then they started selling their phosphate. And they sold ALL of it. Then they had nothing left and had ruined their island. They now have to import EVERYTHING, including water, and they make their income by providing tax havens and money laundering services.

We can more easily achieve similar gains in available oil by using the technologies we already have and investing in new ones.