Question on drilling for Oil

[hethathathears]

Over the last month there has been a large push for drilling for oil in the ocean and in Alaska. The Republicans seems to be behind the idea as is President Bush, however the Democrat are saying that there is already a great deal of land that is approved for drilling, land that has been leased. As a thinker I would reason that if the approved land was really brimming with oil, the oil companies would be all over the easy money oil. So does anyone know the truth.

As for me, I think we should drill in Alaska with the new directional drilling, as well as off the coasts, as well as doubling and tripling our efforts for the renewable energies. Now it is true that it will take anywhere from 3 to 10 years to get oil to the pumps, but where will we be 3 to 10 years if we don't. In a place even worse than we are now.

[miztrniceguy]

should have been doing this 10 yrs ago.....or 20

[hethathathears]

I so agree.

[john doe]

I don't get it. If production is 10 years out, why are they refusing to let them start drilling now? The sooner the better, right? It's not like we have technology on a large scale that is readily available at the moment to take its place. It's almost as if those who oppose drilling want a long-term energy crisis to happen and they are willing to do anything it takes to make it happen. Then when global warming fails to appear, they can claim that their efforts at creating this crisis worked.

[Jbs2763]

Originally Posted by john doe

I don't get it. If production is 10 years out, why are they refusing to let them start drilling now? The sooner the better, right? It's not like we have technology on a large scale that is readily available at the moment to take its place. It's almost as if those who oppose drilling want a long-term energy crisis to happen and they are willing to do anything it takes to make it happen. Then when global warming fails to appear, they can claim that their efforts at creating this crisis worked.

because ALL the dirtbags in DC refuse to upset the green mafia

[Palerider]

Originally Posted by Jbs2763

because ALL the dirtbags in DC refuse to upset the green mafia

some of those dirtbags have flipped flopped on this issue more than a waffle at a waffle house restruant....

[MarginOfError]

I agree, we should have been looking at the options for drilling about 20 years ago. At this point, however, it really isn't worth it. On the one hand, we don't have the infrastructure for a massive drilling program. So the oil companies would have to shell out the money to get it set up. To pay for it, they raise the price of gas. Then they have to transport the crude oil to the refineries. That means either a lot of ships and trucks or new pipelines. Both options are very expensive. Costs get passed to the consumer. So, producing domestic oil, unfrotunately, won't relieve the price at the pump much at all for at least 20 years.

So, if newer technologies and better energy sources are within 20 years of feasibility, why not invest the money in creating the infrastructure for distribution of that energy source?

[john doe]

Originally Posted by MarginOfError

I agree, we should have been looking at the options for drilling about 20 years ago. At this point, however, it really isn't worth it. On the one hand, we don't have the infrastructure for a massive drilling program. So the oil companies would have to shell out the money to get it set up. To pay for it, they raise the price of gas. Then they have to transport the crude oil to the refineries. That means either a lot of ships and trucks or new pipelines. Both options are very expensive. Costs get passed to the consumer. So, producing domestic oil, unfrotunately, won't relieve the price at the pump much at all for at least 20 years.

So, if newer technologies and better energy sources are within 20 years of feasibility, why not invest the money in creating the infrastructure for distribution of that energy source?

Which new energy source do you propose that we force the oil companies to invest in? What makes you think they can't build an economically feasible oil infrastructure?

[hethathathears]

It is reported that with U.S. oil production come a lot of jobs not to mention an increase of supply. It is also reported that if we start now, we could get oil within 3 years, while other harder sources could take up to 10 years. It has also been reported of record profits that although some is to be given to it's investors, other money has been set aside for research and development of new sources, at least that is what they are advertising on T.V.

I think that another reason Democrats are stalling is that I heard that some of them own stock in the U.S. oil companies. What that means is that if we can pump it out of the ground at $50.00 a barrel but Opec sells it to us at $123.00 a barrel, then gas gets sold to the American people at $123.00 a barrel and the stock holders make an even bigger killing. If I was a stock holding Democrat I would fight more drilling to lower the price too, for at $123.00 a barrel I would be getting rich.

[Over43]

In SE Idaho a wind farm company offered a lady the chance to have them lease her land. They will pay her by the kilowatt. She stands to make a whole lot more money than she ever has running cattle and raising alfalfa. Her neighbor happens to be a multimillionaire who has made his money selling snake oil. He has filed a motion to block the project because it will ruin his view.

None of us may like the energy issues we are facing, but something needs to be done (yes even windmills) to help alleviate the problem and stop sending our cash to nations that breed terrorists.

If we need to drill on the continental shelf, then let's get it on.

By the way, anyone seen the Smart Car? Ugly little thing.

O43