Oil Drilling Offshore. (USA)

[Agrosmurf]

Do you think this enormous oil spill will change any of the United States off shore oil drilling strategies/patterns/regulations? Or Will we disband off shore oil drilling entirely? And will the company that contracted the drill be held liable?

This topic came up in my economics class somehow, and most agreed (Including me) that few, if any, new safety measures will be taken, and drilling will resume at the same pace.

What do you think?

 

[Zacharine]

Nothing significant will change, because this was an unexpected accident and reasonable measures were taken beforehand to minimize the risk of this happening. At least on paper. And if the papers weren't followed, instructions obeyed etc, it is the fault of company executives, middle management and on-site management.

In other words, when the subject was first discussed a long time ago, and permits were issued, this very scenario or something close to it was considered, and it was deemed an acceptable risk (with safety measures X and Y implemented) back then.

As you said, some new safety measures will be taken, and business will continue as normal.

If anyone at all will be held liable, I believe it will be
a) the foreman of the shift the accident happened during of, for not working safe enough/following instructions.
b) the inspectors who had last signed papers saying the preventitive measures were adequate and machines in proper condition, and thus verifying the operative condition of the rig (when something apparently wasn't in sufficiently good condition).
c) company executives, for failing to supercvice the documentation, safety instructions, their application and the management of the rig, as well as for being unprepared for the disaster.
d) all of the above

 

[Marter]

I think that it'll get people using the oil sands more, as opposed to offshore drilling. Safety measures will also have to be increased for them to continue drilling.

 

[Zorg Machine]

It's one of the few environment question that I care about (the rest also have to do with oil) and I think we should get rid of all of the rigs as soon as we can.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Oh, it's already being used to push for more and more regulation of the industry, which is already among the most regulated, which means it will cost more and more to get.

The biggest problem is we have the eco-nuts here that won't let us use the newly developed methods for creating crude from shale oil at a cheaper rate than drilling, or turning coal into sweet oil, or drilling in easier to maintain areas.

 

[TheTim]

No, if we stop drilling in the coast it is estimated that we would be paying 14 bucks for a gallon of gas pretty fast.

 

[TheSeventhLoneWolf]

It will start the plot of metal gear solid 2: Sons of liberty.

On topic. I wouldn't imagine there being much change.

 

[Agrosmurf]

Quite possibly, we could start using Oil sands more, but do you think we would use less off-shore drilling as a result? I mean the rate at which the USA drills has remained constant for a long time. (As in for every one oil well that we abandon, we create one oil well). So will any shift in the type of drilling we utilize, naturally result in a decrease in other forms of drilling? And if so, aren't we inevitably going to have to dill offshore for oil when we run out of others?

 

[Marter]

Quite possibly, we could start using Oil sands more, but do you think we would use less off-shore drilling as a result? I mean the rate at which the USA drills has remained constant for a long time. (As in for every one oil well that we abandon, we create one oil well). So will any shift in the type of drilling we utilize, naturally result in a decrease in other forms of drilling? And if so, aren't we inevitably going to have to dill offshore for oil when we run out of others?

I think for the time being, there will be a drop in drilling offshore, but in a few months/years time, we'll be right back out there again. Hopefully with better safety measures.

 

[VanityGirl]

I doubt it'll change much. Maybe they'll put more safety measures in place, but this was a random accident. Even if all safety standards are met, there's still a chance for an unfortunate accident to happen.

The oil spill is sad, but it won't change anything.

 

[Kpt._Rob]

I wish things would change, but most Americans aren't aware of the degree to which politicians (from all parties) have been sleeping with all the same lobbyiests. And the oil industry isn't going to want to change.

We're going to have the same shitty useless protections that will ultimately cause untold amounts of harm to the planet we need to survive because we want everything for nothing. As an American, I would actually like to invite any more environmentally friendly nations to please invade us, take over, and force some legitimate environmental restrictions on us, because we're too fucking stupid to do it for ourselves, and we're not the only ones who are going to have to pay the price.

 

[arcticphoenix95]

Oh, it's already being used to push for more and more regulation of the industry, which is already among the most regulated, which means it will cost more and more to get.

The biggest problem is we have the eco-nuts here that won't let us use the newly developed methods for creating crude from shale oil at a cheaper rate than drilling, or turning coal into sweet oil, or drilling in easier to maintain areas.

i think it won't matter. we're running low on oil as it is.

 

[Agrosmurf]

I wish things would change, but most Americans aren't aware of the degree to which politicians (from all parties) have been sleeping with all the same lobbyiests. And the oil industry isn't going to want to change.

