Friday, January 8, 2010

Do you think if the U S goverment anounced today we are going to start drilling oil the price would come down?

Yes, and so would the price of natural gas. The reason is that speculation is responsible for 20 to 50 % of the cost of oil. If speculators are assured that more oil will be coming into the market, they will drive down the price of oil. Read the article below. Congressman Peterson knows quite a bit about the energy problem, and he recommends drilling off our coasts an in ANWR.





Glenn Beck: Time to drill!!


June 13, 2008 http://www.glennbeck.com/content/article鈥?/a>


GLENN: Let's go to Congressman PetersonDo you think if the U S goverment anounced today we are going to start drilling oil the price would come down?
No, this isn't being caused by supply and demand, it being caused by a drop in the value of the dollar and speculation in the market. The increase in demand, according to OPEC would make oil at seventy dollars a barrel, not the one thirty to one forty range its been in this week.


The US does not drill the oil it sells leases to drill oil.


An oil company can buy the lease, and still not drill if that were the only reason oil was high.


Why would they want to bring the price of oil down? They have been scoring the highest profits ever recorded by a private industry for the past three quarters.Do you think if the U S goverment anounced today we are going to start drilling oil the price would come down?
Not immediately, It would take about ten years to build more refineries which would be needed and the exploration and getting it all together would take time even before we could start drilling, unless some of the oil reserves were freed up in the meantime.





I don't think it would take long before the price of oil went down once OPEC and others realized we would no longer be dependent on them.





It most certainly will hit the $10/gal. if we are not allowed to drill and if ';windfall'; profits were seized by the government!





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i think it was karl rove the other day who said, if we make it known we are aggressively starting to drill, prices would move down and he also said that if we dumped oil from the strategic reserves back into the market at 3-5 million barrels a day, it would go down even more but he gave no numbers. i tend to agree with him on this.
It won't happen, liberals will block it; why?





They want to bring the USA to its knees, to build if back under a socialist government. Libs believe the only way they can gain power is when bad things happen to the economy and our country. No one will accept socialism if its presented honestly.





If they talk about drilling oil in USA, libs will go ballistic.
read the news, the price just dropped. but, no, it would not come down. don't expect it to come down much.





if we started drilling today, it would be years before we saw any oil from it. and really very little anyway.





we've had over 36 years to think about this, why hasn't anything been done?
Drill where? We've already done that.





Columbia? They have a war down there. Venezuela? They got Chavez down there. Russia? Not for us. The Chinese are looking too.





We do have oil reserves in the ground right here, but they don't want to touch that.
Not for a while as it would take years for the new oil to be flowing in. In the mean time, the cartels have a noose around our necks.
Yeah, the price at the pumps would probably come down a penny or two for a day or so, then go back up and keep rising.





Expect $5/gallon by fall.
It would plummet.
No way! Are you kidding me? This whole thing is a part of Cheney's secret energy plan! The oil companies have millions of acres of oil lease land RIGHT NOW! They are NOT even trying to pump that oil out of the ground! Why would destroying a pristine wilderness for more of the goo be a good thing? We need to understand that the 'energy' that is in oil, originally came from the Sun. We should go right to the source for our power needs! Solar,wind,and tidal are viable alternitives to the poisonous oil we now use.
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  • Why is everyone freaking out about drilling for oil?

    If the oil companies want to waste their money drilling for oil that we don't have, then why not let them do it?





    Let them prove it to themselves that we don't have any oil and this stupid debate will be over once and for all.





    I'm not talking about oil refineries and the infrastructure - just the drilling issue.





    Why is everyone freaking out about drilling for oil?
    It is a dead issue, drilling won as the democrats let the provision preventing it expire. It was pushed back off the front page because of the bail out. WE WON! Drill NOW. Why is everyone freaking out about drilling for oil?
    because more drilling isn't going to do squat without more refineries, and when the dollar value keeps sliding lower and lower.


    It isn't in the best interest of refiners to build more refineries, when they'll be obsolete in 10 years anyway.
    They would pay for it, but they can't drill if it's illegal.

    How can people not support offshore drilling for oil?

    It's been perfected and it's a clean process. Sure, oil may be a thing of the past, but that's a ways away (as for as us). Not to mention, we can always turn around and sell it when we're too ';electric'; to need it.





    Please, let's pull away from Middle East oil.How can people not support offshore drilling for oil?
    I agree. Most of the new oil resources are only reachable offshore, and the Norwegians have proven it can be tapped profitably and safely, in a hostile environment such as the North Sea, no less.How can people not support offshore drilling for oil?
    The point is that fossil fuels are finite. Even if we drill for every possible source of oil in every possible location in the entire world, the wells will all run dry eventually. Why wait till that happens to move towards renewable energy sources? It show extreme lack of foresight to not see that the move to alternative sources must be made now. You want to wait till there is no more oil and you are in a bind? That is just stupidity.


    The days of $2 per gallon gas are gone and people need to come to grips with that. Drilling for oil in the US will do NOTHING to bring down the price of gas for one simple reason: oil is finite and by the law of supply and demand for any finite commodity, the price will ony continue to increase as supplies decrease worldwide. The only rememdy is to decrease demand.


    I wish the price of gas were higher because if people were paying $10 per gallon, do you know how fast the switch to alternative sources would be?? It would be almost overnight. GM has already responded to the higher gas prices by moving away from manufacturing big SUVs and the trend will only continue because consumers will demand so.


    In addition, there is no such thing as clean oil.


    Even if oil extraction were 100% environmentally safe, the burning of fossil fuels contributes to global warming.


    If you are upset about the price of oil, instead of demanding more drilling, which will not lower the prices now or in the future, be a savy consumer and start making more energy-concsious decisions in your life.
    As long as the Commodities Futures Modernization Act goes unchanged nothing anyone does will matter. You can drill your little hearts out and completely destroy the environment, but nothing will change as long as speculators are allowed to run amok.





    Simply adding the words ';and energy'; to the Commodities Futures Modernization Act would bring gas prices down overnight.





    80% of all known oil off the continental shelf of the United States have already been granted permits to drill, but those that would do the drilling are sitting on those permits. Ask yourself why.
    As long as the price of oil is high on the commodity market, the price of gas is going to be high. Is the answer drilling for oil here? It's going to take a while to get enough oil out to offset the import from the middle east.. However a barrel of oil is a barrel of oil... It doesn't matter where it comes from
    It,s not the general public don't want drilling, it's big oil co. behind it. We should of been drilling there years ago,I know for a fact that gas co. would rather dump gas in the desert ,from tankers, then lower prices! That's as bad as PAYING farmers NOT to grow certain crops, then turn around and buy that crop from foreign country's.
    I am for drilling wherever we can!! We need to ween ourselves off of Middle East oil for damn sure. Israel performs military operations off of their own coast and ';somehow'; the price of oil increases because they were ';practicing'; an attack on Iran. That's crap.
    Any new benefit from drilling now is five years away.How about hemp oil at six months away.It is clean and does not get you high.
    The Chinese have set up makeshift rigs just 50 miles away from Florida because the U.S. doesn't drill there.


    Thank the tree huggers for the higher prices and heavier pollution.
    It is the only path that makes any sense...while it will take awhile to get these rigs up and running, it's worth it in the long run!
    Im all for it...lets drill anywhere there is oil

    Why does John McCain support both drilling for oil in Alaska and having Alaska secede from the union?

    Won't that just make America even more dependent on ';foreign'; oil?Why does John McCain support both drilling for oil in Alaska and having Alaska secede from the union?
    Actually, he doesn't support either.Why does John McCain support both drilling for oil in Alaska and having Alaska secede from the union?
    You need to stop getting your news from Saturday Night Live.





    McCain does not support any of this.
    Because it's politically expedient.
    Instead of buying oil from foreign countries, we should just take it.
    You're an idiot!
    because he is mentally unstable
    you're reaching...

    Which is probably the most significant argument against offshore drilling for oil?

    From the point of view of an environmentalist, which is probably the most significant argument against offshore drilling for oil?

















    A) Coal is a preferable resource to oil.


    B) Oil corporations are falsely advertising an oil shortage in order to expand their drilling operations.


    C) The potential oil to be found is not worth the capital investment needed to extract it.


    D) The possible harm to the balance of nature is more important than a gain in energy.Which is probably the most significant argument against offshore drilling for oil?
    The most important argument is that we can not drill our way out of peak oil. Any investment sunk into short term fixes of energy junkies like us will only delay but then intensify the final crash.





    From a logical perspective it is simple economics. From a political perspective it is avoidance of the truth for as long as possible. However, time is running out and the next president will not be able to avoid the problem. Offshore drilling, or not.Which is probably the most significant argument against offshore drilling for oil?
    Think. That's all you needed to do.





    Environmentalists are concerned with the natural environment, aren't they? How many of those things you listed mention nature?

    What are the names of the oil companies drilling in NW Arkansas?

    Maverick Oil and Gas, IncWhat are the names of the oil companies drilling in NW Arkansas?
    MAVERICK

    Will not drilling for oil make the Arab States happy and richer?

    Are the Democrats being paid by the Arab states?Will not drilling for oil make the Arab States happy and richer?
    You betcha! Wake up America.Will not drilling for oil make the Arab States happy and richer?
    I do agree that the only effect of our not drilling in coastal areas is that WE are not drilling there (since foreign countries ARE drilling there), but that doesn't necessarily mean the Democrats are being paid by foreign interests.





