Alaskan Oil???

[Vagrant0]

Maybe the US should get its head out of its arse and really jump on the alternative fuel thing. Other countries have done it...I believe our friend Nosisab's home of Brazil went through a hard bit to get it done.

There are three differences, One, we have those places to get those resources, we are just too busy caring about the barely existant ecological impact. Two, the US is alot more developed than Brazil, so needs alot more of those alternative fuels. Third, those sources of alternative fuel, corn mostly, are extremely dependant on a good corn crop, and up till now was not economically viable, and still isn't since many farms have gone under due to increased operating costs.

 

Simply, you cannot replace the fuel needs of the country based on those alternative fuels as they exist now, or will exist in the near future. It would take 5-10 years for such a switch to take place, and by then trucking (the lifeblood of the country) would have dwindled to nearly nothing (since no alternative fuel has the performance requirements of the industry) and all air travel would have likely ceased (for the very same reason).

 

Although, yes, there is some point in keeping reserves, the reality is that we don't even know what reserves we do have because we are not able to even investigate them. Meanwhile other countries can lay claim to whatever is close enough to international waters. We had a very large deposit of oil just off the coast of key west, we knew it was there, and did nothing about it because we have so many laws passed. Now there is an oil rig owned by china 50 miles off the coast which did some slant drilling, and is now helping themselves to that "reserve". Now where is the logic in that one?

 

Where will the logic be when it eventually comes to actual war over oil?

[nosisab]

War happens at several levels, it's not small the number of people that thinks the Iraque one was not well explained. Including Americans. Anyway I think the ones that could speak properly about this issue would not do it here.

 

But the very essence of the problem was touched, yes, 5/10 years aren't enough to change the infra-structure necessary to adopt alternative energy sources. A good, very good reason to begin As Soon As Possible. The other is so much important to be neglected too: Waste. Our demand is in crescent and wildly crescent for energy. The growing rate of that demand can't anymore be accounted to a few countries. Not a bright future of peace and harmony we can see if no care is given to the problem NOW, by everyone.

[DarkWarrior45]

Where will the logic be when it eventually comes to actual war over oil?

 

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't oil the reason why Japan bombed Pearl Harbor?

 

 

As for alternative fuels, they will help with the consumers, but they will not solve the problem. Alternative sources are coming too slow too late. In addition, Vagrant is right, there is no alternative for our truckers, there is no alternative other than nuclear fuel for our ships, and there is no alternative for our aircraft. Can anyone here think of a way to keep a F-16 airborne without oil. There's ethanol alright, but not enough of it.

 

Now there's no doubt that alternative fuels will help, but the technology isn't mature enough to take the fuel burden of a nation such as the US. Remember people, the US is a nation of 50 different United States, all with their own economies and governments. Can alternative fuels keep those 50 economies going?

 

China is slant oil drilling off the coast, so is Cuba off the coast of Florida. Both are communist states. Not good for NATO. Yes, I know the Cold War is over, but that was just the USSR. China is still out there, along with Cuba who has already tried to pick a fight once already. What next? Next thing we'll know Russia will be slant drilling off Alaska, then we'll have no reserve. So I say drill before Russia does.

 

As for Nosisab's mention of Iraq, nobody has got no earthly idea of what the hell is going on behind the scenes. Yeah, there's the WMD theory, then there's the oil theory as well. Either one doesn't make sense.

 

But Nosisab strikes a point that we need to begin on solutions NOW. Not thinking about it, but actually doing it.

[Vagrant0]

As for Nosisab's mention of Iraq, nobody has got no earthly idea of what the hell is going on behind the scenes. Yeah, there's the WMD theory, then there's the oil theory as well. Either one doesn't make sense.

 

But Nosisab strikes a point that we need to begin on solutions NOW. Not thinking about it, but actually doing it.

Iraq probably was about oil, since we can't secure the oil in our own country, the best we can do is secure it in that of a potential ally.

 

I don't know about Pearl Harbor, so can't answer that one. But actual war over oil isn't unthinkable. If a country like the US continues to sit on oil it can't use for environmental reasons, while much of the country's infastructure falls apart, then it might look like a fairly good risk for some country which is oil based, and happens to have enough of it stored up. Afterall, once it has been secured and tapped, whoever has it would have the advantage that the Saudi's and other countries currently have.

 

But yeah, there's more chance that things over most of the world would just regress to 1500's standards of travel and expansion before it came to that. And that would result in many more deaths than any war. If people have a choice between starving to death because there aren't enough local sources of food, and changing to a loyalty to a government that will allow them to continue their lives, most people would choose that other government.

