Antarctic Oil?

Having worked for years in the oil industry, and because I paid attention, a friend asked me where the next "real big" oil discovery might be made. So I said "Antarctica." He said, "But isn't that protected by treaty?" I said, "That's not what you asked me."


Based on accessibility factors, the Antarctic area widely considered to hold the greatest potential for oil exploitation is the continental shelf.[66] One estimate postulates that fifty billion barrels of oil,[67] an amount roughly equivalent to Alaska's entire estimated reserves, lies under the Weddell and Ross Seas alone.[68] Other estimates by the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' hydrometeorological service[69] and the Japanese Plan Antarctic Survey[70] give similar projections. One estimate goes so far as to put potential deposits as high as 203 billion barrels.[71] This is staggering in light of the fact that the total historic domestic United States production to date is under 200 billion barrels.[72] Additional studies have found heavy hydrocarbon[73] residues in the Antarctic areas of McMurdo Sound[74] and Bransfield Strait.[75] The real question thus becomes not whether oil deposits exist, but whether they will be found, and if discovered, whether they can be economically extracted.[76]

www.law.fsu.edu...



Also,

www.hartford-hwp.com...

One problem you'd have to wait for the ice to leave or face constantly breaking pipes as the ice on top moves and shifts. Especially with global warming and the melting of the ice caps this would probably take place at a rate that would be unacceptable economically and enviromentally(leaking oil).

As far as I can tell, the proposal to continuously melt the ice around the drill stem while drilling through slowly flowing glaciers remains a near science-fictional proposal. And production through pipeline, after drilling concludes, is a long-term proposal, necessitating a lot of ice-melting (up to a decade for a good well).

The thing to know is if oil exists in Antarctica in those certain places where ice can be cheaply controlled or is not moving or not present (such as ridgelines protruding above glaciers).

And what of the treaty question?

If drilling was something that was economically feasable, truly, what impact would that have on the environment globally? A decade of natural or man-induced ice melting does not sound environmentally sound. Wouldn't it be much wiser to put the money, technology and manpower into finding alternative sources of energy?

I'll say it again, if we can put a man on the moon, we can overcome this impending crisis.

The possibility of Antarctic oil reserves is only significant in case of some near-future scenario wherein the Big Oil companies, having completely hypnotized the modern world for not only the last few decades but also the next one or two, are put into the position of being the only entity to pull our rears out of the fire.

Which suggests that it is not prudent or wise to allow the Big Oil companies to control our future. And we should take our own steps to keep our rears out of the fire.

Wind, hybrid vehicles, hydrogen, ethanol, electric, photovoltaic, solar water heaters, geothermal, geomass, biomass, conservation, smart buildings, speed limits, insulation purchases.

Research in fusion, cold fusion, subterranean nuke disposal and energy recovery plans, might be planned for now instead of later.

It would be nice if we actually had a president, and that he was independent enuff to stand up and say we have a looming national crisis on our hands; we must correct this catastrophic course immediately. Something on the level of the space program (from the '50's and '60's). This nation can do just about anything it puts its mind to, if we're serious and committed; unfortunately, big oil is now our president and they have no interest in or ability to control their ravenous greed and do what's best for the USA. May they rot in hell.

I agree the U.S. and the Bush Administration will not back off until every last drop of oil on this planet is in their hands. Why? 2 reasons:

1. Money
2. They want to be the world's only super power (New World Order)

Unless there is a resistance or revolution where every American wakes up fights for their freedom and constitutional rights, the globalist will not stop until they have total control over this planet. Notice how Bush and his buddies have not admitted to any mistakes or apologized for anything that has gone wrong. Nor have they even considered addressing the issues such as the economy and energy issues along with Global Warming.

I think its simply because they feel they and theirs will never be affected by any of this. They don't give a rat's double A about we the people - those who will very much be affected. But that's their character.

lets just hope that global warming speeds up the melting of the arctic and antarctic ice caps to allow us to get the oil before we actually have a crisis.

Antarctica will be surveyed and drilled for oil sometime after peak oil hits. Those will be different days. The end of the cheap energy of the Oil Era and the beginning of the new era of alternative energies and conservation, regionalism and local gardening. There may be a great deal of fighting over who Antarctica belongs too. We all know which country will claim first dibs on it, and will make sure she gets it. The biggest oil eater, The United States.

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