    Stupidity is always a possibility, one that should never be discounted without sufficient proof.
    You mean US not drilling make them happy and richer? Yes. Definitely.


    Your 2nd question - yes, definitely.
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  • What are some websites that talk about how drilling for oil in alaska can affect the environment in a bad way?

    I am doing a research project on it, so I really need the websites! Please Help!What are some websites that talk about how drilling for oil in alaska can affect the environment in a bad way?
    Look up the exxon valdez oil spill in alaska in March 24, 1989 260,000 barrels of oil was spilled into the ocean.





    (Tip) Just type in oil drilling in alaska, and some of the sites that will come up is the fox news, the eco world, and the bush campain on the oil drilling in alaska.





    Good Luck on your paper.What are some websites that talk about how drilling for oil in alaska can affect the environment in a bad way?
    I live in Alaska...and have been all over the North Slope from Barrow to Kotovik.............





    ......... so why do you only want web sites with the negative impacts? Why not just web sites about oil exploration?





    Consider this. Before the pipeline in 1972 there were 5,000 polar bears and 470,000 caribou in that area. Today that herd has over 6 million caribou and home to 25,000 polar bears. Does this sound like an enviroment gone bad? This is data you only find on state and federal wildlife management web sites because it does not dovetail with the current Democratic policies.





    I have worked inside ANWR.. 99.9% of ANWR is knee deep water, mud, and water grass. It's a God forsaken mosquito factory. Place is so flat you can watch your dog run away from home for three days. It sucks. You couldn't pay me enough to go back there for more than a day or two. Hatefully wet, dirty, disguisting place nature has forgotten. Those pictures of ANWR with the caribou and mountains showing in the distance.......were taken by a photographer standing in ANWR looking outside of ANWR. They are not of ANWR.





    It's bad enough so many news sources and web sites put a spin on all the 'news' they release............ why be flunky and eat it up? Your 'research' paper is going to be nothing but a reguritation of what myths of Alaska you find, written by people who have never been there.





    Why perpetuate the lies?

    Is McCain correct that we need to start drilling for oil now?

    Absolutely.





    People need to face facts. We are transferring trillions of dollars of Americans wealth overseas. Meanwhile we only have a petroleum reserve that can sustain us a maximum of 90 days if we ration it. If we were ever to have a major energy crisis the whole economy is placed in jeopardy.





    I am a firm supporter of an ';all of the above'; approach to energy. We can tap into the domestic resources we have now and lay the foundations for a green energy plan along side it. Wind, nuclear, solar, bio-fuels, clean coal, CNG, conservation and efficiency will all be needed to ensure an energy independent future.





    Drilling isn't the solution to all the problems. But it is the solution to the eminent problems we are facing right now.Is McCain correct that we need to start drilling for oil now?
    No - drilling won't solve the problem. Any new fields won't be brought on line for 2 - 3 years. It's not just drilling the well, but the infrastructure that is required to support and process the oil (roads, pipelines and refineries.





    According to the govt DOE website, our ';known'; oil reserve is 17 Billion Barrels. We use 20 Million Barrels a day of which 12 Million Barrels are imported. If we just replace the imported oil with our reserves, it will only last 4 to 5 years.





    There are people that say it will last 50 years, I don't know if they are including oil shale or their math numbers are off. Oil shale still has a few years to go before it will be marketable and then may need price support like ethanol is receiving.





    If the oil companies believe ';Drill, Baby Drill'; then why do they have 65 Million acres that haven't been drilled?Is McCain correct that we need to start drilling for oil now?
    He 'might'; be, but the oil companies obviously don't think so. They already have millions of acres of land under leases (including millions that are off shore) and they are not drilling on them. All estimates claim it will take 10 years for new drilling to have any impact. Congress had promised to make the oil companies ';use or lose'; the land under leases. I am still waiting to see if that gets done.
    If we drill now, it will take at least 5 years to be efficient in producing oil from these drilling. maybe longer if hurricanes disturb the process which could be very possible on the east coast. Drilling on the north slope is like drilling in the yosemite or yellowstone. this is protected area and not allowed. Won't it be better to find a way to produce energy other ways than from oil, and stop being so dependent on oil?
    Yes since it will be a few years before any of it is seen. Waiting on ';alternative'; fuels is a recipe for disaster. McCain wants to drill WHILE exploring alternatives.... Obama simply wants to look for alternatives... since there really is no viable alternative out there at the moment (Hydrogen tanks and Electric cars are good ideas but implementing them on a grand scale will take a LONG time. The Chevy doesn't even have a working model of the ';Volt'; due out in 2010)
    Think about this. Since hurricane Ike spun thru the Gulf of Mexico, 58 oil wells in the gulf were put out of commission or destroyed. What has happened since then? Oil prices have dropped by half. Any other time a storm has impacted oil production, prices have skyrocketed because oil companies always say it affected the oil supply. This is a scam by oil companies to increase profits. They can't just say it's because of less demand. We all have to still go to work. Well, most of us.
    No. The ';Maverick'; is trying to ride a dead horse! LOL! Everyone knows our future isn't in oil, but in renewable clean energy.


    Susan
    Yes the sooner the better to work toward ending foreign dependence.
    Absolutely.


    We need to get away from OPEC control of our oil.
    Without a doubt yes.
    Yes.

    At what point does it stop being cost effective to keep drilling for oil?

    I mean energy cost effective, not money cost effective.





    How long do you think we have until we have to put more energy into extracting oil from the ground than we get out of it. And what happens then?At what point does it stop being cost effective to keep drilling for oil?
    When you finally except the fact that it is not an endless resource and start looking for other options that are less apt to cause complete chaos when they even look like they are going to begin to run out.At what point does it stop being cost effective to keep drilling for oil?
    Great - except the fact is not a fact. Oh well, buy'm books and send'm to school - it's up to them to learn. Some just don't. Report Abuse

    As of today, approximately $45 per barrel on the market. In Venezuela the break point is approximately $75 a barrel because their leader for life decided to throw out the petroleum engineers. Check out the large finds off the cost of Mexico. There should be a corresponding deposit off the coast of Africa based on the geology the region. It is generally accepted that S. America and Africa were one land mass several thousand years ago.
    I don't believe anyone has directly answered your question.


    And the answer is 'it won't happen.' The drilling end of things is planned on a minimum return for the dollar spent. When I left,that number was about 25%. That, of course, was at the wellhead and did not include any transportation, pipelining, refining, R%26amp;D or corporate overhead. Typical oil company profits are 6-9% at years end in a good year. If they can't make money doing it, it won't be done. Oil does not receive the 50% or more guvmint subsidization like wind, solar, ethanol and bio-diesel. When those sources can financially compete head to head on a level playing field then oil and gas drilling and production will begin it's last days.
    We need to be drilling in more places for oil right now. But the dems won't allow it.





    And Obama is putting cap and trade into effect which he said himself will drive electricity prices sky high and put the coal industry out of business.





    The dems have also been blocking building more nuclear power plants for years...





    The dems won't lets us use oil shale either....
    The US should definitely look into domestic sources. However, there is a limit. Too much drilling can damage the surrounding environments, including farmland. Plus the last thing anyone wants is to view the country as a giant oilfield.
    The other day I heard from an oil engineer with the current price of oil that some projects like extracting oil from oil sands are no longer cost-effective. Oil companies shut down those projects and work on other projects or try to trim expenses.
    When the demand is too low, it stops being effective to keep drilling for it. Until then, it is attractive.
    When these oil companies cannot make billions in profits.





    http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/f鈥?/a>





    3 out of the top 4?


    What a ripoff!
    Then we go to synthetic lubricants, alternative engines and nuclear power.





    Oops? Did I say nuclear? That'll piss off the left more than oil use, won't it?
    As long as it's being subsidized and alternatives are not being invested into, it'll remain very lucrative for a long time.
    When the oil Co. cannot keep making obscene profits.
    We are not anywhere near that point.

    What does Obama and Mccain think about drilling for oil in alaska?

    What does Obama and Mccain think about drilling for oil in alaska?What does Obama and Mccain think about drilling for oil in alaska?
    If we're talking about the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, neither one spends much time thinking about it on its merits. Drilling there would reduce import need by a few percentage points in about ten years.





    Because of nationalization, oil companies have little control and little certainty about where they are going to get their product. Drilling in ANWR, the continental shelf or anywhere else would reduce this uncertainty and ensure profits for some years to come. The reason they wish to drill in the U.S. is not because the U.S. has a significant portion of world reserves - it doesn't - but because U.S. politicians are buyable and the electorate easily deluded.What does Obama and Mccain think about drilling for oil in alaska?
    They both are probably assuming it'll continue, since it's such a large portion of domestic production. It's not like either would be foolish enough to turn off the tap via the iron fist of government as POTUS.
    McCain used to be completely against it. Now, he is for it. FLIP FLOPPER FLIP FLOPPER FLIP FLOPPER!

    How much damage has been done to the environment by drilling for oil in the US?

    I'm aware of the terrible accidents that have occured while shipping oil (valdez), but have there been any accidents by refineries or drilling machinery in the US that has done harm to wildlife or the environment?





