Arctic oil: Facts versus Fiction (ANWR)

Senator Frank Murkowski ^ | unknown

[Eva]

The merger with Conoco has wreaked havoc on the company and plans are still up in the air. It seems that CONOCO was
not as strong as they appeared and are using some of Phillips assets to cover their butts in failed projects.

[alaskanfan]

I'm sorry to hear that. I've always thought highly of both Phillips and Conoco as energy producers.

I remember when Conoco opened their Milne Point facility on the slope, it was rather impressive at the time. If I remember correctly Conoco was also the first company to exclusively utilize double hulled tankers in Prince William sound.

[Eva]

No, you are thinking of ARCO. ARCO was bought out by BP, then the gov't forced BP to sell of the ARCO Alaska interests including the tanker company which was the best in the country. Now, CONOCO is taking over the operation.

[alaskanfan]

I thought back in the mid 80's when Conoco built and was operating the Milne Point facility(right before the big crunch), they had the first double hull tanker to operate in PWS. I could be mistaken.

[LeGrande]

The point you seem to be missing is that American oil is not price competitive and American consumers want the cheapest gas they can get.

The Saudi threat is not ( I repeat -not- ) to shut off supply it is to boost supply and put its competitors out of business. They made a big mistake in '72 when they should have boosted production. If they had, Israel would not exist today.

The big oil companies thrive on oil shortages and war. They have given up trying to control the amount of crude oil (the world is litterally floating in oil) and now they focus on limiting refineries (with the greenies help). Most of their profit comes in distributing the refined product and they can control the amount of refined products.

Anwr will not get developed for a long time because it is the last thing anyone with power and money wants. They want shortages!

[Eva]

No, BP can't develop the ANWR because the government doesn't want a totally foreign owned company to own such a large percentage of our oil. It's a good thing, too. BP was the company that convinced Clinton to write the EO, allowing Alaskan crude to be sold overseas.

[Eva]

You don't know what you are talking about. The only reason that BP wanted to sell its Alaskan crude to Japan was because they didn't own any west coast refineries. The companies with west coast refineries and are banned from owning their own intercoastal shipping company. They have since fixed that with the creation of a straw company called ATC, (Alaska Tanker Company).

[alaskanfan]

In a press release in todays (Kenai) Peninsula Clarion;

Murkowski says ANWR issue is dead

Sen. Frank Murkowski has made it official. Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will not be included in a national energy bill, even if congress can agree on a bill when lawmakers reconvene sometime after the Nov. 5 election, the senator said Friday during a news conference at his Anchorage office.

Murkowski said Democrats who oppose drilling in the refuge won't budge. And he said Sen. Jeff Binghaman, D-N.M., who is leader of the senate negotiators, has made it clear he won't send any version of the bill back to the House if it contains drilling in ANWR. "They will not accept any compromise on ANWR," Murkowski said of the Democrats.

Murkowski said construction of a North Slope natural gas pipeline remains in the energy bill but there are a few sticking points, including price supports for Alaska natural gas.

One of the most contentious issues is over how much utilities should be REQUIRED to rely on renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar.

[RightWhale]

including price supports for Alaska natural gas

That should not happen in the 'free' market. Even though it guarantees the gas pipeline will be built through Fairbanks, it also guarantees we will pay for the pipeline through taxes rather than by using gas.

[alaskanfan]

That should not happen in the 'free' market. Even though it guarantees the gas pipeline will be built through Fairbanks, it also guarantees we will pay for the pipeline through taxes rather than by using gas.

I couldn't agree more. I believe this provision was added to placate the oil companies.

[alaskanfan]

BTT

[Brad C.]

Reading back through this thread reminded me of the Milne Point camp. It sure looked good back in those days, I couldn't believe how much money they spent building such a grand building. Keeping in mind that I was staying over at Nana camp next tot he airport, nothing but ATCO trailers glued together. But even that was grand living compared to a couple of other places. Remember Child's General Store and camp.... Nice people but what a mess.

As much as Hickel is ridiculed in some circles, we are going to need someone of his ilk in order to get something done in ANWR, and possibly for the gas line. Sooner or later, the bulldozers are going to have to be sent in to get the job done. People will scream and yell, but the job needs to get done.

[alaskanfan]

I still have the old tee shirt that says "I did hard time at Milne Point."

We need to do something about development of our natural resources. IMO Frank is the man for the job.

Keeping in mind that I was staying over at Nana camp next to the airport

Who did you work for? I was living in Deadhorse proper at that time also.

[Brad C.]

Arctic Slope Telephone, or ASTAC. We had the local phone service and served 7 other native villages up on the slope. Left in 87 when the big crunch hit. Who were you with?

I still have my "Property of Deadhorse Correctional Facility" t-shirt. Been a long time since I saw the place. Did you see those pictures of "Toby" the grizzly that got into one of the camps last week. They actually shot him up on the 2nd floor of one of the camps.

[Brad C.]

Should mention that the bear weighed over 700 pounds, I have a hard time imagining just how they got the carcass out of the camp after they shot it. It is not like they can draw and quarter it in the hallway. Kind of messy, if you know what I mean.

[alaskanfan]

Arctic Slope Telephone, or ASTAC. We had the local phone service and served 7 other native villages up on the slope.

I've dealt with those ASTAC boys and Flossie for years. I've worked for Brooks Range Supply, Conam, Alaska Petroleum Contractors, and SKW. The last place I worked was over in Nuiqsut during the Alpine development, and then on the village water and sewer project. What a mess.

I didn't see any pictures of Toby, but I read about it in the Clarion. Saw names of people I know being interviewed in relation to the bear being killed. I can't wait for my buddy that works security for Phillips/Conoco to get home this week. He always has amazing stories.