Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

No Arctic drilling
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 4/10/02 | Editorial staff

Posted on 04/10/2002 3:04:10 PM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson

Edited on 04/13/2004 2:40:07 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

IT'S A HARMFUL illusion to think that tapping an Alaskan wildlife refuge will help this country's energy woes. The oil remains far away, costly to extract and limited in quantity. Drilling will be destructive to a unique and fragile region.


(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government
KEYWORDS: anwar; energylist; enviralists
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-126 next last
To: CyberCowboy777
There is a big change in Florida today.Century Village is buzzing. Blood pressure pill sales are soaring. They are so mad at Lieberman."I'll never give another cent to a democrat if they don't drill in Alaska" Jeb will win Broward and Palm Beach at this rate. Actually heard some ladies debating best why to get Gore/Lieberman stickers off their cars.Gotta love it.
81 posted on 04/10/2002 4:51:34 PM PDT by not-alone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: Homer_J_Simpson
actually according to Dashole there are 50 votes right now,Paging VP Cheney.
82 posted on 04/10/2002 4:52:35 PM PDT by linn37
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KnowYourEnemy
I am all for Nuke Power

We still need oil right now and for the next decade at least

And You are giving false info concerning ANWR (Your Pic was a joke right?)

83 posted on 04/10/2002 4:52:43 PM PDT by CyberCowboy777
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: Archaeus
Call me niave, but I had an idea on a similar thread,
Why can't the Federal Government,(the Bush administration)
give control of the land back to Alaska, and allow them
to decide?

Any Congressional authorities out there that may have an answer?

Thanks.

84 posted on 04/10/2002 4:55:22 PM PDT by codercpc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: KnowYourEnemy
"Another problem is the fact that it will probably be 10 years before we see any oil, so it doesn't matter how fast we drill."

I think, with the current technology, that they will probably be able to bring the product to Prudhoe Bay facilities, join the TAP system there, and add the product to whatever is coming from the North Slope to the terminal in Valdez.

85 posted on 04/10/2002 4:55:59 PM PDT by redhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: KnowYourEnemy
We should look into developing new forms of fuel, ....

I know nothing about you, but I do have a suggestion. You say it will take ten years to develop the fields, and we should be looking a alternative methods of power. In that ten years, you or some one you know of, could well have time to earn a Doctorate in Chemical engineering or soome other related field. With that knowledge, you might well be able to find that alternative. Think of the benefits you could provide to all mankind.

86 posted on 04/10/2002 4:56:27 PM PDT by Brad C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: KnowYourEnemy
Since my cover story on ANWR — and related columns — came out, I've gotten a lot of e-mail from people. I will get around to the critics elsewhere and later because I don't have the time here and now. But I will respond to one request. A number of people have mentioned that they'd love to see pictures of what the real ANWR looks like. Some people are especially distressed by the pictures in the latest issue of National Geographic that apparently show beautiful mountain vistas and the like.

Well, those pictures are accurate, I'm sure, even though I haven't seen them. They're just not pictures of the sliver of ANWR where the drilling would be. Unfortunately, I didn't take a lot of pictures while I was up there, and the ones I took weren't intended for publication so much as for visual note taking.

Still, I do have a few shots that will give you a sense of what it looks like up there on the coastal plain. They are of mediocre quality — taken from the cockpit of a small, very jerky plane — so don't give me grief about how I'm no Ansel Adams or how I'm being unfair by showing crappy pictures of what Joe Lieberman calls "one of God's most awesome creations." Also, I don't have time to check against my written notes, so some of these pictures may be of the Prudhoe Bay side of the Canning River, which forms the border of ANWR's coastal plain. The important thing is that it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the ANWR side and the Prudhoe side without checking my notes and a map.

So, this and this [133, 134] are pictures of one of the spots where the Canning River lets out into the Arctic Ocean. Just beyond it is ANWR. And this and this [144, 145] are pictures of what I believe is a typical oil-loading facility on what amounts to the coastal plain on the Prudhoe side of the Canning River. This [142] is a typical pipeline running over the tundra and so is this [143]. This [140] is what the coastal plain and most of the tundra in Prudhoe look like, complete with the puddles I described. And so is this [141]. And so is this [137]. There some places without the puddles, however [196].