    If not, why aren't we producing our own oil?


    If so, why can't we improve the process so that the environment isn't hurt?How much damage has been done to the environment by drilling for oil in the US?
    No damage that hasn't been able to be repaired. And we don't drill for more because so far the tree huggers and their propaganda machines have won. Sometimes I think they would prefer that humans all died and left the Earth to the animals.How much damage has been done to the environment by drilling for oil in the US?
    It's a matter of politics.


    The environmental zealots go nuts and have kniptions everytime anyone talks about drilling. They are afraid it will hurt the environment where the yellow haired double breasted bed thrasher lives.


    Those loonies live in major cities where they do not need cars.


    Those of us who need our cars to get to work or to go to a store for groceries have to pay for the loonies misplaced


    passions.


    There have been NO serious environmental problems due to drilling in the US.


    It is the same with the loonies screaming about nuclear power generation. They are terrified ( so they say) of nuclear accidents, none of which have caused even one injury in the US in all the years in which the nuclear plants have been in use. Our Navy has been using Nuclear power plants since the 1970's without a single accident..


    France get 50% of her electric power from nuclear plants and has never had a fatality due to it.





    The tree huggers have caused more harm to this country and its economy than any oil well.


    They do not care how much harm they cause.
    As a Lib/Dem, I'm sorry to say sometimes my group carry a good thing too far. We really do need to invest in America, Drill where we can to give ourselves a break from overseas oil and time to find viable alternatives of power. Alaska and the Gulf are fine, ...we have now and we still will take all care while working toward our own best interests. !!
    actually there are leases in alaska that are not being drilled not because of no rigs but due to GREED! the oil companies are sitting on them hoping for a gas pipeline so they can double their $$$$. oil and gas both...and we have several options for the gas in the works ... but heck they've been TALKIN that since they put in the oil pipeline. most of the comp. just burn it off at the drill sight... waste but they are pumpin oil...... and most of what we pump is sold overseas NOT USED HERE.....diesel is $4.99 a gal here!





    OH BY THE WAY THE WILDLIFE IS FINE!!!!
    Because our government is stopping it. Makes no sense!
    .) Of the top 14 oil and gas producing states, 12 reached their peak production prior to 1972, so no, environmentalism isn't to blame. That's just the nature of non-renewable energy. One of the 2 remaining states is Alaska, which peaked in 1989. The other is California, which peaked in 1985, so it definitely can't be pinned on the environmentalists.





    2.) There are over 1800 rigs drilling all over the US today including over 61 in the Gulf of Mexico. Most companies have a multi-year backlog of wells already permitted, there just aren't enough rigs to drill them all at once. Source: American Petroleum Institute rig count: Oil and Gas Journal





    3.) The government has approved over 25,000 wells to be drilled on federal lands in the 5-state Rocky Mountain Region of the US. 19,000 of those wells have already been drilled, leaving a backlog of 6,000 wells that can be drilled anytime the oil companies feel like it. This doesn't even include wells on private lands, which are even less restricted.





    4.) Jeb and George Bush established a moratorium preventing any drilling rigs within sight of land off the Florida coast. That ban was requested by real estate speculators, not environmentalists.





    5.) There have been thousands of permits issued to expand, update, and improve existing refineries since the Clean Air Act went into effect. They could just as easily get permits to build new refineries if they wanted to. The oil companies prefer to expand and modernize existing refineries since it is cheaper than building new ones. Source: 15 years working in the refining business. Example1: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=鈥?/a>


    Example 2: http://www.siteselection.com/ssinsider/p鈥?/a>








    6. 27% of US production currently comes from the Gulf of Mexico and there are 61 rigs drilling there today, so NO, it is NOT off limits, despite what your dim-witted right-wing programmers tell you. Where do conservatives get such silly, uninformed ideas?
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  • When will the U.S. start drilling for oil and gas in our country to offset these ridiculous gas prices?

    It is a great business, lol, the corruption comes together the speculation and the vested interests. Many influential people of USA, receive economic benefits from oil companies, therefore no interest to change this reality, because it would be directly affected. Analyze developments in oil prices, what group has the highest and you will understand what I am talking.When will the U.S. start drilling for oil and gas in our country to offset these ridiculous gas prices?
    We already do drill in Texas and Louisiana and other parts of the U.S.





    If you are talking about drilling the protected areas of Alaska, numerous research has been done that says even if you could get all the oil out, ship it to refineries, and make it into gas--it would only lower gas prices by about 2 cents.





    Plus, you would have to build all the roads, pumps, and pipes to get the oil, not to mention deforestation and pollution from the logging trucks and other vehicles that would be needed.When will the U.S. start drilling for oil and gas in our country to offset these ridiculous gas prices?
    My father is a directional driller in the Texas Panhandle and when gas prices go up they work drilling here more than they normally would. My father drills for both natural gases and petrolium. I think that they would drill more in America if they had more people willing to take jobs in the oil field here. Even though the pay is good it still requires sometimes 18 hour work days, 7 days a week and sometimes when the oifield is booming they could be working like this for 3-4 months at a time. They usually live onsite so they cant just go home to their families every night. It is a job that requires alot of sacrifices. Not many people are willing to work those hours and the conditons are outrageous, they could be outside in the wind and rain or even snow in 10 degree weather or wearing thick layers of fire protecting clothes in 100 degree weather. And the oil price per barrell is the same no matter where you are and no matter where it is coming from.
    Duh. We already do. And this is why I am floating in the Gulf of Mexico as I type.





    But I bet your real question is this... ';When is gas going to be cheap again.';





    Suck it up and get used to it. Because the answer is NEVER.





    Here is the cold, hard painful truth folks.





    Oil production peaked worldwide, even in the Middle East, in the 70's. The easy stuff is gone. It takes MILLIONS of dollars to dig new wells these days. Example... the well I am on right now is being dug under a MILE of water. And we will be digging through another 4 MILES of rock under that. And there may not be anything there.





    Sure. We have some more resources in the US. But not for your cheap gas. Because it is no longer possible to get oil out of the ground and to your gas pump cheaply.





    So, rather than ask bitter questions on the internet, I suggest you look at your own behavior... evaluate the type of vehicle you drive, and your own driving patterns. Because gasoline is only going to get more expensive.





    And eventually, we as Americans will, hopefully, realize that petrochemicals are much too valuable to waste by burning in our vehicles to support our selfish lifestyles.





    Wish you all the best.
    I think the real answer is technology. What corporation would encourage technology when they are making so much money on high gas prices? America is so slow to ';get it.'; When others are producing small cars and flex fuel cars we are buying SUVs and giant trucks. As long as Americans were paying cheap prices for gas, they had no desire to purchase cars which delivered good gas millage. We are always too late to realize that our ferocious appetite for oil has gotten us in this mess.
    better get digging on the new cellar and start stocking the underground larder. time to be more self sufficient - use the car less often - have groceries etc delivered thus giving us time to tend to the vegetable patch and feed the livestock.....as the North Sea oil will run out soon and gas quite soon after that.
    well may be when oil and gas of other countries(middle east or venezuela) run out and you can sell your own oil for 300 $ or more per barrel and say its so hard to find then US oil companys will start drilling for oil and gas in your own country.
    Majority of US oil comes from three places... USA, Canada, Mexico.





    Most people do not know that Canada and Mexico make more money selling oil to USA than the Arabs, Russians and Venezuelans.
    America already pays less for gas than any other country in the world that isn't a member of OPEC. How much cheaper do you think it should be?
    You guys only have a puny fraction of the resources. They're going to be exhausted within a few more decades.
    to get best price say 500dollar per litre

    Why is Obama against nuclear power and the US drilling for oil on US soil?

    The thousands of leases the oil companies now have have no oil under them so please don't answer with that.Why is Obama against nuclear power and the US drilling for oil on US soil?
    Man, Mike S, that was a really dumb answer. Nuclear energy leaves NO CARBON footprint; it is a very efficient, clean, energy source; thus, it is environmentally a great choice. In fact, it's what most of the military and NASA uses to power-up. However, the plants have to be well maintained and protected (from terrorist attacks) and preferably placed in an uninhabited region. The newest research up the pipeline is IEC Fusion that NASA is working on and H3 fusion (helium 3 fusion) is another interested alternative. By the way, for all you tree huggers out there, hybrid cars, as you know, also run on electricity. Where does electricity come from? Some magical fairy comes down and give it to us? No. Think about Physics: law of conservation of energy. Here are the major components of electric power: %26gt;50% coal burning, 20% nuclear energy. Food for thought.Why is Obama against nuclear power and the US drilling for oil on US soil?
    I think that's a very broad statement... Obama (as well as many politicians, both liberal and conservative) are against drilling for oil because in several cases (not all) there is legislation that would need to be over turned (environmental initiatives, laws that prevent drilling for the sake of wildlife preservation, etc.) The type of drilling Bush is calling for is something oil executives and economic advisors admit will not lower gases princes, which is the reason so many of us even consider such drilling.


    There are numerous reasons nuclear power is such a touchy subject; in my opinion, its a stance that both candidates are going to want to refrain from speaking on until they win the election. The primary issue: if we are ';pro-nuclear technology'; we lose some clout, especially since we're ';encouraging'; other UN nations to refrain from using the same technology.


    And if you check his official stances on these issues, you won't find him explicitly speaking out against every application of nuclear power, just generally against it, as well as a general rejection of the idea that its necessary for us to drill on U.S. soil.
    for the same reason he wants no good news from iraq. He has so sold his soul to the democrat party contributers (global warming wack jobs, anti war protestors et al) that anything, no matter how good, is bad if it doesn't fit the party line. Oil is the ';failed policy of the past';. It also made this country what it is. I'm all for finding alternatives, but the ones he is suggesting, specifically ethanol have proven disasters with skyrocketing food costs and such. He may be against the ';failed policies of the past'; but he is advocating certain ';failed policies of the future';. Search for new alternatives, but don't shoot us in the face while we try to find them.





    Note: those spewing the lie that the oil here won't last a year, they have found shale oil deposits that could eliminate saudi arabia as an importer for the next 90 years in the dakotas alone. Not to mention ANWAR and the coast. That 90 years could buy enough time to CORRECTLY find alternatives.
    Drilling for more oil is not the solution. We need to move away from oil, and we can't do anything in the near future about supply - we can do plenty about demand.





    Nuclear power plants are not a bad idea, but they have to be maintained properly, and our current power plants are not doing that.
    The reason for his stance is largely due to his secret funding he gets from his relatives in the Middle East who control oil stocks and commodities. If the US was to start getting it's own oil and produce it own energy reserves, and not rely on the Middle East then the leaders of the middle east wouldn't be able to continue to finance the terrorists, and would go back being a third world country. Obama's plan is to create a New World Order to be controlled by Mulsim Oil Merchants.
    Nuclear power: Because there still is not a solution to what to do with the waste.





    More drilling:





    1-Oil is yesterday's news we need alternate energies.





    2-Additional drilling is not likely to impact price.





    3-We need to maintain our reserves for strategic purposes.
    Simple two-word answer: ENVIRONMENTAL RISK!





    I don't necessarily agree, but I can certainly appreciate the arguments from the opposition. And some of the history is on their side. Look at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the Exxon Valdez . . .





    Still, I'm not convinced that our overall risk (including risk to our standard of living) is any better by NOT doing these things.
    Technological advances since ';Three Mile Island'; have made nuclear energy much safer. The U.S. built a nuclear energy plant in France (which is 90% nuclear energy), and they are very satisfied with the results.





    As far as terrorism is concerned, dirty bombs can wipe out cities, and other horrific bio-terrorist plots. We would just have to rely on increased intelligence and security surrounding the plant. They are also making advances in nuclear energy that does not produce the amount of radioactive waste and danger. Google fusion/fission nuclear energy. I say go for it, and I agree with McCain on this issue.
    It is not environmentally safe to drill on US soil and nuclear power is too dangerous. An accident or a terrorist attack on a nuclear plant can wipe out an entire city. We will not put our country into such danger. We need to come up with alternative sources of energy that are safe and clean.
    ';the amount of oil you would find in the u.s. would last a year at best';..... are you freaking kidding me there is enough oil and natural gas offshore and other blocked areas to keep this country energy dependent for decades to come
    Because the Democrats are playing the Blame game. Rather than getting all the great minds together to come up with a solution, he is pandering to the masses, blaming ';Big Oil'; so he can get votes. Its the easy thing to do, not the right thing to do.
    he is more of an environmentalist than in favor of the rich getting richer.


    drilling for more oil is a temporary solution to a permanent problem. he wants to find alternative sources so he is not going to waste money on something that is temporary.
    Because apparently he has a '; BETTER PLAN'; It is based on hope and change.. or something.


    As per obama he really doesn't tell us exactly what his plan is.. we are just supposed to blindly believe him.





    Not for me.. thanks!
    Because the oil companies already have 68 million off shore acres that have YET to be drilled upon.


    Why give them MORE when they HAVEN'T used what they already have?
    Because he panders to the environmentalist who have basically bought and run the Democratic party.
    And YOU know that to be a FACT?


    Then why did they buy them? When did they do the exploratory drilling?
    Because he has ties to Middle East like all other politicians against us using our own resources?!
    Why? Seems odd, but that's pretty much it until his campaign decides it would be advantageous to ';reassess his position';.
    Because it would cut into the profits of the Middle Eastern oil producing countries?
    cuz its obama and hes a democrat!!
    He's a Democrat! That says it all. Gotta keep those environmentalists happy!
    He wants oil to go up just because he's an a$$. It'll never go down until we drill in our own land which is another reason why I'm voting for McCain.
    Because that would fix the problem and mean, wait for it, that Bush was right...AHHHHH!!!!.
    the amount of oil you'd find in the u.s would last a year at the best. Its not worth it. And nuclear power isnt good for the environment

    What are your thoughts about drilling for oil in America?

    Democrats wont allow it. I think prices would go down if we did drill more and we actually found oil....obviously. So I just want to know your thoughts about it.What are your thoughts about drilling for oil in America?
    You are absolutely right. I am glad that FINALLY someone is seeing that the democrats are holding us back. Yes, we could flourish in the oil production in our own back yard if allow to explore for oil. There already had been proven '; hot spots '; for oil that could be hit for oil companies to test but the Democrats have put a no on the testing.


    The Midwestern has already shown to have several areas that have ';pockets'; that can be tested for crude oil as well as more drilling in Alaska. We need to push the democrates to explore off the Northeastern coast as well. Who knows what lies beneath the waters up there. But this also proves my theory to, that the Democrats are the one who have been stonewalling us ever sence the got in office. Er-go.. the recession, no drilling for oil, high gas prices, high food prices, mortgage fall-out. Think about it... was it like this before the Democrats took over in the Congress..... NO.


    And you cant blame Bush...why... think about the last 2 time you got a stimulus check. Did a Democrate ever give one to you...no.What are your thoughts about drilling for oil in America?
    You can keep your stimulus checks. I'll be happy to return mine too. Get us out of the trillions dollar debt that you Republicans got us into! Report Abuse

    BP tried to drill for oil on private land adjacent to the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge back in the 1980's.





    It wasn't economically feasible due to the extremely short season and limited supply spread out into so many small pockets.





    They abandoned their efforts after 1 season.





    Republican Governors, Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist and Arnold Schwarzenegger all opposed offshore drilling in their waters where oil can be obtained economically.





    Keep up with the Republican talking points, though.





    It won't help Old Man McCain.





    He was grandstanding with the same rhetoric today.





    Meanwhile, McCain wants to keep Bush's war in Iraq, that has tripled gas prices by disrupting supply, going for another 100 years.





    Today's voters are aware of that kind of hypocrisy.
    I think about half of the American public is ignorant. I see comments like ANWR is ';pristine';, they have obviously never even seen a picture of ANWR. Last time I checked a tundra is still an ice desert. Part of ANWR was actually set aside for the purpose of drilling oil in the 1970's. Now Democrats won't allow drilling.





    The Democrats have been blocking all the drilling initiatives for years. One was just last week for an offshore area in the Gulf. The Democrats voted it down, there is enough oil there to replace all our imported oil for 30 years. Those that say it would not be profitable or there's not enough there are basing it on 24 year old data. That was the last time anyone was allowed to explore for oil and the price of oil had dropped to $10.00 a barrel and we have much improved extraction technology now.





    Saying there isn't enough oil here or there so we shouldn't drill at all, is like sitting in a dirty diaper and complaining about it and doing nothing. If we opened up ANWR, offshore and land reserves we could be oil independent in 10 to 15 years. Or we could sit back and do nothing and continue to blame the oil companies and OPEC.
    Many Democrats know that there is oil in ANWR, but it is just not enough to fulfill our needs and not worth drilling. Here's what the Washington Post says...





    ';While ANWR has substantial oil, none would flow for 10 years. Even then, its impact on global production of 87 million barrels a day will be minimal, energy experts say, as OPEC could adjust to compensate.';





    This means that prices will barely come down, if at all, and America would have wasted a lot of resources on oil instead of investing in an alternative energy source.
    We are already drilling and have been. If you could come down here to where I live in Texas, you would see the many oil rigs lit up at night where they are hard at work (many of my family members) and drilling for oil in the great state of Texas. There's a big oil rig sitting on my sister's land. And in many areas around here, you can hear the constant rhythmical squeak of pumping units doing their jobs.





    Question is? Should we drill more? Probably. But I can tell you for sure that we already are.
    what is there to think. all governments will do. The oil is needed now, it is appreciatable the govt's efforts. Who said Democrats never allow for this ? it is govt's expense and not from anyone's pocket. They begin, and the democrats under the presidentship of mr.Barrack obama will complete it successfully. The govt's action is nothing to do with political parties. How are all our people thinking and even we won't sit silent for peoples welfare.


    what a thinking!! thanks..
    If i could I would put really big X's on vacant land with a big sign that says Drill here!


    I would get rid of almost all the red tape and drill just about any ware. These prices are completely stupid.


    We are being blackmailed by these oil company's.


    But I'm also in favor of technology so we can get away from needing oil.


    I can't wait till someone makes the first production car to get 100 mpg, I also would like to see technology grow to the point of solar powered vehicles.
    Well, there is drilling in America. The question is do we need to drill in pristine places like Alaska? No, imo - we need to develop alternative sources of renewable energy like wind, solar and water. Doesn't that make more sense?
    It will go down about a nickel over the next decade at the best. It's not going to have huge longterm effects except on the environment. Even if the US drilled all over the country we'd only have 2-3% of the needed national supply.
    The Governor of California is against drilling for offshore Oil.


