Expert: No oil off coast
By robert behre
Previous story
Sentiment building for offshore drilling; Off South Carolina coast, there might be nothing to drill for, published 09/16/08
EDITOR'S NOTE: Lost in the "Drill Baby Drill" passions of last fall's campaign was a more substantive discussion of what lifting the offshore drilling ban might mean for South Carolina. Mitchell Colgan, chairman of the College of Charleston's Geology and Environmental Geosciences Department, has worked for Shell Oil, the U.S. Geological Survey and on three oil reservoirs in Texas, New Mexico and Alaska. He recently talked with Robert Behre about what the drilling ban means to us.
Q: Congress let the ban on offshore drilling expire last year, and some are pushing Congress and President Barack Obama to reinstate the ban. If they're unsuccessful and the ban expires, what can South Carolina expect?
A: "Indifference. I really don't think there's any oil out there. ... To be able to find oil and drill for offshore oil requires a great deal of money. For an oil reservoir to be economically viable requires there to be a fairly good-sized reservoir. From my reviews of the public record, there are no oil reservoirs of any consequence that would entice anybody to drill. ... Even if one can identify a reservoir, and this oil is technically recoverable, it does not mean that it is economically recoverable."
Q: Then why the big deal about the ban?
A: "Politics. If the oil's not there, the oil's not there. Lifting the ban will not cause oil to appear where there is no oil. What determines whether a company will drill for oil is geology and economics. All of the mineral management studies of this area off the coast of South Carolina have shown that there are no oil reservoirs. Without economic quantities of oil, nobody is going to drill."
Q: How much do we know about what oil is out there?
A: "Even though there has been a ban on drilling, there has not been a ban on exploration, and oil companies have not been rushing here to explore for oil. Before the ban, oil companies did look for oil and found none. I have heard that this is old data and we have new technology, and if the ban is lifted we're going to go explore and explore and explore, and we'll find oil. Believe me, if there were oil off South Carolina, there would be rigs out there right now. Before the offshore oil ban, if there had been economically viable reservoirs, South Carolina would have been an enticing drilling location; it would be easier and cheaper to develop an oil prospect off the South Carolina coast than many other areas that were developed at that time."
Q: What about natural gas?
A: "Natural gas is problematic as well. All published studies that I have seen report that there is no economically recoverable gas off our coast. Studies have shown that there are some gas deposits off of Florida and off of North Carolina, but even there the quantities reported are not economically recoverable."
Q: What about neighboring states?
A: "The exploration activity within this region may take place along other coasts, but not off of Georgia nor South Carolina. I just don't understand why there is this fuss. I haven't heard much interest from oil companies wanting to come out and drill there. Believe me, it would benefit our geology department if there were large quantities of oil in the state."
Q: What else gets mixed up in the debate?
A: "The presence of gas hydrates, also known as frozen methane or Clathrate hydrates. The methane trapped inside cages of water molecules. Gas hydrates are found on the edges of continental shelves, in the deep sea, in the arctic and in permafrost, and gas hydrates are a potential, abundant energy source. I think that some people talk about this offshore source of gas hydrates when discussing the potential of a large gas supply off shore. The problem with gas hydrates is that we have never figured out how to extract it economically. Gas hydrates are unstable, and we don't know how to extract this resource from offshore beds safely or economically."
Q: If drilling here is pointless, what should we be looking at?
A: "The political energy spent on this discussion should be used examining the political and economic feasibility of offshore wind-energy generation, as well as other locally produced clean energy. What drove our interest in drilling off of our coast was $4 per gallon gasoline. We have just witnessed this great collapse in the price of oil. This downturn did not occur because there were new oil discoveries. We did not find more oil; the world is using less. That's an important lesson for us. If we can take this time of cheaper energy to become more energy efficient, especially with regards to our automobiles, the need to drill for oil decreases markedly and we move toward greater energy independence."
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly versionComments
Cid95 (anonymous) says...
Good article. It seems like common sense - there is without a doubt less oil in the world today than there was yesterday. So, we obviously need to utilize other sources of energy like wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear.
If I have to drive an electric car so that we don't get sucked into foreign policy messes by our oil pimps, I mean suppliers, like Venezuela, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, etc then fine.
March 8, 2009 at 5:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
upyerwazoo (anonymous) says...
If I have to drive an electric car so that we don't get sucked into foreign policy messes by our oil pimps, I mean suppliers, like Venezuela, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, etc then fine.
I agree 100%.with that part.but they said there wasnt oil elsewhere before also that was worth going after.now the Chinese are 90 miles off of florida drilling and pumping it out .i think a second look may be worth it.there supposed to be a huge natural gas field from florida to north carolina that we dont currently have the technology to retrieve.we may develop the technology in the future.the bad thing the same field also happens to be the largest breeding ground for the tigershark.as well are coast has several smaller sharks that breed here but a lot closer to shore.they are sharks i know but they do have their place.
The other thing is why doesnt the government make the oil companies release all of the patents they hold for better fuel consumption vehicles that they bought up over the years to keep profits flowing?
