Virginia Senate committee kills offshore drilling proposal

It says that platforms were destroyed, not that oil was released into the gulf.

There are mechanisms in place to prevent widespread release of oil from rigs into the ocean.

I do concede that there was probably some release of oil and other contaminants into the water following the destruction of the rigs. My guess (unsubstantiated as it is) would be that the amount of contamination from the destroyed rigs is insignificant as it wasn't reported. Not like the reports of all sorts of contamination released from shore-based facilities.

Quote from a MMS report:

“The overall damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has shown them to be the greatest
natural disasters to oil and gas development in the history of the Gulf of Mexico,” MMS
Regional Director Chris Oynes said. He noted, “Just last year, in the devastating Hurricane Ivan,
there were seven platforms destroyed, compared with the 115 platforms destroyed in Katrina and
Rita.”

I'm not an oil expert but usually platforms are offshore?

The ad hominem fallacy is when you reject an argument because of by whom it is made, which is exactly what you did. You have not addressed the arguments made in the article. There are no 68 million idle oil lease acres.

The leases are made in blocks, which include areas the oil company has no expectation for finding petroleum as well as areas that look promising. The leases are made before any advanced exploration has been made. Many contain no recoverable petroleum, but the lessee does not know that until it has the lease. Those useless acres are considered idle. Even if there are exploitable pockets, they may have to wait until a drilling rig is available, many are booked years in advance. Until they are actively drilled, they are regarded as idle. After the oil is extracted, they are again considered idle until the lease expires.

As I pointed out before, this would be like considering a wheat field idle except for the days when the wheat is being harvested.

is actually available to drill? Apparently 72% of Virginia's offshore drilling zone is within the U.S. Navy's Virginia Capes Operating Area, the principal training area for air, surface and submarine units. In the sake of national security, is it wise for us to impose on that training area that is vital to the Armed Forces? Let's make the oil companies use their record profits to utilize the 68 million acres onshore and offshore that are being leased by big oil companies, but not currently used to produce energy before we risk our coastline for what amounts to a drop in the bucket.

and I am not attacking the man, I am attacking your assertion as this as an article(sorry that you are unable to realize or ackowledge that). An editorial is an opinion piece. An editorial written by the CEO of a trade group does not constitute proof. You are attempting to cite as a 3rd party endorsement something that does not qualify as such. How am I attacking the man and not your argument again? And by the way, I read the article, and it reads as spin for the industry, which again, explains why it is in the editorial section. Additionally, it is in API's interest to receive as much land for the industry as it possibly could, so he is not an objective voice. What you are citing is an article written by a fox asserting that the henhouse is indeed safe. You sir, need to look up the definition of an ad hominem attack. if we do drill for oil off the coast, where would that oil go? In storage spaces. You can't dis

The oil spills after Katrina were from onshore storage facilities, not from producing wells. The same thing would happen if South Norfolk was flooded today. They had nothing to do with offshore production.

There has not been a major spill from a US offshore well since the late 60's when a Chevron well was destroyed by a hurricane. Even then, the result was a result of criminal negligence, and those responsible were convicted. Since the 50's, US offshore wells have been required to have redundant "storm chokes" which are failsafe valves which are closed by the well's own pressure if the top of the well is carried away. In the Chevron spill, the chokes were falsely documented to have been installed but were absent.

Drilling offshore and bringing the product to shore by pipeline is actually far less likely to result in a spill than importing oil by ship, which we do now.

I have and your numbers are miniscule [on the grander scale]. The largest spill in your link was 3,264 barrels of oil spilled after Katrina. Natural seeps in the Gulf are around 2.53 MILLION barrels of oil yearly. Now point me to the beaches and other natural impacts from those? Most of the spills you will see [from Katrina] are land-based due to on-shore tank spills, not from sea-going rigs

I have personally never said there were no spills after Katrina, I have said there was no environmental impact and the rigs have a more positive impact on the environment than negative.

Your facts do not support your rants...

Also, it takes years to bring facilities on-line so impact on gas prices are YEARS away if oil was drilled for in the Atlantic.

Using your line of logic, no one should attend college because it takes years to get a degr

So, you think it makes sense to reject a factual argument based simply upon who makes it? Nearly all the real experts on oil production are, by definition, involved in the industry. The article explains, in detail, what goes into the figures used to claim the oil leases are "idle." The arguments are clear and convincing and, if you are willing to do the work, easy to check out. You don't get to dismiss them just because they are made by someone on the other side of the argument.

Included in those "idle" leases are those which are still being explored, in the process of being developed, explored and found not to be commercially viable at current prices or even those which have been drained but are still under lease. All those "idle" leases aren't really idle at all, any more than wheat field is idle except for those days when the wheat is being harvested.

Your ad hominem argument not withstanding, th

an editorial from the WSJ written by the president and ceo of a trade association that (from their website) "represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry" does not constitute proof. Nice try.