    I believe he has some very good reasons for his position.


    Whatever his reasons are, I agree with him, because I trust him.
    We need to defeat the democrats and tell their environmental wackos to shut up. Then drill for oil in America. And build modern refineries.
    I'm down for it!!! Dems don't like it because it takes away their power and gives it to us.





    SO HELL YES, I'M FOR IT!!! GIVE THE POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!
    ABSOLUTELY. The government should drill in ALL parts of Alaska, of the Gulf Coast, and any other place that has it.
    yeah we should drill everywhere there is oil... even in the ';pristine'; areas.


    It's just crazy what we are doing to our economy, and it will only get worse.
    Absolutely.
    Democrats have nothing to do with it. Why even mention it? Are you a lying moron conservative?
    Start today.
    Right now I'm for anything that will lower gas prices.
    Go for it!
    not in my back yard.
    I think we need to do what South Africa did. This is a clip from the IEA's report on South African fuel and energy use and production. We're the Saudi Arabia of Coal in the world, so look at this and tell me if we need to drill or just use our coal and say adios to the oil producers:





    ';Synthetic fuels account for approximately 76 percent of South Africa鈥檚 oil production. Synthetic Fuels. South Africa has a highly developed synthetic fuels industry supported by abundant coal resources, offshore natural gas and condensate production in Mossel Bay, and natural gas


    imports from Mozambique. Sasol, with a capacity of 160,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) from coal-toliquids (CTL), and PetroSA, with a capacity of 45,000 bbl/d from gas to liquids (GTL), are the major producers of synthetic fuel in South Africa. Together, the two firms supply approximately 40


    percent of the South African fuels market. Sasol is the world鈥檚 largest manufacturer of oil from coal. Sasol uses coal-to-liquids (CTL) technology, which makes synthetic gas from low-grade coal at liquefaction plants located at the


    Secunda and Sasolburg refineries. The synthetic gas is then converted into pipeline gas and liquid fuels, which include liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), jet fuel, kerosene and petrochemicals. As of December 2006, Sasol was considering the possibility of constructing an additional 80,000 bbl/d synthetic fuels refinery, which would be located close to the Waterberg coal deposits near Gauteng. The South African government would like to see the refinery built as it would help satisfy future energy demand in the county, while helping to reduce foreign oil imports. In July 2005, Anglo American鈥檚 Isibonelo coal mine produced its first coal for shipment to Sasol鈥檚 Segunda refinery. The $65 million project suppies 5 million short tons (Mmst) of thermal coal


    annually to Sasol Synthetic Fuels since reaching full production in late 2006. Anglo America and Sasol also announced plans to develop the Kriel South coalfield. Anglo will establish an operation 4/3/2007 on the northern portion of the field, and Sasol plans to expand its existing underground operations at the Syferfontein colliery (coal mine). Coal from the two operations is expected to supply Sasol鈥檚


    refinery for the next 20 years. PetroSA State-owned PetroSA began synfuel production in 1993 at its Mossel Bay GTL refinery, which is the largest GTL plant in the world. The plant receives natural gas and condensate feedstock from


    the FA, EM, and EBF fields in Mossel Bay through a pair of 56-mile pipelines. PetroSA converts the natural gas into a variety of liquid fuels, which include motor gasoline, distillates, kerosene, alcohols and LPG. Due to declining domestic natural gas production, PetroSA and Pioneer plan to further develop existing natural gas resources at Sable oil field and six adjacent undeveloped fields. Initial production from the development is set to begin in the third quarter of 2007, with the hope of prolonging the lifespan of the Mossel Bay GTL refinery.';





    Pass this along to your senators and congressmen and have 5 of your friends pass it along. Then lets all clog up Washington DC with our cars and trucks demanding to convert to coal powered fuels.

    Is drilling for oil just a tactic that oil companies use to get more oil? Why do we need to drill?

    Sorry, I just had to post this after reading the ';answers'; that Dems come up with against drilling for oil. It's amazing to me how biased and uneduacted so many people are.Is drilling for oil just a tactic that oil companies use to get more oil? Why do we need to drill?
    Why do we need to drill?





    Because we currently send $700 billion per year to countries who fund terrorist organizations who want to kill american's. Plus, we are at their mercy. If they decided to stop selling oil to us then we would have no way to fuel our military and defend ourselves. Is drilling for oil just a tactic that oil companies use to get more oil? Why do we need to drill?
    dude,you are a moron ! Report Abuse

    Offshore drilling is just a tactic.





    Big Oil has proven sites leased out now - THAT THEY REFUSE TO DRILL. Thats right. Millions of acres of land they have leased the title to from the federal government. These sites are sitting idle.





    Next, there are still over 68,000,000 drillable acres of federal land and offshore sites available for private companies to drill.





    Big Oil is creating a distraction! They go on these Public Relations Campaigns to blame liberals, democrats and environmentalist. They do this to keep the average American off their backs.





    Recap


    - big oil has proven oil sites sitting idle


    - big oil won't even lease the 68,000,000 acres of drillable land and offshore sites available (more land than the size of Colorado).


    - big oil is making record profits.
    I really don't think the oil companies want to drill more. I mean, look, they are making record profits despite (because of?) the fact that crude production is down. If you can make MORE profit while spending LESS on production, that is a pretty sweet deal for them.


    Exploration for more oil costs a hell of a lot of money and it takes a long time to pay off. No exec likes to cut into today's profits to benefit some future holder of their position.





    As evidence, they have access to lots of areas for exploration which they aren't using. Also, notice how when gas prices got high enough to suddenly get congress seriously talking about lifting bans on drilling offshore and in ANWR, gas prices came down all of a sudden! Hmmmm.



    to the Dems or those that don't understand , in a free market system the more of a commodity that is available to the market the lower the price will be.








    a trickle of oil = high prices





    a gusher of oil = lower prices





    there you go while you are riding the short bus 'to where ever' you will have something to think about.






    And you are so right... Ive talked till I'm blue in the face on this,and they still don't get it... We send$700 billion dollars a year overseas,to Country's that hate us. The argument they throw up about Oil company's all ready have land,this is true... What they don't throw up is in order to drill,they must have the okay from....You know who,Congress!!! And we see how worthless Congress is. The ten year theory,more propaganda,we could have oil pumping into barrels in five.. And they don't even bring up the sheer mention of drilling has OPEC shaking in its boots. The reasons are so very many,i cant even list them all.But the Democrats,in there infinite wisdom,don't care about America. Which is why the only choice is McCain.
    Oil companies have no interest in drilling for more oil. If they did, they would use the land leases they already have!





    They have the supply just right for the current demand. They have the upper hand. They also know that they have to milk this cow for all it's worth because alternative energy use is going to happen.
    Oil drilling is literally using heavy machines to drill into the earth to get oil. (See my source.)





    I guess you could say it's a ';tactic'; but it's really more of a method or procedure.





    Drilling gets us more oil, which is currently used for all kinds of things from powering automobiles, to make pesticides (which allows us to get more out of our food crops).


    To read more about the importance of oil in our life (and the results of not having enough), see my second source.


    I'm not saying we should drill for oil like crasy, or to not drill at all. Just pointing out what oil does for us.
    drilling for more oil is much like smoking just a bit more crack before going into rehab








    Republican plan to expand domestic oil drilling -- instead of forcing oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres they've already leased -- is a ';hoax'; and ';unworthy of serious debate.';


    http://www.cnsnews.com/Public/checker.as…
    Sen. Barack Obama injected a startling claim into the debate on energy, asserting in a Missouri town hall meeting that the country could save more gas from inflating its tires and tuning up its cars than would be gained from drilling more off its coasts.





    “There are things that you can do individually, though, to save energy,” Obama said in the July 30, 2008, appearance. “Making sure your tires are properly inflated — simple thing. But we could save all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling, if everybody was just inflating their tires, and getting regular tune-ups. You could actually save just as much.”





    Sen. John McCain and his allies — who advocate lifting the federal moratorium that bans drilling in some areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off the U.S. coasts — immediately mocked Obama for the claim. The McCain campaign even offered to send “Obama Energy Plan” tire gauges to anyone who sent in a donation of $25 or more.





    The McCain campaign’s assumption seemed to be that Obama’s claim was utterly implausible. And, we admit, it kind of sounds that way. But is it?





    Under-inflated tires — to say nothing of poorly tuned cars — are actually a serious problem, as government agencies, industry groups, conservationists and outside experts have been saying for years. (The Obama campaign even cited a number of instances when prominent McCain supporters echoed the call for more public awareness about tire inflation.)





    “A lot of people are driving around on severely under-inflated tires,” said Robert Sinclair, Jr., a spokesman for the American Automobile Association. “Try riding a bicycle with under-inflated tires. It’s hard for the human engine to push it ahead. Pump it up, it seems like you’re gliding on air.”





    The same thing happens with a car. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by .4 percent for every 1 pounds-per-square-inch drop in tire pressure, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.