Now, as for the mountains in ANWR: There are many beautiful mountain ranges in this South Carolina-sized wilderness. But the ones closest to the coastal plain are not covered in lush trees, as you might think from looking at the media coverage. This far north it's too cold, dark, and bleak during the winter for trees to survive. So these mountains are impressive geologically, but — at least from what I saw — they look like barren, massive piles of gravel. For example: [169] [179] [171]. And some have really cool glacier-ice formations on them, like this [178]. But remember, these [180] are still very far from this [150].

I did see some caribou closer than this [150] but I didn't snap any good pictures. As you can see [151], they are hanging out on the shore of the Arctic Ocean trying to escape the bugs. I like to call the one on the very far left-hand corner Arthur. Speaking of the Arctic Ocean, the ice never really goes away [152]. Here you can see the dividing line between what were two giant sheets of ice [154]. That line is not man-made in any way.

And finally, this is me [131] looking like a doofus in hardhat and goggles at the Alpine Oil installation. The reason I don't look fatter is that standing against a large petroleum facility has a beneficial slimming effect, which is the real reason why I am favor of opening up ANWR. I do not pretend that you couldn't take prettier pictures up close on the tundra where the drilling might be, but that's not why I was there. And, besides, you couldn't take pictures of beautiful mountains where the drilling would be because, well, there are no mountains of any kind where the drilling would be.

Anyway, I've got more pictures, but that should do the trick. Besides, this didn't save me any time anyway. I'll just have to wing the speech.

87 posted on 04/10/2002 4:56:42 PM PDT by CyberCowboy777
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: zoyd
Good Lord, you've never heard of ground squirrels? They can dig almost as fast as a rig can drill.
88 posted on 04/10/2002 5:08:45 PM PDT by gaspar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: KnowYourEnemy
"but I'm not keen on drilling for more oil, at least not using the current technological means."

THESE technological means?

Yeah, I gotta agree!
That looks like a REAL mess!
/sarcasm off/

You, sir, are an idiot!

89 posted on 04/10/2002 5:10:41 PM PDT by COB1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: KnowYourEnemy
Um, KYE: I hate to tell you this, but that is NOT a picture of ANYPLACE in ANWR. Somewhere in the Brooks Range, probably. ANWR is flat. Like piss on a plate. Like a table top. Like an old maid's chest. FLAT. If you stand on a chair, you can see the curvature of the earth. Oh. Did I mention that ANWR is FLAT??
90 posted on 04/10/2002 5:13:15 PM PDT by redhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: KnowYourEnemy
Here's the facts, from an Alaskan!

here it is in the summer

here it is in the spring!

this is it in the winter, not much different huh?

this is PERMANENT wilderness

here's how much it scares away the caribou

here's you a couple of maps

Only 8% of ANWR Would Be Considered for Exploration: Only the 1.5 million acre or 8% on the northern coast of ANWR is being considered for development. The remaining 17.5 million acres or 92% of ANWR will remain permanently closed to any kind of development. If oil is discovered, less than 2000 acres of the over 1.5 million acres of the Coastal Plain would be affected.

Jobs To Be Created: Between 250,000 and 735,000 jobs are estimated to be created by development of the Coastal Plain.

Economic Impact: Between 1980 and 1994, North Slope oil field development and production activity contributed over $50 billion to the nations economy, directly impacting each state in the union.

America's Best Chance for a Major Discovery: The Coastal Plain of ANWR is America's best possibility for the discovery of another giant "Prudhoe Bay-sized" oil and gas discovery in North America. U.S. Department of Interior estimates range from 9 to 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil.

. Imported Oil too Costly: The U.S. imports over 55% of the nation's needed petroleum. These oil imports cost more than $55.1 billion a year (this figure does not include the military costs of protecting that imported supply). These figures are rising and could exceed 65% by the year 2005.

. No Negative Impact on Animals: Oil and gas development and wildlife are successfully coexisting in Alaska's arctic. For example, the Central Arctic Caribou Herd (CACH) at Prudhoe Bay has grown from 3,000 to as high as 23,400 during the last 20 years of operation. In 1995, the Central Arctic Caribou Herd size was estimated to be 18,100 animals.