March 8, 2009 at 6:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
badplf (anonymous) says...
SC may not have off-shore oil reserves but other states (mainly CA, OR and WA) do. reinstating the ban is a federal issue that doesn't just effect SC. i think the article glosses over that point. let the states decide if they want it, not the federal government, as we develop alternate sources.
March 8, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
First off, I don't know much about oil/n gas deposits. However I do know a little about human nature - we look for easy solutions. Perhaps, our area was low priority since known production fields existed elsewhere, and they really have not done a thorough job of exploring our area. Now all the easy oil is being exploited/used up. Perhaps they will take a closer look at areas such as ours.
March 8, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Mitchell Colgan, chairman of the College of Charleston's Geology and Environmental Geosciences Department,
=============================================
His present position renders his opinions suspect.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
And now to the troll of trolls.
Wow, you are one ignorant child.
As other posters have stated, your just a poor pathetic troll craving attention.
blue_eyes seems to be fond of you. You might have something going for you there. Y'all could share meds.
Really, you'd be better off devoting your energies to bringing the payments on your trailer up to date.
You could always GetSerious and find a second job at Burger King or Sonic.
I don't think Obamama is going to cover your trailer payment or your lot rent.
He fooled you, Fool!
March 8, 2009 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Oh yeah, I ain't got a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out.
Wont somebody please help me! I ain't got no penny money.
GetSerious? Obama, Santa Clause, anybody, please!!!
March 8, 2009 at 12:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
At least we know we have WIND off our COAST...!!!
Mitchell Colgan.....said SO ..!?!???
MY BACKSIDE........??!!!!
You mean we have to have a PROFESSOR tell US THIS..???
ROBERT....!?!?! WHERE DID YOU GO TO Journalism school..!?!?
Citizens....this is NUTz !!!!
1) Mr. Colgan ...if we do NOT have OIL reserves; BUT DO HAVE WIND !!; then WHY have you not EDUCATED your students on the teachings of MARTIN LUTHER KING and LED a freakin' protest MARCH on SCE&G...????
2) Mr. Colgan...DO your students know HOW MUCH ENERGY CAN BE GENERATED FROM OUR WIND....?????
3) Mr. Colgan ....DO YOUR students realize what AGE MEN AND WOMEN are fighting in IRAQ and are stationed in the Persian GULF to protect ....WIND....??? (FIST POUNDZ!)
4) Mr. Colgan....ARE YOU PROUD to get your name in PRESS..?!?!
5) Mr. Colgan ......DID YOU ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF ROBERT...???
WE WANT TO KNOW ....????
6) Mr. Colgan.....WHO HAVE YOU QUESTIONED....LATELY !!!!
7) Mr. COLGAN ....EDUCATE YOURSELF at www.selsam.com
MY BACKSIDE...........!!!!
March 8, 2009 at 12:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
STUDENTS of College of CHARLESTON..........!!!
Stop paying homage to Phelp's BONG...!!!
Students do you know how to organize...!!
1) Do you know who is doing nothing to stand UP and DO what he is TEACHING you to do...?!?!
2) DO you know who you will be paying your taxes too in the coming years...???
3) You need to educate yourself at www.startech.net and www.valcent.net and www.unimodal.com and www.selsam.com because what is being shoved down your parents throats right NOW will end up costing YOU dearly long after your PARENTS are DEAD....!!!!!
4) Your fellow students are putting their lives on the LINES to protect OIL but you will not DO anything to ensurte YOUR own future CHILDREN will NOT have to do the SAME...???
I hope you enjoy your MELLOW MUSHROOM ...pizza !!!!
STUDENTS....GET A CLUE ....and ACT !!!
Be at Charleston County Council on Thursday for a sit in all day long in chambers to educate yourself...!?!?!
March 8, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seneca264 (anonymous) says...
Do not listen to these moronic leftist "experts". This guy does not know what he is talking about. My brother works for one of the "three sisters" and he told me that there is enough oil off the east, west, and gulf coasts (not including Alaska) to allow the U.S. to become oil independant. No, my brother is not an expert, but he is a member of the inner loop in the exploration division. You will see more and more of these "experts" making these type of claims. Beware of false prophets.
March 8, 2009 at 2:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geolog (anonymous) says...
I believe that in order to Mitigate this Economic Crisis we have to resolve many problems.
One of these problems is very low oil discovery rate. Now industry average rate is one in four. In other words, the rate is only one discovery in four drilled wells. It means that 75% drilled wells is waste (dusters). The ignorance of most Big Oil Companies about what we do in oil exploration is amazing.
I would like to inform you, that there is new technology for oil/gas detection (US patent 7,330,790) to drill almost each well with new oil/gas discovery. The technology is designed and successfully tested in the Barents and the Black Seas as well as in the Gulf of Mexico (see: www.binaryseismoem.weebly.com ).
With new exploration technology the world oil industry could make up to three times more oil and gas discoveries annually than using conventional technology. And the fact that new technology won't need more investments is also very important. It can significantly mitigate the energy crises.
