Sentiment building for offshore drilling
Off South Carolina coast, there might be nothing to drill for
By Bo Petersen
Congress is poised to open offshore fields to more oil and natural gas drilling, including areas along the Southeast coast, a dramatic turn-around driven by price panic.
Any such bill would have been dead in the water a year ago.
If passed, the bill is expected to leave it to individual states to decide whether drilling would be allowed. The prospect prompted a state senator on Monday call for immediate action in South Carolina, and a revenue-strapped Legislature appears ready at least to take a look at the idea, the royalties and other money it could generate.
There might be just one small problem.
"Nobody's going to drill out there. It's a non-starter," said Mitchell Colgan, College of Charleston geology professor, who formerly worked in exploration research for Shell Oil Co.
"One of the best ways to think about it is this: There's no onshore drilling, so there's no reason to drill offshore" because it's the same geological formations. "There isn't any oil or natural gas there that you can get out."
John Felmy, chief economist for the American Petroleum Institute, an industry lobby, conceded that there might not be much urgency to search for fossil fuels off South Carolina. The estimate now is 4 billion barrels for the entire East Coast. The nation is going through that much every six months. And it would be expensive to start up drilling.
Previous stories
DeMint in search of drilling support, published 08/13/08
Ford to propose measure to allow drilling off S.C. coast, published 07/17/08
Both the Senate and House of Representatives are trying to fast-track bills to expand the drilling because a federal moratorium on drilling is set to expire Sept. 30, and the public is so pressed by gasoline price spikes that previous sentiment against more drilling has shifted.
U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., continues to oppose drilling off South Carolina, "but what is good for South Carolina may not be good for Louisiana. I would support legislation that would allow responsible drilling only if the state approves the action. Put the decision in the hands of the states," he said in an e-mail from his Columbia office.
U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., has long pushed for more drilling, and it's become an issue in his campaign to hold his House seat against Democrat Linda Ketner of Charleston.
"I'm an advocate of doing whatever we can to help solve the problem, including drilling, and when I asked the citizens of our district in my annual questionnaire, the overwhelming majority said, 'Drill, Baby, Drill,' " Brown said in an e-mail from Rod Shealy, one of his political consultants.
"We're being hoodwinked into thinking that drilling will make a significant difference, and I really resent it," Ketner said.
The Natural Resources Defense Council, whose lobbying helped stop last year's bill, is now fighting to keep in the new bill measures that would develop more renewable energy research and limit how much ocean is opened to drilling, said Erin Allweiss of the council.
Drilling proponents say it is part of ending dependence on foreign oil that is eroding the economy and national security, and that new technology might find reserves that older surveys didn't. Opponents say it wouldn't bring down the price spike that some economists contend is being caused by speculating investors.
"We could find a lot of oil. You don't know until you try. We've been saying for a long time, if you want to help the consumer, this is what you want to do — sensible energy policy," Felmy said.
Earlier finds of natural gas offshore South Carolina were frozen ice methane, not gas that can be tapped, Colgan said. "People saying 'Drill, drill, drill,' doesn't solve anything. It's an aspirin for a head injury that's like your head blown off. It might make the doctor feel better, but you're not going to feel any better."
State Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, on Monday called for a special meeting to study the feasibility of offshore drilling, anticipating the congressional bill. House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said in July he expected a bill to be taken up in January.
A representative of the Coastal Conservation League, a Charleston-based environmental advocate and lobby, said that's where the fight will be.
"The politics involved in this issue is trumping any substantive discussion," said Hamilton Davis, of the league. "It's easy to look at the potential royalties, but when you look at the (cost and gas reserves) numbers, none of that is justified."
Reach Bo Petersen at 745-5852 or bpetersen@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
sccoast1700 (anonymous) says...
We've been drilling in the Gulf of Mexico for years and it has proven to be safe for the environment. I think it won't help the price so much, but it will help us cut back on imports and create jobs. It is not the total answer, but it is part of the answer. We need to obviously get away from oil and into green technology. But that can't happen overnight and in the meantime we are importing oil from terrorist states.
September 16, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jnot (anonymous) says...
This whole thing is a political issue. The GOP brought it up because they knew the Dems would oppose it. Dems are only jumping on board because they realize it's never going to happen. There's already millions of acres of offshore drilling leases that aren't being drilled. Nobody's gonna drill here.
But, if they did, and even found some oil -- even a lot of oil -- it would just become part of the enormous world supply and would have a teeny tiny impact on the prices we pay and even that would be ten or twenty years from now.
...and just because you haven't had a spill like the Exxon Valdez in the Gulf (yet) doesn't mean it's safe. Tens of millions of oil was spilled out of on-shore facilities during Katrina and likely the same has happened in Texas from Ike. Don't forget, onshore is a necessary part of offshore, so don't let yourself think it would be somewhere way out at sea and you'll never see it. You'll see it every day.
September 16, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
number1volsfan1 (anonymous) says...