We're going to have the same shitty useless protections that will ultimately cause untold amounts of harm to the planet we need to survive because we want everything for nothing. As an American, I would actually like to invite any more environmentally friendly nations to please invade us, take over, and force some legitimate environmental restrictions on us, because we're too fucking stupid to do it for ourselves, and we're not the only ones who are going to have to pay the price.

I see what you're getting at. "The greedy Americans". But quite honestly, any other country with the same financial, and inter-political influential position as us would be exactly the same way.

Remember this. Absolute power, corrupts absolutely.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Oh, it's already being used to push for more and more regulation of the industry, which is already among the most regulated, which means it will cost more and more to get.

The biggest problem is we have the eco-nuts here that won't let us use the newly developed methods for creating crude from shale oil at a cheaper rate than drilling, or turning coal into sweet oil, or drilling in easier to maintain areas.

i think it won't matter. we're running low on oil as it is.

Wouldn't be too hard to open up. A professor in Texas developed oil from coal, and estimates it'd cost $45 a barrel, and we have enough shale oil to last for 500 years in Nevada alone, if the government would allow us to hydrofrack it.

And the claim that we're running out is a myth, because wells thought to be tapped out in Pennsylvania are starting to seep again, because oil is naturally created by trapped methane and water deep in the earth's crust, heated and pressurized. Technically a reusable source of energy, but it takes a LONG time to restore itself.

 

[arcticphoenix95]

it still causes pollution, and we have alternative fuel sources (geothermal for example).

 

[Kpt._Rob]

I wish things would change, but most Americans aren't aware of the degree to which politicians (from all parties) have been sleeping with all the same lobbyiests. And the oil industry isn't going to want to change.

We're going to have the same shitty useless protections that will ultimately cause untold amounts of harm to the planet we need to survive because we want everything for nothing. As an American, I would actually like to invite any more environmentally friendly nations to please invade us, take over, and force some legitimate environmental restrictions on us, because we're too fucking stupid to do it for ourselves, and we're not the only ones who are going to have to pay the price.

I see what you're getting at. "The greedy Americans". But quite honestly, any other country with the same financial, and inter-political influential position as us would be exactly the same way.

Remember this. Absolute power, corrupts absolutely.

That's why I, personally speaking, have spent my life, fingers crossed, waiting for a technocracy. Or perhaps for the aliens from the original The Day the Earth Stood Still. Either way, you're right that all humans tend to let power go to their heads, still, there are solutions, and I'd be more than happy to stop being a "superpower" if this country would just start taking care of the only planet we've currently got. (Or if someone would force us to -hint hint-)

 

[Virus0015]

it still causes pollution, and we have alternative fuel sources (geothermal for example).

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that geothermal is not viable in most areas (i.e. the majority of the earth's crust). Iceland aren't the only ones using it to a large extent because no one else thought of it, it is only viable in areas where the earth's crust is sufficiently thin.

 

[arcticphoenix95]

it still causes pollution, and we have alternative fuel sources (geothermal for example).

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that geothermal is not viable in most areas (i.e. the majority of the earth's crust). Iceland aren't the only ones using it to a large extent because no one else thought of it, it is only viable in areas where the earth's crust is sufficiently thin.

i used geothermal as an EXAMPLE. there are others. bio fuels, wind, solar, nuclear, hydrothermal, even antimatter (when we have enough money to develope it) and others (i couldn't remember them) EDIT: they're not ready, but at least we have other options.

 

[Ishadus]

I adore that nearly the entirety of my province is supplied by hydroelectric power. I wish more areas of the Earth had more access to easily renewable energy sources.

That being said, way too many people use the argument of "it's slightly more difficult to introduce and sustain renewable sources of energy, so let's keep doing the laziest thing possible. Also, the idea of change makes me wet myself and have bad dreams."

I'd LOVE to say that horrible environmental and economic disasters like this one would be a catalyst for change, but unfortunately I understand the mentality of humanity too well. Little, if anything, will change. It's just simply easier not to.

 

[Brain_Cleanser]

It's one of the few environment question that I care about (the rest also have to do with oil) and I think we should get rid of all of the rigs as soon as we can.

Alright, I have to ask, even though it's opening a personal can of worms, but do you think we should pull out of Iraq too?

Anyway, I'm for offshore drilling, I actually like the idea. I live in one area under heavy consideration for offshore drilling, and yeah. I don't have anyproblems cutting gas prices, and the platforms look relatively badass. And I don't really care about a few problems that have happened here and there, or the massive wave of incompetence going on in the gulf right now (If they've fixed it, I don't know, The Daily Show's my main news source, and they've been off this week.)