[GulfBreeze]

I like this chart but I wonder if anyone has ever looked at he reduction in natural seepage of an area once drilling begins to relieve the pressure in that area.

In other words, I wonder if some drilling results in a net REDUCTION in the amount of crude in the water???

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

In other words, I wonder if some drilling results in a net REDUCTION in the amount of crude in the water???

Yes. Drilling well lessen pressure and that will reduce seepage.

And in addition the 4% leakage from shipping and tankering operations should go down also. Especially if they run underwater pipelines from the offshore rigs to storage tanks on land.