A Material Management preliminary report:

www.mms.gov/ooc/press/2006/press0501.htm

gives a assessment of pipelines damaged and platforms destroyed from both Katrina and Rita and mentions that as the immediate concern was other issues (such as saving humans) that hindered their assessment.

check skywarn blog for a picture

Please stop spreading misinformation that there were no spills because of Katrina and that off shore drilling is risk-free. Also, it takes years to bring facilities on-line so impact on gas prices are YEARS away if oil was drilled for in the Atlantic.

We need all the Facts to make good decisions, not talking points.

I am not a PETA fanatic (in fact I was fishing last weekend), but even if I concede your probable point, how will drilling for natural gas off the coast of VA lower the price of oil? I'm all ears...

I'm sorry all you PETA fanatics out there, but tell me this, are those fish going to provide us with cheaper fuel?

where are the pictures then? there is no proof at all and infact they shut down the facilities before hand so there would be minimal damage..you can't tell if they came from the inland oil suppliers or not. I see everyone here is complaining about the speculators, the speculators buy contracts on the fact that oil is going to be worth more in the future, if the united states says tommorow we will now start an aggressive plan to drill now in every possible place, while promoting and giving incentive for conservation. The price of oil would drop below 75 dollars a barrel by the end of the summer. Here's another fact the world seeps more petrol naturally in one location then all the rigs combined do! Heres another fact "fossil fuels" as they are named aren't on a limited supply, if that was the case then all life that came to be fossil fuels died on ONE DAY! stop being so ignorant life has been on this plane

After Katrina, oil spills were large enough that they were visible from space-so please stop trying to tell us that there are never oil spills and then they don't make too big a mess.Is every natural resource only of exploitation?

Are Virginia's coastline, the Chesapeake Bay worth preserving?

"Further, the ability of speculators to cause long term changes in the market is getting way too much credit. Speculation can cause temporary fluctuations in fungible goods pricing, but attempting to do so in the long term simply doesn't work and bankrupts those who try."

Mr. Tabor, with all due respect, I would say that that statement above would apply in this situation, much as it did with the real estate 'boom' that we, and the banks who bankrupted themselves, are now suffering from. Suffering so much so that the federal government had to bail them out to the tune of billions of dollars. Money that our government really doesn't have. So yes. I'd say 'speculators' are not really the sharpest knives in the drawer, nor do they really think 'long term effects'. They are only interested in the $$$ they can make NOW.

"After Katrina did you see any oil spills in the gulf? HUNDREDS of rigs were destro

WE MUST BECOME ENERGY EFFICIENT TO ACHIEVE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
The last thing the OPEC cartel want is for the USA to become energy efficient and decrease our oil consumption. Once we make investments into alternative energy as a country we will not look back. Once we are out of their control we won't need to be mired in MIddle eastern wars and other efforts to support troubled monarchies and dictators to maintain a continuous supply of cheap crude.
This will be a long term challenge just as our grand parents experienced during World War II. So if you want to make sure our children have a chance at a good life stop snivelling and whining and start practicing energy efficiencies.

Let me get this straight. We want to drill in some of the toughest places on earth at great cost so we can get cheap oil. Economics 101 says this oil will be anything but cheap! This is big oil trying to find some place to drill since all the oil rich countries have nationalized their natural resources and have no place to go (see BP and Russia). Furhter, if you don't believe speculation can effect prices remember California's electrical crisis...courtesy of Enron?

Also, did anyone read the article in USA Today that showed a graph where supply and demand have always (in the past 30 years) stayed constant. So why the huge increase now? Answer, artifical constriction of supply by OPEC and then speculators that never take physical delivery of oil. Want to drive down prices? Force anyone speculating to take delivery and refine oil with 30 days of delivery date or pay a tax for holding it.

WAKE UP PEOPLE! Think real hard! After Katrina did you see any oil spills in the gulf? HUNDREDS of rigs were destroyed, damaged or torn from their moorings, yet, not one single oil spill? It's called technology, yes, we can prevent spills from happening. The fish like to hang around the rigs, kinda like an artificial reef! In other words, it's GOOD for sea life! Off the coast of VA, we have mostly NATURAL GAS reserves. YES! the same natural gas that is in the news today by going up 35%! The revenue coming in to VA will help our schools, roads and infrastructure. It would provide a much needed tax relieve to the citizens of VA. We are way over taxed, now the democrats are denying us that relieve. The democrats are denying us the funds for our schools. The democrats are denying us the improvements to our roads. The democrats have gotten the last vote they'll get from me. I don't care for the republicans, b

Regarding the supposed 68 millionacres of idle oil leases, see http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121391719487790187.html It is simply untrue, much like claiming a room in your house is unused because you are not in it at the moment. Just another example of "Figures don't lie, but liars figure."

Further, the ability of speculators to cause long term changes in the market is getting way too much credit. Speculation can cause temporary fluctuations in fungible goods pricing, but attempting to do so in the long term simply doesn't work and bankrupts those who try.

