Obama clears way for oil drilling off US coasts

I was part of a group who lobbied our state senators and reps last week in Tallahassee to vote against drilling.

All along I felt like the advances being made at the state level would eventually help big oil at the federal level. Sadly, now it seems the other way around.

I believe Obama just gave every state senator and rep a hallpass to vote for drilling.

What a bummer. I think I'll go spend this beautiful day on a tarball free beach while I can.

oil

Totally outrageous. There goes the neighborhood! Once the foot gets in the door.......

Pennywise Poundfoolish

It seems every unscrupulous money machine is hell bent on destroying the planet. Its like some nameless insatiable black monster that consumes everything in it's path. I'm all for people prospering, but at what costs? If the costs outweigh the profits it is a bad business deal. We aren't talking about start up costs, but long-term consequential costs. Yet, this is the decision the government is heading toward- like a moth to a flame. It's ok to destroy natural beauty if the price is high enough, an apparent attitude seen in their actions. In this case, it's not even going to generate enough income for us to get lower prices because the oil companies will always come up with a reason to charge us high gas prices. Source- past experience. It seems the government is almost driven there by some unseen force- the elusive promise of riches with wings. Expected phantom jobs won't actually exist because of other people out of work that will take the position, that is, of course, if they don't starve to death in the meantime waiting for the position to open. Reminds me of the long black train to hell- catch the ride and go fast- don't worry about the destination.

Once you do everything you know to do- PRAY

This so-called progressive movement in government is one step forward, 100 steps back.
Solutions of new energy that are truly clean sources is still the answer, but we continue on the same journey, not learning from our mistakes.

The fight is not over- don't take your gloves off!

I can't tell you how disgusted and disappointed I was to hear this. Desperation? Oil lobby? Pandering? I don't get it.

But if these other areas are opened, would that lessen the "need" to drill in our backyard? Or make it more likely?

But if these other areas are opened, would that lessen the "need" to drill in our backyard? Or make it more likely?

More likely; getting their foot in the door of the long-off-limits Eastern Gulf of Mexico will give them a greater precedent and position to gradually expand closer to shore beyond the proposed 125-mile shoreline buffer. I had a bad dream several years ago about going to SGB and finding the sky, sea and sand to be be a murky blend of brown and gray, and the seascape looking like that from Dauphin Island.

This will be an opportunity not only for the oil companies, but also governments that they work closely with such as Venezuela, Mexico, Russia, etc. (see the recent story about Cuba giving RU rights just of the Strait of Florida). I suspect most of the "new jobs" will come from LA, TX, & Mexico where that experienced, skilled labor in that sector already exists.

There are other alternatives that aren't being explored seriously. This expansion will not bring down consumer prices; the producers will sustain the current market costs with the excuse of costs of new exploration/exploitation and development of regional refineries.

The administration did a bad job with this "energy plan."

Thanks President Obama.




(sarcasm off)

I'm not surprised by President Obama's recent move. It is indeed outrageous and all about payback.

Why do the west and northeastern coasts get a free pass? Is there no oil there?

Unfortunately, we were in a no win situation with this one.

The ban was going to be lifted regardless of whether Obama or McCain was elected....

Only thing we can do now is fight it HARD at the State level to keep it at least 125 miles off Florida Shores....

Why do the west and northeastern coasts get a free pass? Is there no oil there?

The west coast already has drilling. Not sure about the north east.

I guess the upshot of this is that the "China is slant drilling into our oil" folks can finally get on the "No drilling" band wagon since the oil companies can just slant drill from the edge of the Western Gulf border.

Unfortunately, we were in a no win situation with this one.

The ban was going to be lifted regardless of whether Obama or McCain was elected....

Only thing we can do now is fight it HARD at the State level to keep it at least 125 miles off Florida Shores....

Why do the west and northeastern coasts get a free pass? Is there no oil there?

Those areas have some dyed in the wool blue coasts

Everyone relax for a moment. I am not sure what the environmental implications are for drilling 125 miles offshore. While I know there are factors besides distance, a look at the map shows activity south of Alabama much closer in than anything proposed to NW Florida. While the beach in Perdido Key, Gulf Shores etc suffer with the smallest amount of silt from Mobile Bay and The Mississippi River, I have never seen a tarball there, nor any junk that has blown off a rig or support vessel.

I would wait to hear from someone who actually knows what the risk of activity 125 miles offshore is before getting into too deep of a funk. The fellow (I forget his name) who works in the spill mitigation industry who spoke at the forum at SWHS would be a good source.

A popular theory has been that the petroleum companies wanted access to near shore fields as a stepping stone to get to the federal waters...and if that is true, this might be a savior to our beaches. We will just have to watch and see how this unfolds...

It could also be that the USGS has let him know that there's not really any oil there and this is a big April fools joke to the oil companies.

