[RightWhale]

The way it looks right now, and the way it looks to those in Congress who favor leasing ANWR production, is that the North Slope has about a relatively steady 20 years to run if ANWR is phased in now. If ANWR is delayed, North Slope production will fall by that much delay, and then pick up a little when ANWR begins production. Better to have a steady production for 20 years than sporadic production for a longer period. What else might be done from other sources is a different question, but at least they would have North Slope steady for 20 years while they get something else going.

[Marine_Uncle]

"Better to have a steady production for 20 years than sporadic production for a longer period."
Obviously refineries would like to know what they must do to refine the stuff over the long hull, just to name one part of the picture. Let the drilling begin!