Florida offshore oil rigs

[Rick Murchison]

We're going to run out of oil sooner or later anyway. So we buy 5 years by drilling in environmentally sensititive areas and risk destroying what few pristine areas we have left. Why not develop alternatives now, rather than waiting until after we destroy the reefs?

In the first place, the projected reserves are on the order of a century (some think 3 centuries), not five years. In the second place, not only does modern drilling pose nearly zero risk, but the structures provide habitat for a wide variety of sea life. In the third place, the development of alternatives (1) has an uncertain "finish line" (2) requires a vibrant economy as a foundation and (3) needs a safe place to proceed; we need a robust, reliable, secure energy base to create the future's robust, reliable energy base.
In other words, we need to drill now so we can forego drilling in the future.
There won't be any "alternative development" in a dhimma.
Rick

[mason417]

We're going to run out of oil sooner or later anyway. So we buy 5 years by drilling in environmentally sensititive areas and risk destroying what few pristine areas we have left. Why not develop alternatives now, rather than waiting until after we destroy the reefs?

AMEN!

[mason417]

In the first place, the projected reserves are on the order of a century (some think 3 centuries), not five years. In the second place, not only does modern drilling pose nearly zero risk, but the structures provide habitat for a wide variety of sea life. In the third place, the development of alternatives (1) has an uncertain "finish line" (2) requires a vibrant economy as a foundation and (3) needs a safe place to proceed; we need a robust, reliable, secure energy base to create the future's robust, reliable energy base.
In other words, we need to drill now so we can forego drilling in the future.
There won't be any "alternative development" in a dhimma.
Rick

I am by no means trying to get into a debate and I respect all your posts on here, I have learned alot from you. But what I dont understand is the forward thinking about Oil, Oil, Oil. I read what Brazil is doing and I think its great. They have perfected the alterantive fuel by using sugar cane. They produce it and it perfroms better than our corn can. It burns cleaner and more effciently plus cheaper!!! Guess who makes the cars for them???......thats right Ford & GMC. But as long as we all think drill, drill, drill, we will never get out of this rut we are in. Who cares how many years we have left in crude oil. Why not do something now and get away from being controlled like we are now. I was born in 69 so I really did not have to deal the oil crisis back then...What I do question is why didnt we learn from it and said never again will we depend on other countries controlling our why of life! People are losing thier jobs and prices on all goods are going thru the roof because of this oil dependency. Look at Europe and see how much fuel costs over there. We are spoiled and I am one of them, but come on enough is enough. Thankyou for reading my comment

[vladimir]

Rick makes good points and, in my opinion, increased domestic oil production would be a part of a comprehensive energy policy. The problem with supply increases, in and of themselves, is that they can create price decreases, which increase demand, putting us back to square one. A smart policy would tax crude oil to maintain a price over $100/bbl, thereby inhibiting domestic consumption and, ideally, generating revenue to develop alternative energy sources. This could have been more easily accomplished in 1998, when crude was trading ~$10/bbl and the pain to our economy would have been minimal. But our leaders generally do what is politically expedient, rather than exhibiting actual leadership.

[1_T_Submariner]

I am by no means trying to get into a debate and I respect all your posts on here, I have learned alot from you. But what I dont understand is the forward thinking about Oil, Oil, Oil. I read what Brazil is doing and I think its great. They have perfected the alterantive fuel by using sugar cane. They produce it and it perfroms better than our corn can. It burns cleaner and more effciently plus cheaper!!! Guess who makes the cars for them???......thats right Ford & GMC. But as long as we all think drill, drill, drill, we will never get out of this rut we are in. Who cares how many years we have left in crude oil. Why not do something now and get away from being controlled like we are now. I was born in 69 so I really did not have to deal the oil crisis back then...What I do question is why didnt we learn from it and said never again will we depend on other countries controlling our why of life! People are losing thier jobs and prices on all goods are going thru the roof because of this oil dependency. Look at Europe and see how much fuel costs over there. We are spoiled and I am one of them, but come on enough is enough. Thankyou for reading my comment

On the Brazil example be careful using land that we currently grow food on to grow fuel for our cars/trucks. I realize that the plants they are using are better than corn but, it still will take the farm resources.