Our economy and job market was just fine until the democrats were handed control of Congress 20 months ago. Since then the average price for a gallon of gas has risen 38%, unemployment has risen almost 2%. Coincidence? I think not. Pelosi and her socialists have accomplished absolutely nothing. In fact (as statistics show), we have regressed in regards to the economy.
Don't believe the socialist hype. Their record over the last 20 months says it all. Vote them all out in November. We need change all right, just not the kind of change the democrats have demonstrated!
September 16, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
512c (anonymous) says...
No sentiment, that was Sediment, the P&C read the request from Dick Cheney to publish incorrectly!!!
September 16, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
512c (anonymous) says...
sccoast17000
have you visited the coast of the gulf?
i have.
want to see video of the dead fish? strange looking crabs from the deepest regions? still gasping for air?
Ever heard the reports of how many tons of oil are spilled every time one of those rigs breaks loose in a hurricane?
Screw your lies.....!
September 16, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
number1volsfan1 (anonymous) says...
512c
Screw your lies!!!!
I lived on the Texas coast for many years. Stop allowing yourself to be brainwashed by the Greenpeace/Sierra Club liberal hype!
These organizations will not be happy until we are all riding bicycles and bowing to socialism.
You cannot provide one single independent report to substantiate your lies. It just doesn't exist!
September 16, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
"Sentiment building for offshore drilling"
'ya think?!?!?!
September 16, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
512c (anonymous) says...
ok, ok, I'll calm down, sorry sc coast, but really, it's a dirty dangerous biz and should be abandoned.
September 16, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
www.numberssc.com
That site scares small children, if you are going to have politcal site, at least do with a little good taste.
September 16, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
BTW Jane I am not A Graham supporter, but that web site is not helping the Conley's cause.
September 16, 2008 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
cold beer i just read your earlier post. lololol
ooooooooh! you've been a bad bad boy!
Just as long as you don't cause an environmental hazard...
September 16, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
MY BACKSIDE !!!!......
LINDA KETNER !!!!???....
YOU waste this Opportunity when you get a quote in the PAPER ??!!
I know you know of ... http://www.selsam.com/ ...!!!
You need to get these wind turbines installed all OVER our MARSHES and up and DOWN OUR COAST !!!
September 16, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gneubeck (anonymous) says...
Georgia is a crystal-ball for what's coming next for the Ukraine. The Russian incursion into Georgia WILL NOT cease until the former Soviets have full control over the trans-Georgian pipelines that transport petroleum products from the Caspian Basin, further compounding the world's, and therefore America's, energy crisis. However, with the current composition of the U.S. Senate, which believes that we can TAX and INFLATE our way out of our Energy Crisis, our Nation doesn't stand a prayer of extricating ourselves from this self imposed dilemma. Simply review the recent Senate action on HR 3121 where Harry Reid and his minions such as Clinton and Obama, in sync with the Left-Wing Fringe Elements in our society, voted AGAINST the opening of a miniscule portion of ANWAR; AGAINST shale oil extraction of which America has the equivalent of ten Saudi Arabia's in recoverable reserves; and, AGAINST accelerated efforts to facilitate the gasification of America's abundant reserves of coal. Have you ever noticed that it's always a Democrat telling us that there is no way that we can get there from here? And under current circumstances, they're precisely correct. If we're prohibited from ever leaving the starting line we in-fact will never get there from here. Meanwhile, as a consequence of multiple impediments imposed by the Democrat Party to the resolution of America's energy crisis: our citizens welfare; our economy; and, our very viability as a Nation remain in jeopardy. Had our Democrat Party been in control in Brazil, they never would have discovered the largest off-shore oil reserves in the Western Hemisphere.Thank God that none of our Founding Fathers were members of today's equivalent of the Democrat Party or we would still be paying exorbitant taxes to the British Crown. Greg Neubeck
September 16, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Carolina_Politics (anonymous) says...
This is that "Gang of 10³ bill that Grahamnesty has been championing. It's garbage and it will only make it more difficult to initiate offshore drilling. First of all, this doesn't include any west coast states, so the Pacific is off limits even though we already know there is oil there and there are already abandoned oil rigs off the coast of California just sitting there that could be up and running in about two years. Secondly, the Atlantic and Gulf states have to approve the drilling which means even if the Federal ban is lifted, they can still oppose it, which Florida has already stated it will. Third, none of the drilling can be within 50 miles of the coast, the inner-continental shelf, where the oil actually is.
http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com...
September 16, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
beersnob (anonymous) says...
Dems drilling proposal is hullabaloo. It's an empty gesture intended to take advantage of anyone stupid enough to think drilling is gonna solve anything. It's regretable that the dems tied their alternative energy plans to the same wagon. The only way to reduce oil prices is to reduce demand by bringing alternatives to market. OPEC has already shown they will manage supplies to maintain the high price and American oil companies are obligated to conform to the global market. Dragging Chavez or Russia or terrorists into it is just a bunch of hype--try parking your SUV.
September 17, 2008 at 1:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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