What took place in New Orleans caused America to go into even a greater crisis. It's not the oil it's the refining of the oil that's the problem. And therefore we don't have time and that's what it is. G d said remember what I told you about the big "E". For those that don't know it, G d said there's a big "E" that's being brought forth. Not petroleum, this is going to be a new source. G d said they are going to have to press in to get that energy or that source to this Nation. In other words they can not rely on the source or the natural resources. They can not rely upon oil. There is something else, the government of the USA is about to release that, and release it it shall. It's going to be a fantastic thing. All I know is I heard it in the secret place. This is going to force the United States of America, where they are at the point where they will not rely on the Middle East anymore. There will be a source that they will

...are repeats of what each of us have heard on the various radio/tv news shows, websites, and so on.
Vice becoming sheep - check these stories out for yourselves and lay off the party bashing/cliche's.

I grew up on the Gulfcoast of Florida, never saw an oil rig, never saw an oil spill. I lived for several years on the Gulfcoast of Mississippi. Again, never saw a rig, never saw a spill. To the idiots who think it will wreck their views, get over yourself, no ones eyesight is that good, and unless you take a specific ride out to a rig, you too would never see it. From what I've read recently, both about oil rigs and oil pipelines, the plant and animal life flourishes around both. As this debacle continues, it shows us more and more that it is all about the obscene greed of everyone in power and their total disdain and disregard for the populace. They could care less about trees, fish or caribou, it's all about the money and how much more they get. None will be satisified until this entire country is bankrupt and on its knees. To hell with the politicians, one and all, they are all deceitful, rancid and evil to their very cores.

And another thing...

Rigs in and of themselves may not leak...but do you really think that there won't be storage facilities or refineries that come along with them? Not to mention the increase in traffic on our waters, extra garbage, making our waters dirty. Also, since we DO live in a hurricane zone, you have to take into consideration what the affect of something like Katrina and Rita would have on the rigs and the facilities that support them. Do you really want to see a rig parked against the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel like one did during Katrina down south?

Here is ANOTHER article about this. http://www.mms.gov/ooc/press/2006/press0501.htm

We just need to be careful in our decisions and not make those knee jerk reactions because of outside influences. As huge a problem as this fuel issue is, it can't be solved by thinking 'more drilling'. As much as oil companies would LIKE for us to

Once again, republican elites have ignited their blue collar dupes into a partisan, knee jerk reaction. Do republican serfs ever think for themselves? The clearly are clueless about the real nature of this political ploy.

Oh well, mobilizing the republican underclass won't save the party come November. The country's moderates are finally looking at republican results instead of republican promises and all they see is war and a shattered economy.

Empty promises of cheap gas off shore might convince mobile home conservatives, but everyone else recognizes it as posturing for the simple-minded.

I'll support off shore drilling when the oil companies drill in the 85 million+ acres they already have under lease but have not drilled. This is just one more political stunt from the Virginia Legislative session.

Folks in Richmond are playing games instead of taking real action. Stop the Games!!!

Thank you Democrats for voting no to oil spills on our coastal beaches.

with celticdreaming. There is absolutely NO quick fix beyond reeling in the market and the speculators driving it.

It's not the off shore drilling that is really the issue. It's the Speculators that are the immediate problem. THAT is what our governments...both state and federal, should be working to stop. But none of them will, because both Republicans AND Democrats have big interest in the funds the speculators work. This is exactly the type of thing that happened with the real estate bang. Now they are moving on to the oil. It's all about greed. Wake up and smell the Folgers.

And as far as drilling off shore? This was a pretty interesting article about what the affect of HURRICANES have on rigs and oil spills.

http://pangea.stanford.edu/~jshragge/OilWar/Katrina.html

Don't just believe it. Check out the facts elsewhere too.

Typical of the "do nothing" Democrats! We have energy needs, a need to be independent from foreign energy sources, and an opportunity to raise more tax revenue and these idiots want to hide their heads in the sand as usual.

Interesting that directly above here we read that natural gas prices are going through the roof. The stupid Demos stopped drilling for natural gas as well with no reasonable reason. All sky is falling, tin foil hat, outgrageous fears and fear mongering.

The "Democraps" are completely out of touch with reality. What a bunch of idiots. I say vote them all out of office. Local, State and National.

Because I am going broke from high gas and food prices and I can't afford to cool my house. Same old song....weak dollar...hedge against inflation... blah blah blah. Even if we drill off the Atlantic, do you really think that it is going to cool the price of crude? Events that have made crude rise to historic prices.

Strikes in Nigeria
Iran
Speculators
Oil inventory reports
CNBC investment comentators

Just to name a few. Mention anyone of the above and you will get a spike in prices. BTW, the moron at one of the investment houses mentioned that oil would hit 150 by July 4th. How much do you wanna bet that he has his wall street buddies buying contracts just so he can be right?