[mason417]

On the Brazil example be careful using land that we currently grow food on to grow fuel for our cars/trucks. I realize that the plants they are using are better than corn but, it still will take the farm resources.

I totally agree with what your saying. But the effects for the farmers/farming would take or be in another direction. Sugar Cane grows in warner climates so the northern brothers will not be affected. The southern farms would be the ones and they will have to deal with the needs of our population. We cant fix everything and make everyone happy, but the good of the whole is what counts. I cannot believe drilling for more oil will solve that issue of good of the whole. It sure will fix the now, but what happens if this situtaion comes around again. Do we all say we to drill more? Or do we put a foot down start to really get ourselves out of this from ever happenning again. When?

[Frankenberry]

In the second place, not only does modern drilling pose nearly zero risk, but the structures provide habitat for a wide variety of sea life.

No environmental risk? Here is an article about the oil containment leaks as a result of Katrina. There is also a statement in the article about oil platform leaks as a result of Hurricane Ivan the year before.

44 oil spills found in southeast Louisiana - Hurricanes Archive Section - MSNBC.com

Here is a link to the what was arguably the largest oil spill in Gulf of Mexico.
IncidentNews: IXTOC I

No offense to people who live in the other Gulf Coast states, but I would rather not have Florida's coastline look like that of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama.

Here are some pictures from a dive charter that I went with last weekend. You won't find this stuff on an oil rig or off the coast of any Gulf Coast state except Florida. Pictures

The link is actually from last year; I frequent this charter and I am actually in one of the pictures featured.

[ONESPEED]

A good read is "Helldivers Rodeo" a book about diving adventures off the LA oil rigs. A real hoot!

I second this recommendation.

[ONESPEED]

In the first place, the projected reserves are on the order of a century (some think 3 centuries), not five years. In the second place, not only does modern drilling pose nearly zero risk, but the structures provide habitat for a wide variety of sea life. In the third place, the development of alternatives (1) has an uncertain "finish line" (2) requires a vibrant economy as a foundation and (3) needs a safe place to proceed; we need a robust, reliable, secure energy base to create the future's robust, reliable energy base.
In other words, we need to drill now so we can forego drilling in the future.
There won't be any "alternative development" in a dhimma.
Rick

BINGO!!!! Many rigs were damaged in the Gulf during Katrina, not a drop of oil was spilled.

[Rick Murchison]

...But what I dont understand is the forward thinking about Oil, Oil, Oil. I read what Brazil is doing and I think its great. They have perfected the alterantive fuel by using sugar cane. They produce it and it perfroms better than our corn can. It burns cleaner and more effciently plus cheaper!!!

I'm not getting across... and you've been grossly (understandably) misinformed.
My point is that while we develop alternative energy sources, we must remain strong - because there are forces afoot in this world with the expressed purpose of destroying us and our way of life, then the rest of the world. They have said so, and they have been actively pursuing that goal. They will come for us if we fail to devote enough of our resources to our strength, both military and economic. Brazil's "great ethanol program" is largely a myth, fueled not by sugar cane so much as subsidy; she is only able to devote her national treasure to the subsidized production of ethanol under the umbrella of protection from the United States and the Monroe Doctrine. Ethanol is not anywhere near as efficient as gasoline; as for cleanliness, it can burn "cleaner," but is hell on fuel system plumbing and, because it is less efficient, produces not only more "greenhouse" gasses (water and CO₂) per mile when used as a fuel, but also produces a positively huge CO₂ signature during the fermentaion process that yields it. Furthermore, ethanol is a popular red herring whose real cost is hidden under subsidies with a likely secondary effect of worldwide famine - burning food on the altar of environmentalism is not good.
Besides, sugarcane should be used for rum
Rick