Thanks for attention
March 8, 2009 at 4:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
GetSERIOUS........great POINT !!!
Students.....WHAT has this Doctor ...CURED ?!?!
READ .....LEARN .....ACT !!?!?
March 8, 2009 at 5:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
I LOVE BIG OIL! At least they produce and provide for this nation, unlike the left an their idiot enviro-nutjobs!
Its evil big government that will destroy us!
March 8, 2009 at 6:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
hell, who needs oil, when Mr Carter/clinton redux - obama, is done, we will all look like cuba!
N. Korea warns intercepting 'satellite' will prompt counterstrike
PYONGYANG/BEIJING, March 9 (AP) - (Kyodo)-North Korea warned Monday that any move to intercept what it calls a satellite launch and what other countries suspect may be a missile test-firing would result in a counterstrike against the countries trying to stop it.
"We will retaliate (over) any act of intercepting our satellite for peaceful purposes with prompt counterstrikes by the most powerful military means," the official Korean Central News Agency quoted a spokesman of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army as saying.
--
these commies would have never threated Bush.
Obama will use spring summit to bring Cuba in from the cold
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/...
THE WORLD SEEs OBAMA AS ANOTHER WEAK ASS Democrat, or even a marxist ally.
Yadlin: Iran has crossed nuclear 'technological threshold'
In a chilling indication that Iran's arms program is advancing steadily, Israel acknowledged for the first time that Teheran had mastered the technology to make a nuclear bomb on the same day that the Iranians announced they had successfully tested a new air-to-surface missile.
OBAMA IS CLULESS!
President Obama was so concerned that he had appeared to dismiss a question from New York Times reporters about whether he was a socialist that he called the newspaper from the Oval Office to clarify his policies.
"It was hard for me to believe that you were entirely serious about that socialist question," he told reporters, who had interviewed the president aboard Air Force One on Friday.
http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/jo...
March 8, 2009 at 8:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
GetSerious
"p.s. when you first joined you were trying to pass yourself off as a black man."
Hey, butt wipe, in 4 pages of 38 posts, when did I say I was a black man.?
I think you are a loser that trolls around looking to give real men a hard time while hiding behind mommies skirt. Panty waste!
March 8, 2009 at 8:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
GetSerious
I heard your mommy is back on the junk as well, hang in there, the strange men at all hours will pass, like you passing the 7th grade after 3 trys.
March 8, 2009 at 8:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
BlackReign, I see you have attracted the attention of the number one troll.
If you look at his past posts ( it takes a strong stomach) you'll see that everything he accuses others of he does himself.
Like posting hid own stupidity over and over.
He's a freak and just something to either ignore or use for low level entertainment.
He features himself a real man but he's just a simple minded troll.
March 8, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
You are a very ill little boy. Quit trying to pretend that you are lucid. You need medical care form the head doctors.
Yo mommy has really screwed you up, by smoking that junk in your bedroom while reading beddy bye stories to you.
Comments by GetSerious
Posted on March 8 at 5:55 p.m.
yird- you've stopped making sense you old prune. On What's wrong on Tobacco Road?
On Expert: No oil off coast
Posted on March 7 at 7:23 p.m.
lol yird, quit crying like a little fairy, are you still mad b/c i reject your attempt to reach out to me? You c sucker
Posted on March 7 at 12:26 p.m.
postman is an idiot troll, best to just ignore him
On Commercial fishing runs aground
Posted on March 6 at 7:10 a.m.
Wow yird, I don't know many 70 year old men that stay up past midnight posting online. lmao
YOu're either complete flipping loser, a liar, or both.
On Surviving the recession: Just hanging on
Posted on March 1 at 5:38 p.m.
"Posted on February 28 at 10:08 a.m. by geekboy
How can you think a sista with blue hair would be doin' any criminalizin'?"
geekboy- how bout you shut your hole. You don't like it, don't read it you flip wad. You fall in line with the rest of the racist mofo's.
Posted on February 28 at 2:17 p.m.
chalk up another meaningless, B.S. post for yird.
DawnM- were you educated in South Carolina? lol
On Boy, 4, had gun in jacket
there are 42 pages of your idiot rants and school boy insults. you are a complete embarrassment to your daddy, no wonder he left your pig-eared dumb-ass.
March 8, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
yird, I see that. He already sent me an e mail;
Hello,
The user GetSerious sent the following message to you via www.charleston.net:
==============================
Hey, I want you to know that I am just messing with you. I am a loser that has no where to go or noway to express myslef. Please e mail me back and maybe we can play World of Warcraft.
GetSerious
March 8, 2009 at 9:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
Posted by GetSerious on March 8, 2009 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll give you one thing- BlackReign is one hot guy!"
Dude thanks!
March 8, 2009 at 9:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- Protesters coming here
- New place to play planned for Folly
- Man killed, two others injured in Mt. Pleasant
- Image questions for The Citadel
- German firm to open area factory
- Logistics company to add 500 jobs in Berkeley County in next five years
- 500 jobs coming to Berkeley
- Defying expectations
- Energy initiative to expand
- Francois credited with helping police investigation