[bluekatt]

I am poor...very poor..so gas prices hurt me as much if not more than others. Takes more out of our income...and the gas tax in WV is HUGE!! We pay 44 cents on a gallon of gas in tax here. But America has been wasting resources like crazy...just look at all the SUVs. It is time to be resposible...look to the future and the long-term and end our dependence on fossil fuels and non-renewable resources. Will they always be needed and used..yes...but do they have to be the #1..no.

 

i hate to burst your bubble but that 44 cents is nothing compared to the monsterous taxes we get in europe add a mark up anywhere from 16 to 23 %

my own country adds 19 %

not only that but a gallon is 4 litres ( 3.7 actually)

a litre of premium unleaded costs 1, 53 euro here a litre of diesel is 1,30

yeah this means diddly squat to you but through the eyes of a non american usa gas prices are ludicrously cheap

[Marcus Wolfe]

I'm just hoping America doesn't attack Alberta for the oil sands when they're done with the middle east.....it's a female dog to get oil outta that stuff....

[macmert]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3340274697167011147

 

This is a very interesting video about the Alaskan oil Wells, and how gasoline could be $1.50 a gallon in California right now. The video is fairly lengthy, so I'll highlight some interesting facts that were outlined in the video. Keep in mind, this video is a little disturbing to some, because it presents the very real fact that America is being held hostage.

 

This guy outlines how the US Congressmen, both Republican and Democratic, have been dishonest to the American people in regards to oil. We have the largest oil well under US control, with the largest oil pipeline built to supply oil to the American people, and yet Congress has passed that their would be no oil coming from Alaska. What the hell? He also talks about the executives of VP Oil company that is controlling the market price of oil by not drilling. What the hell?

 

So my beef is, why are we not drilling? We have enough oil to supply ourselves and be completely independent from foreign oil, so why don't we use it? Also, what is everyone's opinion on this?

 

Better yet, what is the opinion of the folks here that are outside the US? Being an American, I only see what's inside. What's the view outside?

 

 

Ok here I go... First of all, I am a citizen of Turkey, I think many of you know my country ragarding the invasion of Iraq (Yes it was an invasion :D I will get to that in a minute...) US have a big military base in the southern part of my country, US wanted to use that as a base to attack Iraq and our government did not agree to that...

 

Regarding the price of oil, yea US has the most reserves along with the Russians, but US wants to save her reserves for future... I guess it was a year ago that a big pipe line was closed down due to maintanance but dont know after that... the thing is, the best oil comes out of middle east, the best quality and reserves... That is why Iraq invaded Kuwait years ago, 1993 I guess, and that is why US invaded Iraq... to take control of the oil reserves, that is why US is trying to form a three seperate states, kurds on the northern part, where the most oil is in Iraq, so US will back kurds, kurds will sell oil to US real cheap... That is why my country is still suffering from terrorism, your 9/11 is nothing compared to what happened in my lands for 23 years... Can you imagine it? 23 years, the southeastern part of my country is filled with kurds and army is battling them, in my lands, my army is battling the terrorists...

 

Well it was a bit off the topic sorry about that but the problem is mainly US and russia doesnt want to use their reserves and paticularly the recent activites of US is really pissing off the middle east countries and they tend to limit their productions, the south american countries are doing the same as well, that is why a barrel of oil is like 100 bucks now (Sorry dont know the exact price, and it changes constantly) so what happens is US's doing, they reap what they sow actually...

[Lisnpuppy]

I am poor...very poor..so gas prices hurt me as much if not more than others. Takes more out of our income...and the gas tax in WV is HUGE!! We pay 44 cents on a gallon of gas in tax here. But America has been wasting resources like crazy...just look at all the SUVs. It is time to be resposible...look to the future and the long-term and end our dependence on fossil fuels and non-renewable resources. Will they always be needed and used..yes...but do they have to be the #1..no.

 

i hate to burst your bubble but that 44 cents is nothing compared to the monsterous taxes we get in europe add a mark up anywhere from 16 to 23 %

my own country adds 19 %

not only that but a gallon is 4 litres ( 3.7 actually)

a litre of premium unleaded costs 1, 53 euro here a litre of diesel is 1,30

yeah this means diddly squat to you but through the eyes of a non american usa gas prices are ludicrously cheap

 

I suppose so but it is now well over $4.00/gallon here. It has gone up here 15 cents over the last 3 weeks. We Americans have been lucky to not have to pay high gas prices until now. But when our income hasnt changed (mine is down becasue i am currently unemployed) and the rise in gas prices has made everything go up (especially food) it is quite a pounding. And the 44 gas tax is outrageous compaired to other states.