It could also be that the USGS has let him know that there's not really any oil there and this is a big April fools joke to the oil companies.

Well, minority leader Boehner's office has already issued a press release stating that the real estate proposed this morning isn't near enough. Given the fact that this was a bone tossed to Republicans in the hope of warming them up to proposals on alternative energy and climate management, this idea could go nowhere, fast.

I'm not surprised by President Obama's recent move. It is indeed outrageous and all about payback.

Payback for what?

Well, minority leader Boehner's office has already issued a press release stating that the real estate proposed this morning isn't near enough. Given the fact that this was a bone tossed to Republicans in the hope of warming them up to proposals on alternative energy and climate management, this idea could go nowhere, fast.

"It's long past time for this Administration to stop delaying American energy production off all our shores and start listening to the American people who want an “all of the above” strategy to produce more American energy and create more jobs," the House GOP leader added. "Republicans are listening to the American people and have proposed a better solution – the American Energy Act – which will lower gas prices, increase American energy production, promote new clean and renewable sources of energy, and encourage greater efficiency and conservation."

God, I hate that man. He is such a putz.

Now if this was attached to cap-and-trade, I'd understand the opposition, but Boner is just being partisan here, which will not help the republicans next fall. He should be behind this with the intent to try and open it up more, not against it simply because it's "not his original idea".

God, I hate that man. He is such a putz.

Now if this was attached to cap-and-trade, I'd understand the opposition, but Boner is just being partisian here, which will not help the republicans next fall. He should be behind this with the intent to try and open it up more, not against it simply because it's "not his original idea".

This does not surprise me. It is becoming very clear that the leadership of BOTH sides have NO interest in bipartisanship. The Democrats will continue to push their agenda and could careless whether the republicans are on board or not. The republicans are automatically going to be against everything because it wasn't their idea and their ONLY focus between now and November is the elections. But NOT what is good for the country.

Nuke em all and let God sort it out....

Unfortunately, we were in a no win situation with this one.

The ban was going to be lifted regardless of whether Obama or McCain was elected....

Only thing we can do now is fight it HARD at the State level to keep it at least 125 miles off Florida Shores....

Those persistent Bermuda High southerly winds in the summer will make 125 miles of oil slick drift to our shores a cakewalk. Louisiana-quality beach water here = not good.

It could also be that the USGS has let him know that there's not really any oil there and this is a big April fools joke to the oil companies.

That would be a bit of genius on par with making Hilary Sec of State! :rofl:

Those persistent Bermuda High southerly winds in the summer will make 125 miles of oil slick drift to our shores a cakewalk. Louisiana-quality beach water here = not good.

I'm not disputing that. In facts, I'm strongly against the additional GOM drilling and have been active in trying to get the State bill killed.

My point is that the ban lift was inevitable regardless who was elected.

I am not sure what to make of Obama's decision and announcement. The only thing that I can think of is to create the air of bi-partisanship and the illusion of jobs creation. I also think it may have been a way to nip Bristol Bay in the bud, since this was excluded and rightfully so; although, this was excluded till 2017.

From the Interior's website which has a wealth of information.

"Drilling for natural gas and oil has been occurring in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico offshore Alabama and Florida for more than three decades (See Eastern Gulf of Mexico Milestones). The first of 13 natural gas and oil lease sales held offshore Florida occurred in 1959 and resulted in the issuance of 23 leases. Currently, there are 241 active leases in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.
To date, over 81 exploratory wells (see Map) have been drilled in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Thirteen wells discovered natural gas, condensate, and crude oil (see discoveries)"

Out of 81 wells only 13 produced anything and there are a total already of 241 active leases.:roll: So, I am wondering where they coming up with 350 billion gallons? Further, most of the wells have no oil, but mostly gas.Drilling in deep water is extremely expensive and less than half the wells explored actually produce anything.
Salazar Announces Comprehensive Strategy for
Offshore Oil and Gas Development and Exploration

What makes it even more confusing is this Report.
Page 6- Exploratory drilling in the deepwater GOM has found more than 6.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BBOE) since 2002, more than double the amount reported in the 2005
Deepwater Interim Report (French et al., 2005). Exploration efforts in 2008 have resulted
in 15 new deepwater discoveries (Table 1). Industry comments on many of these
discoveries are shown in Table 2. Five of these discoveries were drilled in water depths
greater than 5,000 feet (ft) [1,524 meters (m)]

In case anyone is interested here's the release about the Virginia Drilling.
http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/whatsnew/newsreal/2010/100331.pdf

The Dept. of the Interior web site is currently ground to a halt, clearly people are interested!

Finally -

Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Strategy

Looks this is just a policy change, so it's a done deal unless Congress tries to stop it with legislation.

Rig

What is going to happen when one of the floating rigs are pushed ashore here during one of the hurricanes which we know will come? Remember the rig that was pushed into Mobile bay??