No... Make up the lost flow with oil in the lower 48 so we have backup. Take the Alaskan pipeline down, upgrade then bring it back online. Also stop exporting gasoline which will help.
The problem discussed here is not the amount of oil in the lower 48. It is the amount of oil flowing through the Alaskan pipeline.
Take the Alaskan pipeline down, upgrade then bring it back online.
Are you suggesting we take down the Alaskan pipeline then replace it with a smaller pipeline? What do you mean by upgrade?
Why not open up more areas to production and get the taxes at a more competitive level instead of just giving up and accepting a declining position?