All in all, I think you need to get your priorities straight and your facts.
Sorry I don't know how to make the pictures any bigger.

91 posted on 04/10/2002 5:13:46 PM PDT by knak
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: KnowYourEnemy
The 6month oil theory is a safe bet, there is estimated to be 3billion barrells worth of oil that is economicaly feasible to drill for. 18 billion total, but much of that is unatainable given current technoligies.

Are you going to back up ANY of these lies with facts?

You keep repeating them even in the face of sources to the contrary.

92 posted on 04/10/2002 5:14:14 PM PDT by TomB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: Brad C.
We Alaskans call them the state bird......mosquitos
93 posted on 04/10/2002 5:17:58 PM PDT by knak
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: knak
I bet they are bigger in my neighborhood than they are in yours! Don't you love these people that may spend a single vacation week here, looking out a bus window and thinking they "know" Alaska because they have been here.

A few years back I caught the train from Fairbanks down to the Park for a weekend. I was in one of the fancy Tour cars with the big domes, not wanting to mention names. Anyway, a big, big guy got on after me, sat down in back and buried his nose in the NY Times. Didn't see his face the whole trip. When we off loaded at the Park, he started YELLING at one of the tour guides about how much money this trip cost, and how there was no wildlife, blah blah blah. Tourists are wonderful, it's no wonder they have a season for them. (grin)

94 posted on 04/10/2002 5:33:40 PM PDT by Brad C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

To: Brad C.
Tourists are wonderful, it's no wonder they have a season for them.

Yea, but they need to increase the bag limit.

95 posted on 04/10/2002 5:42:45 PM PDT by TomB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: Brad C.
Don't you love these people that may spend a single vacation week here, looking out a bus window and thinking they "know" Alaska because they have been here.

I know. I get a kick out of the tourist trains too. You see the people hanging out taking pics of the grocery stores here. Like they're amazed we have any!

96 posted on 04/10/2002 5:43:20 PM PDT by knak
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: Homer_J_Simpson
oil remains far away, costly to extract and limited in quantity. Drilling will be destructive to a unique and fragile region

U.S. Geological Survey - 1980. In 1980, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the Coastal Plain could contain up to 17 billion barrels of oil and 34 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

U.S. Department of Interior - 1987. After several years of surface geological investigations, aeromagnetic surveys, and two winter seismic surveys (in 1983-84 and 1984-85), the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), in its April, 1987 report on the oil and gas potential of the Coastal Plain, estimated that there are billions of barrels of oil to be discovered in the area. DOI estimates that "in-place resources" range from 4.8 billion to 29.4 billion barrels of oil. Recoverable oil estimates ranges from 600 million barrels at the low end to 9.2 billion barrels at the high end. They also reported identifying 26 separate oil and gas prospects in the Coastal Plain that could each contain "super giant" fields (500 million barrels or more).

Only drilling will tell. The geologic indicators are very favorable for the presence of significant oil and gas resources in ANWR, but the limited data means that there is a high level of uncertainty about how much oil and gas may be present. Consequently, current estimates represent the best scientific guesses. However, most geologists agree that the potential is on the order of billions of barrels of recoverable oil and trillions of cubic feet of recoverable gas and that these resources may rival the initial reserves at Prudhoe Bay. The validity of these estimates can only be proved by drilling exploratory wells. Authorization for exploration can only be given by Congress and the President.

97 posted on 04/10/2002 5:49:21 PM PDT by kcvl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KnowYourEnemy
You didn't address the central question. If the amount of oil in ANWR is so insignificant, why would any big profit driven company bother to develop it?
98 posted on 04/10/2002 6:04:00 PM PDT by FairWitness
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: FairWitness
arg...I never said that the oil deposits in ANWR are Insignificant as far as profit is concerned. I was refering it compared to the national daily oil intake. It won't be nearly enough to ween us off MEast oil.
99 posted on 04/10/2002 6:11:06 PM PDT by KnowYourEnemy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 98 | View Replies]

To: KnowYourEnemy
It won't be nearly enough to ween us off MEast oil.

You really aren't reading all the informative and interesting replies to you, are you? See at least # 91 and 97 above please.

100 posted on 04/10/2002 6:14:52 PM PDT by Alas Babylon!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-126 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson