Peak Oil News and Message Boards

WASHINGTON -- Jittery about political fallout from high gasoline prices, the Senate today endorsed an inventory of offshore oil and gas resources — a move that critics warned could be the first step toward easing the decades-old moratorium on new drilling off most of the U.S. coast.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said the inventory would "let the American people know what they own...so we can make a good decision" on offshore drilling in the event of a crisis.

nth wrote:No, it is not already known.
I am waiting for 2008 when Australian firms contract with US DOD expires and everyone will probably have access to equipment to find oil and gas by simply flying over it.

oli wrote:

nth wrote:No, it is not already known.
I am waiting for 2008 when Australian firms contract with US DOD expires and everyone will probably have access to equipment to find oil and gas by simply flying over it.

Ah yes, the gravity-gradiometer.

I thought this had seen field-tests though (from what I remember of an old sciam.com article), only was deemed to not deliver the accuracy of less costly methods, for areas of interest.

Legislation that would end a quarter-century ban on drilling in most of the Outer Continental Shelf advanced in the House on Wednesday. The measure would allow oil and gas development in restricted offshore waters unless a state prohibited it.

But the bill's prospects in the Senate are poor as Florida's two senators — as well as others from coastal states — have threatened to filibuster any legislation that would end the drilling moratorium in most coastal waters outside the western Gulf of Mexico.

Waters within 50 miles of shore would still be protected by the House bill. But oil and gas drilling would be allowed in areas beyond that unless a state's legislature and governor act to preserve the ban.

mjdlight wrote:The Cosmic Irony Department checks in and notes that today is the 50th Anniversary of the Interstate Highway System.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13616498/site/newsweek/

savethehumans wrote:I love your avi, emersonbiggins! And coming from Austin (former GWB residence), you are uniquely qualified to use it!

Also just how much oil are we looking at here in these currently restricted areas?

The total amount of recoverable oil and gas estimated in the areas currently closed is about 34 billion barrels of oil equivalent, according to the U.S. Interior Department. The U.S. uses about 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent in natural gas and oil each year, according to the Energy Information Administration.

savethehumans wrote:The Senate may/may not pass this sucker. But once it DOES pass (and it will), it will be interesting (if tragic) to see how much damage the oil companies will do to the oceans before TSHTF and it all becomes a moot point.

mekrob wrote:
from CNN.com

The total amount of recoverable oil and gas estimated in the areas currently closed is about 34 billion barrels of oil equivalent, according to the U.S. Interior Department.

But I've heard other estimates on Fox that the reserves are in the upper 80's, which is probably just the OOIP, and thus just spin.