    The best estimate available, by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is that at least a quarter of drivers are cruising around on under-inflated tires. In April, the Rubber Manufacturers Association, the Auto Club, the California Highway Patrol and Yokohama Tire Company used those statistics, along with Department of Transportation and Automobile Association of America data, to extrapolate that 2.8-billion gallons of gas are lost every year due to under-inflation of tires.





    That’s an estimate, to be sure, and not one from a published, peer-reviewed study. But remember, Obama said we “could” save all the oil available from offshore drilling in the protected areas — not we “would” — so if the claim is merely plausible he’s on solid ground.





    So how much oil is available offshore? According to the latest assessment from the Minerals Management Service, the mean estimate of undiscovered technically recoverable crude oil in the Outer Continental Shelf areas that are currently under moratorium is about 18-billion barrels (see here.)





    But it couldn’t all be extracted immediately. The agency estimates that if the moratorium were lifted production could start by 2017, and by 2030, oil companies could be producing 2.4-million barrels of oil instead of 2.2-million. That’s 200,000 more barrels per day.





    After refining, a barrel of oil can produce up to 19.5 gallons of gasoline, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. So that’s 3.9-million more gallons of gasoline per day, or 1.4-billion gallons of gasoline per year.





    And remember, an estimated 2.8-billion gallons of gas are lost annually due to under-inflated tires.





    And we didn’t even talk about tune-ups. (Repairing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test improves gas mileage by 4 percent on average, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Fixing a more serious problem, such as a bad oxygen sensor, can improve mileage by up to 40 percent, the agency says.)





    All of the numbers in this analysis are estimates, we should emphasize. Oil industry experts told us estimates of the amount of oil offshore and how fast it could be extracted vary widely, and the Energy Information Administration’s number is fairly optimistic. Likewise, it’s highly unlikely any public awareness effort could change behavior enough to save 2.8-billion gallons of gasoline per day.














    Get your facts straight.
    I hear you but here is the deal..





    People complain that drilling makes more money for the oil companies.. Ok fine.. But riddle me this..





    Anyone understand the law of supply and demand? Wen Supply is low and demand is high prices increase.. To lower prices you either lower demand(that ain't happening) or increase supply..... Easy Huh?





    Well.. We have cry baby liberals saying that drilling is to pad the pockets of the oil companies. well think about it.. if you increase supply and LOWER the price... they will be making less per barrel than they are now.





    We will be paying less at the pump.... this will hold us over until companies can come up with alternative fuels..






    Please give me a break . We do not need to off shore drill . There is plenty of oil on land that the oil corps do not even use . This keeps the prices high. Simple .


    Big Oil just wants the control and option of off shore drilling . This will never translate into lower gas prices . I wonder how Republicans can allow themselves to be consistently duped my these corporations who have only their own profit in mind and screw the rest of us.
    We need to drill because our economy is dependent on oil and will be for decades while we convert to alternatives like Nuclear, Wind and Solar. Until these are VIABLE sources, we must reduce the amount of cash transferred out of our country to nations that HATE us and support terrorism.
    So we can't be intimated by third world powers and have a supply of oil we can rely on.





    Russia adventures into their former states is a result of the ability to quiet Europe response with their gas and oil exports.
    The oil companies already have 5 million acres of offshore leases that they could start drilling tomorrow - they are just sitting on them to drive up the price of oil. It's amazing to me how biased and UNEDUCATED so many people are.
    Right now we are sending seven hundred billion dollar a year to foreign countries. We need our own oil to keep that here. Not rocket science at all.
    What's so wrong with more oil. Larger supply of oil in the world brings down gasoline prices, but then the Democrats WANT high gasoline prices to save the world.
    Simple. Even you should be aware the demand for oil is increasing and supply is declining.
    WEll I guess you can grow it..
    dude,the dem lemmings are clueless.keep up the good work. http://americansolutions.com/drillnow
    Because oil = profits for them bastards!

    How does drilling for oil increase motivation for the pursuit of alternative energies?

    With so many Americans supposedly jumping on the ';Drill for Oil Now'; bandwagon, I was wondering just how more drilling halts our addiction to oil. It doesn't make sense to me...how can we strive for alternative fuels and still be so adamant about getting more of the one that we are addicted to. To me, its like saying ';I will chew gum instead of smoking 10 Cuban cigars day, but to help stop smoking cigars, I will now smoke American made ones.'; Maybe I am oversimplifying it...someone please help me understand!How does drilling for oil increase motivation for the pursuit of alternative energies?
    The simple answer: It doesn't.





    Drilling for oil locally, however, reduces dependency on foreign oil.How does drilling for oil increase motivation for the pursuit of alternative energies?
    It doesn't.





    Everyone wants to feed the fat boy.


    Big Corporations, corrupt with greed, don't want to lose their riches.


    What the heck does McCain need 7 houses for??


    What happened to the Electric Car? Eliminated by Oil companies because they needed more gold plated tooth brushes and silk toilet paper.





    Alternative energy isn't out of reach or untouchable.


    The filthy rich are paranoid about not getting richer.












    It doesn't, it maintains the fiction that the oil companies will be acting in our best interests.


    If they are interested in doing that they would lower their price, and take less-than-record breaking profits. Not to make themselves poor mind you, just a billion or two less a quarter.


    They could do it, they won't, once we sell those leases, we have no further control over them, although Dems are trying to add use it or lose it clauses to the leases.


    Just like banks and mortgage companies had the option not to raise their subprime mortgages to their maximum.


    They screw us and want us to ask for more.


    And we do.


    What is wrong with us?
    Why oil? We have an unlimited supply of natural gas. Electric won't push a semi but natural gas will. Require gas stations to put in nat gas refills and auto makers to build nat gas ready vehichles. Retrofit homes with fill stations as well. This is a real bridge. Why are we still not requiring auto makers to raise milaege standards. There are so many different opinions we have no real direction. With electric we still have power companies using oil for generation. There are many cities and counties using nat gas for police and other emergency vehichles why aren't doing the same.
    Many republicans are anti-environmentalists and see true alternative energy pursuits as silly tree-hugger stuff. However, they all want cheap gas/energy. So talking about drilling and increasing Nuclear Energy, as well as renewable sources (he means growing more corn to create ethanol), is preaching to his base. It's the anti-environmentalist direction for cheaper gas.





    Makes sense. I just completely disagree with it.





    Rob above me just stated: ';...we need to bolster our supply so that demand.---and cost--- goes down..... make sense?';





    No Rob. That doesn't make sense. if the price of gas goes down... we use more of it, not less. Make sense?
    yes you are over simplifying it.,.... what it is, we are proactively taking steps to help our problem of overwhelming gas prices and dependency on foreign oil. We are acknowledging that we need alternative sources of power but in the mean time, we need to bolster our supply so that demand.---and cost--- goes down..... make sense?
    Well it provides a bridge while we search for alternatives. If we tax oil companies to pay for research in alternatives it kills us even more at the pump.
    Think !!!! you need money to explore alternatives so they need to sell oil to get money!!
    In theory it is supposed to curb our dependency from having to buy foreign based oil but this is really a very long drawn out plan with no absolutes that it will have the effect it is intended. There are two major issues one needs to deal with when trying to explain how such a plan will help the avg American.





    1. What will be the cost of the exploration, if the cost to get the oil far supercedes the cost to refine it and then sell it to the avg American consumer, then why do it? The oil compnaies aren't going to sell it at a lost, they will need to make a profit as to be expected. When was the last itme you worked on a government project that ended on time and under budget???





    2. Why should we trust that the oil companies will do the right thing by the AMerican people? We obviously live in an age of unprecedented corporate corruption and incompetence, why now should we invest billions of tax dollars for private companies to fix this very complicated problem? That's one hell of a trust risk you are taking for companies that are not known to be very trust-worthy.





    So, looking at these two issues, investing that money in alternative energy sources becomes a much more safer and logical alternative.

    How could drilling for oil off of the Florida coast not lower the cost of gasoline?

    after all do you think that shipping of oil is not a factor in price ?via .barging boats ect.How could drilling for oil off of the Florida coast not lower the cost of gasoline?
    You are talking about making sense. You can not do that when you discuss this with tree huggers. They do not think that way.How could drilling for oil off of the Florida coast not lower the cost of gasoline?
    Shipping costs represent less than 2cents us/gallon.





    Amazing, isn't it.





    The price of gasoline isn't being driven by supply and demand alone. Gasoline futures are being used as a way to hedge against stock market instability and falling value of the dollar.





    What needs to happen is that an economist needs to see which generates more money- tourism from Florida's marine environment, or oil leasing (states don't get any money for the oil, they lease sections of the seafloor for a fixed fee).





    This is such a political football that no one cases about the money yet, but when the screaming and crying and panic are over, the above will happen, and a decision will be made.
    Having more domestically produced oil will increase security.


    Having more cheap oil will lower prices.





    BUT:


    Floridian oil is not cheaper than Saudi oil so can't lower prices (oil prices are driven by taxes and other factors - any developer of oil in Florida isn't going to lose money by undercutting world prices).


    Floridian oil would come on stream perhaps 10 years from now - it can't affect todays prices anyway.


    Florida has approx. 4bn barrels of proven oil reserves. The US consumes close to 9bn barrels per year - even if all the oil from Florida was produced in 1 year (not likely!) it still wouldn't have a significant impact upon prices.