[nosisab]

I suppose so but it is now well over $4.00/gallon here. It has gone up here 15 cents over the last 3 weeks. We Americans have been lucky to not have to pay high gas prices until now. But when our income hasnt changed (mine is down becasue i am currently unemployed) and the rise in gas prices has made everything go up (especially food) it is quite a pounding. And the 44 gas tax is outrageous compaired to other states.

Is better I quiting the discussion here, we Brazilians are 'blessed' with the (probably) more expensive gas around the world, abeit it being among the worse ones too (officially it comes already mixed with metanol).

 

Otherwise this forced an interesting situation. Our cars are nowadays coming with high technology called "Total Flex" that allows optimized use of fuel ... gas (even gas as gases, not gasoline too), metanol, mixed gas/metanol ... and so on. Theoretically these ones can work with near something that burns :)

 

I don't think that technology is our exclusive, but no doubts we are the ideal lab to develop then.

 

PS edit: The mentioned tech involves new materials able to resist diverse levels of stress and corrosion, computerized sample and correction of the mixture... a vast field.

[DarkWarrior45]

Is better I quiting the discussion here, we Brazilians are 'blessed' with the (probably) more expensive gas around the world, abeit it being among the worse ones too (officially it comes already mixed with metanol).

 

Otherwise this forced an interesting situation. Our cars are nowadays coming with high technology called "Total Flex" that allows optimized use of fuel ... gas (even gas as gases, not gasoline too), metanol, mixed gas/metanol ... and so on. Theoretically these ones can work with near something that burns :)

 

I don't think that technology is our exclusive, but no doubts we are the ideal lab to develop then.

 

PS edit: The mentioned tech involves new materials able to resist diverse levels of stress and corrosion, computerized sample and correction of the mixture... a vast field.

 

I will admit, Brazil has something going with their alcohol based fuel, which is known in the states as E-85 ethanol. (at least I think it's called that) And it has some Congressmen talking about opening up free trade between the US and Brazil. In the US we have the Flex Fuel technology, but it's nowhere near as good as what Brazil has. I agree with you here that Brazil is the ideal place to develop the E-85 and the flex fuel technology.

 

As for prices in American verses that of other countries:

 

i hate to burst your bubble but that 44 cents is nothing compared to the monsterous taxes we get in europe add a mark up anywhere from 16 to 23 %

my own country adds 19 %

not only that but a gallon is 4 litres ( 3.7 actually)

a litre of premium unleaded costs 1, 53 euro here a litre of diesel is 1,30

yeah this means diddly squat to you but through the eyes of a non american usa gas prices are ludicrously cheap

 

This tells me that the problem has been ongoing, and is an international problem and not a domestic problem. And with that, another question about Alaska, "How would Alaskan Drilling affect prices outside the US?" Would everybody's prices drop, and not just America's? If so, then why doesn't Europe put pressure on the US to drill? (I'm assuming that Europe is not putting pressure, but really I don't know)

 

Ok here I go... First of all, I am a citizen of Turkey, I think many of you know my country ragarding the invasion of Iraq (Yes it was an invasion :D I will get to that in a minute...) US have a big military base in the southern part of my country, US wanted to use that as a base to attack Iraq and our government did not agree to that...

 

Regarding the price of oil, yea US has the most reserves along with the Russians, but US wants to save her reserves for future... I guess it was a year ago that a big pipe line was closed down due to maintanance but dont know after that... the thing is, the best oil comes out of middle east, the best quality and reserves... That is why Iraq invaded Kuwait years ago, 1993 I guess, and that is why US invaded Iraq... to take control of the oil reserves, that is why US is trying to form a three seperate states, kurds on the northern part, where the most oil is in Iraq, so US will back kurds, kurds will sell oil to US real cheap... That is why my country is still suffering from terrorism, your 9/11 is nothing compared to what happened in my lands for 23 years... Can you imagine it? 23 years, the southeastern part of my country is filled with kurds and army is battling them, in my lands, my army is battling the terrorists...

 

Well it was a bit off the topic sorry about that but the problem is mainly US and russia doesnt want to use their reserves and paticularly the recent activites of US is really pissing off the middle east countries and they tend to limit their productions, the south american countries are doing the same as well, that is why a barrel of oil is like 100 bucks now (Sorry dont know the exact price, and it changes constantly) so what happens is US's doing, they reap what they sow actually...

 

A bit off topic of course, but raises a valid point as it reveals foreign opinion. Really, I do not know if this is true.

 

Macmert, what effect do you think that Alaskan drilling would have in the Middle East?

 

Now if that is true, and Bush invaded for oil, then it means that America has a problem. A problem that will hopefully be solved in the next election.

 

 

 

Really, I think America needs to drill in Alaska, as it seems to be the answer to a lot of problems. It'll help with our own prices, it may help in foreign relations, and it may help every bodies prices.