    The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, summed it up when he said Bush was being cynical and the US cannot drill itself out of the problem: ';The math is simple: America has just 3% of the world's oil reserves, but Americans use a quarter of its oil';.
    The U.S. is a net importer of oil and the market price includes transportation to the U.S. coast.





    The quantity of oil that the U.S. imports is much more than any off-shore drilling is likely to contribute. Therefore producing off-shore oil might reduce the quantity of imported crude but will not be sufficient to lower the price. Why?





    Only when the amount of oil produced domestically turns the U.S. into an exporter would the U.S. market price change from world price + transportation to world price - transportation.





    Since gasoline is produced by refining crude oil it is a direct cost of the process. If you ignore things that impact gasoline prices such as available capacity, demand, etc then crude oil is the biggest contributor of gasoline cost.





    Transportation of crude oil to the U.S. is rising due to the higher costs of bunker fuel (also derived from crude oil). Nevertheless transportation represents a relatively small percentage of the overall cost of gasoline so even if the U.S. were to become self-sufficient the price impact on gasoline would not be more than 5 - 10 c/gal





    ** Note world price means the price of crude oil at liquid trading points adjusted for quality (such as sulphur content and gravity)
    Drilling for oil off shore and in places like ANWR definitely will lower prices. We have way more oil than the liberals will admit, and probably many times our known resources that could be discovered if only the politicians get off their *** lift the ban on oil.





    The republicans have one the best opportunities to fight their impending doom in this 2008 if they get together and make it a national campaign issue.





    Drill here; Drill now; Pay less,


    Damn right!!





    Edit: I am sick and tired of the ignorant blaming Big Oil for the prices at the pump. Sure speculation plays a role, but remember they only guess on the price according by taking into account the leading indictors.





    If you were a speculator and saw the idiots in congress holding the ban on oil, not allowing exploration for oil, sitting on their fat duff blaming Big Oil for every evil under the sun, and saying NAY to drilling. Which way would your speculate, UP or DOWN ?
    First of all... The stuff attributed to the Chinese and milked for all it's worth by certain talk radio pundits and certain members of a particular McCampaign was a lie. It was us. So that makes me suspicious since right after the big lie was fed to all of us we get this political call for drilling... Hmmm...





    The amount produced is a drop in the bucket... so sure maybe gas would go down like 0.0000000009 cents per gallon or something.





    Also - the numbers given to our President to regurgitate don't add up.





    Finally - It's a poor band-aid for a problem that's never going to go away -- that is until it is all gone from the sound of things.





    Gasoline is very inneficient in terms of the energy return it produces through combustion... and it's non-renewable. We need something better.





    I say screw the drilling (pun intended) and put the money toward true independence!





    I used to trust Hannity, Larson and Limbaugh but after the last two weeks, well I just am not sure who to listen to anymore to form my opinions!





    I don't need to post references because I am simply using...
    Shipping cost, plus there is an import tax. We rely on over 65% import to supply or needs. The oil componies pass on the over head to the consumer. If this contry could produce it's own oil, then we would not have to buy from other contries. There for setting our own price for our consumption. Congress has put it to the floor today, to pass a bill telling big oil to start production or they will loses there leases. And the Gov. will find someone that will produce our oil in our contry.
    The offshore oil would simply be put into the world supply with all the others unless it was specifically earmarked for US which isn't going to happen mainly because the US is a member of the WTO...one world economy and all that.


    Bottom line, it would have exactly a zero effect and the only ones who would benefit are the ones gouging us today...BIG OIL!


    If they really want oil they know where it is, they have tested over 300 sites in Iraq and it showed Iraq has four times more untapped oil reserves than previously thought.
    The democrat/Socialist agenda is to drive up energy costs. They will find a way, whether through other 'regulations' or more taxes on energy.





    As Bill Clinton stated on January 30, ';We must slow the US economy to fight global warming';. They slow the US economy by driving up energy costs.
    It would but the Left will let anything that might lower the price of oil. They like to blame it on Bush , and I don't think he has done enough . We need to let the Democrats know that that will cost them everything.
    because of the quantity of oil..Suadi arabia is literaly a gold mine because of the quantity of oil they have..
    What made you think our government was looking to lower the price of gas rather than keep serving record profits to the oil companies?
    the fkng libs and tree huggers are lying !more of ANY PRODUCT always lowers prices ! http://americansolutions.com/drillnow
    it is gonna lower gas becasue were not buying foreign oil
    shipping oil from over seas cost about 3.00 a barrel ...you do the math.
    They could gouge us because they know ow much we are willing to pay.
    It probably will eventually but its going to take a while because it takes years to build the plants to drill the oil. so if anything it will make gas go higher for a short period of time.
    Because we have lots and lots of oil already drilled - but we keep buying it from the arabs instead of using ours.
  • cartridge
  • What are the pluses and minuses of drilling for oil in Alaska ?

    I wanted to know your opinion on drilling for oil in Alaska, what are some good things and bad thingsWhat are the pluses and minuses of drilling for oil in Alaska ?
    drilling: we will be more independent. we wont have to depend so much on other countries to give us oil. It will most likely result in gas prices going back down. this will make the us stronger economic power and make our country stronger.





    not drilling: We will still be relying on other countries for oil. im not sure what the ramifications are for drilling in alaska. im not sure if that would somehow hurt the enviorment there. there isnt much life there, so im sure it wont be that much of a problem. maybe an enviornmentalist knows more about the area they plan on drilling?





    EDIT: yahoo answers probably isnt the best place to ask a serious question about politics. most of the people on this board either bash mccain/palin or obama without much justification.What are the pluses and minuses of drilling for oil in Alaska ?
    I live in Alaska. A place where oil has been sucessfully drilled and shipped for sale practically problem free - even with 7.3 magnitude earthquakes not bothering the pipeline.





    Remember - the only enviromentally impacted spills of Alaskan oil is from the Exxon Valdez, and, the kook who shot the pipeline three years ago. Neither of which had anything to do with drilling.
    We have been pumping and drilling up here in Alaska since 1977. The wildlife are fine with the pipeline. We don't have enough oil to satisfy all the needs and wants of the USA. Gas today in Palmer, AK was $4.16 and diesel was $5.09. I vote drill. I voted for Sarah Palin as my Gov and I will vote for her as VP.

    What is the current status of the question of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?

    so far it's safe, but with the oil crunch and the politics of it, it could change...so far the Democrats have kept it from being opened up

    What is my best value for tanks for an oil drilling site?

    You should contact an oil services company for this, like Halliburton.

    Why are politicians so zealous about drilling for oil in Alaska? Would it really affect gas prices?

    I heard it would increase total production by only a few percentage points and that the environmental cost could be fairly large.





    Just curious.Why are politicians so zealous about drilling for oil in Alaska? Would it really affect gas prices?
    Of course it's true that anything we produce here means less we need to buy from elsewhere.





    But what the 'drill baby drill' crowd never mentions is that if you start planning right now where to put your next drills, it takes a while to ready the site, set up the drill, and drill to the oil. It would be about 5 - 7 years before we got a single drop of oil from any drill you start planning today. And studies suggest that it will be 2020 before there is enough significant production to reduce what we have to buy.





    If we spend those same 12 years and billions of dollars on alternate energy sources we could reduce the need for oil rather than try to find more oil to use.Why are politicians so zealous about drilling for oil in Alaska? Would it really affect gas prices?
    So the drop from $4 a gallon at the pump to the eventual $2 a gallon at the pump (when the gas price catches up to the current oil price, due to the lag) was because America's demand went down 10% for 3 months. The Alaska drilling would feed 5% of America's demand for decades. Simple math tells us it would have an affect.





    The environmental impact is putting drilling sites in an area smaller than a decent sized airport. The pipes already exist, it would just be the drilling locations that need to be completed.
    the more we produce the less we need to buy from someone else...you can't listen to gore or pelosi about the environmental costs
    I wonder about this and off shore. They have so many leases on land they havn't even exploited yet. Makes ya wonder.

    What would be (if any) an ulterior motive for President Bush being in favor of offshore oil drilling?

    IF he were to profit from oil refinery expansion, which companies would these be exactly?What would be (if any) an ulterior motive for President Bush being in favor of offshore oil drilling?
    He may have many reasons for it, but I doubt the wellbeing of the Americans is part of any of them.


    What would be (if any) an ulterior motive for President Bush being in favor of offshore oil drilling?
    If he had an ulterior motive, why would he have waited this long into his presidency to rescind the executive order banning it?
    He's obviously got a job lined up for when he leaves office.
    money.

    Why arent we drilling for oil in North America instead of importing it from overseas?

    I heard a while back that there is enough oil in the state of Texas alone to supply the United States for 700 years. If this is true why arent we pumping oil from there instead of importing it for over $100.00 barrell from the Persian Gulf?Why arent we drilling for oil in North America instead of importing it from overseas?
    Think about it! If we use all the rest of the worlds oil FIRST then when that runs out the oil owned by the rich people here will be worth a fortune to Americans and none will be available to other countries.Why arent we drilling for oil in North America instead of importing it from overseas?
    ';I heard a while back that there is enough oil in the state of Texas alone to supply the United States for 700 years';





    lol, that's a lie. There MIGHT be enough oil on the planet to sustain the world for no more than 200 years, and that's a very conservative estimate.





    Domestic oil sources would only increase supply by a small percent, not enough to be a real alternative to importing oil. The cost to obtain that oil is higher due to environmental restrictions, and sometimes these restrictions outright prevent the possibility of drilling.
    The US is the world's largest producer of oil, but we still produce less than we use.





    If the US automobile fleet had the same average MPG as the cars in Europe (so that is using current technology) we would not have to import a drop of foreign oil.
    You heard wrong my friend.


    What we should be doing is looking for alternative sources of energy.
    It is cheaper to buy it that to drill for it...but I am with you, lets open those puppies up and lets get a price war going...
    environment fundamentalist care more about nature than allowing us to use our oil under our land in order to be foreign oil independent and eventually oil free...
    My husband works in the oil field and says That we do not have the oil reserves that they have over seas we do not have enough to support our economy


    About 1 out every 15 shallow wells has oil the remainder of them have natural gas. There is alot of drilling going on in America.


    I do not know where you heard that about texas but it is FALSE!!!!!
    We are drilling oil! What do you think is happening in the Gulf of Mexico? We are not producing as much as we would hope so we do get some from over seas. Also, there is lots of oil in Alaska, but we cannot drill for it because of the Animal rights activist who do not want to kill the moose and bears. If you asked me, kill the moose, I am more important the moose! I mean i like animals and all, but when it comes to my family and my safety, kill the Animals!
    Also Alaska, I think too many environmentalists are trying to save to many species! What about saving the humans for a change! I am with you, we need to tap our own natural resources and quit putting our fate in others hands!
    The environmentalists forced Congress to enact such restrictive regulations that the oil companies can't afford to drill or refine. We can't build new refineries without jumping through regulatory hoops and we are exporting what oil we do pump to have it refined then re-imported.


    The situation is the same with our off-shore supplies as with the untapped resources in Alaska. The environmental objections to drilling offshore were highlighted by a ';blowout'; that occurred off Southern California in the '50s, but now we have technology which would make that possibility rare.


    ANWR is another bone of contention with the environmentalists. We are not being allowed to exploit the resources we do have and the whole subject has become highly political in nature.


    There aren't any easy solutions to the problem.


    As to our';Reserves';, we have enough to supply our needs for 37 days. Not a pretty picture.


    Until we enact an intelligent energy policy and convert our oil burning power plants to natural gas or nuclear, we are going to be always looking at being dependent on some other country for our energy which drives our economy.
    The US has about 12 years ';proven'; oil reverves at current extraction rate, this includes Alaskan reserves. The US is pretty well explored so don't expect new discoveries to improve this outlook in any meaningful way.





    Now, Canada (part of NA so still relavent) has probably the 2nd largest reserves after Saudi. The problem is 95% of their reserves are tar sand deposits which need open pit mining and typically sees 500+ml of each litre burned to produce enough energy to extract the next 1000ml. Old school theories suggest its profitable at $40/bl but this is technically known as ';hopeful';


    Cheap oil is on the long term decline; they simply aren't making it any more...
    It costs more the explore and recover oil in America because of the cost of labor. Oh ya, the enviornmental restrictions, payment to the 'super fund' and what it might do the endangered hissing cocroach living in the trees.





    *** But the enviornmentalists still want to drive their SUV's on good roads to look at the untouched wildlife.
    Why are we drilling for crude anyway.Take this money and put it into refineries for bio-fuels and stop the dependancy on crude.
  • cartridge
  • Does the US drilling for oil domestically remind you of a junky making heroin at home?

    Because that would solve the addiction, right?Does the US drilling for oil domestically remind you of a junky making heroin at home?
    In pure economic terms it might make short-term sense, but there is much, much more at stake here than mere economics.





    EDIT: My brother- The Politics section is home to Sour Grapes Republicans, haven't you figured that out yet? They are the bitterest, most pathetically scornful group of political rejects on the net.Does the US drilling for oil domestically remind you of a junky making heroin at home?
    No, there is no correlation.
    Actually it kind of does. For years we've know that the supply could run out, but no one has done much about it until recently. I think we have the mentality of lets play with and use up everyone else's toys before we touch our own.
    No, reminds me of eating the food in your own fridge before going to your enemies and buying it from them at a higher cost.








    You can call food addiction, but its just something we need to keep industry and our personal lives moving. Not inherintly evil, only those who sell it to us like our enemies in the middle east.








    @ Philip above me, LOLOLO. exactly. Its retarded for us not to use our own ebcause environmentalists say its not nice, but say its okay to do it in other disadvantaged countries.
    It鈥檚 time for a history lesson. Check out the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY created during the Carter Administration on August 4th 1977 TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.





    32 years later their budget is over $23 billion a year, they have over 16,000 employees and just look how much good they have done.





    And NOW we are going to turn the Banking System, health care %26amp; the Auto Industry over to government?





    God Help US!
    Ya,and spending US dollars over seas to buy foreign heroin makes it all better.
    No, it reminds me of hardworking people doing an honest days work in a high-paying, non-union job. And people making an honest profit from their assets and resources in the form royalties and investment.
    No,and I hope you end up wiping your butt with recycled cardboard.
    I interpreted this as us getting most of our oil from foreign nations,and not much being here in America.This is true,and I guess it could be that way for heroin too.The richest deposits of known oil exist in the Middle East,and this is an area we are heavily in debt too.Countries that are not very friendly to us.The sign of the times my friend,believe in your faith.
    And your solution is?? Windmills and Solar?? LOL!! Wipe out every Bird in America with a Windmill,and cover every inch with a Solar Panel,and you might get 50% of the power we would need without Oil.





    Too bad all the real solutions are fought tooth and nail by Leftist tools like Comrade Obama,Nazi Pelosi,etc.





    AD
    i love heroin
    No. It would be like all farmers being banned from farming and forcing us to import all our food.





    From Iran and Venezuela.
    It'd be a nice analogy if it made any sense.





    First of all, it's pretty obvious that this country--this entire world--is incapable of just flipping a switch and ending oil usage. In many instances, it will require updates at a minimum to current equipment and an all out overhaul to accommodate others. You do understand that oil isn't just going to gasoline, right? That it's used in textiles and manufacturing and is an ingredient in just about everything you touch from day to day?





    So, until we can get to the point of ';flipping the switch';, it doesn't make sense to you to end the dependence now, because not only will it allow us to operate independently of nations that would rather see our demise than our success, but it will also soften the blow to these oil producing countries? If we ';flipped the switch';, most of those countries would erupt into civil unrest, seeing as how the majority of them--regardless of their oil revenues--can never seem to make it to first world status, and our absolute withdrawal from their revenue stream as the world's top income earner and producer would be catastrophic.





    I'm sure you didn't think of that though.





    You're welcome.
    Ahhh...Another lefty who has no clue how vital oil is to our economy. Keep your head deep in the sand pal.

    Is it time we open up drilling for oil in the US ? How much higher does it need to go ?

    Would you support this if it brought gas prices down ? I say open up all of the United States. Please call your Senators and Representatives in congress.Is it time we open up drilling for oil in the US ? How much higher does it need to go ?
    It isn't the drilling that is the problem. It is the refineries which have been purposely shut down by the oil companies, as well as the speculators who are basing the current price on FUTURE PRICES 2 or 3 months down the line. That is called price fixing people and is illegal.





    EDIT: Uh..How many refineries were shut down in the '90s?





    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-cour鈥?/a>





    Those are direct memos coming from the oil companies. They are not running full throttle as you implied.Is it time we open up drilling for oil in the US ? How much higher does it need to go ?
    We do drill for oil in the U.S. There are wells all over Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nevada and California. There are huge oil fields being currently drilled and pumped in Alaska as well. Even the so called ';foreign oil'; is being pumped by U.S. oil cpmpanies that have ';leased'; oil deposits and drilling rights from arab states. One of the reasons for current prices is that many arab states have been moving towards nationalizing oil production.
    There is not a source of alternative energy that is close to being able to replace our use of oil. But we should continue to develop all of those sources so that one day we can replace fossil fuels.





    That being said, it is not going to happen in the near future. We should be drilling for our own oil, building more refineries, and building nuclear power plants. Yes it will be probably 10 years before we see the effects. But if Bill Clinton had not vetoed drilling in ANWR 10 years ago, we would be pumping oil now.
    No I wouldn't, what stupid crap, we've had a dysfunctional energy policy since the oil embargoes of the 70's, it's 30 years past the time to move AWAY from oil as a primary energy source.


    Use oil and support the very terrorists who want you dead


    Use oil and allow India and China to dominate economically for the next generation


    It's time we acted like Americans again and INNOVATE our way out of the energy crisis while defeating our enemies and regaining our world leader stature
    about 45% of our oil already comes from the US. Then Canada, then Mexico. Instead of going to Saudi Arabia, why doesn't Bush visit these two countries?
    Apparently you don't live in the areas that this would affect....
    Where in the US is this magical oil? ANWR? Ha. drops in a bucket owned by BP that will cost twice as much to recover.
    drilling isnt the only problem the us hasnt built oil refinery in 30 years what we gonna do send overseas to refine
    I say drill!


    Any where there might be a drop of oil we need to drill and get it.
    No. What we need are electric cars and other fuel sources.


    It's long past time to get off the oil merry-go-round.
    YES!
    Ask Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. It is them and their friends that our hoding it up.