Press Release Summary: It is imperative that we begin to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil - both from a national security standpoint as well as a financially. Drilling in ANWR would not solve all of our problems, but when combined with clean coal technology, natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear and tide energy it would put the United States on a clear path to energy independence.
Press Release Body: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Drilling in ANWR - Why Not?
In 1977, the prospect of drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) first began its political controversy. Both Democrats and Republicans have fought against drilling in the refuge and it has been a subject of contentious debate throughout all the election cycles.
ANWR comprises 30,937,500 square miles along the North Alaskan Coast. It is the largest wilderness area in the United States and was created by Congress in 1980. The ANWR drilling controversy surrounds drilling in a comparatively small (2,343.75 square mile) area of the refuge. This is known as the "1002 area" because of the section of the Alaskan National Interest Lands Conservation Act that designated this area of ANWR as a "deferred decision" with regard to oil drilling and extraction.
Potential petroleum reserves in the 1002 Area were to be evaluated from surface geological studies and seismic exploration surveys. No exploratory drilling was allowed. Results of these studies and recommendations for future management of the Arctic Refuge coastal plain were to be prepared in a report to Congress.
In 1998, the USGS estimated that between 5.7 and 16.0 billion barrels of technically recoverable crude oil and natural gas liquids are in the coastal plain area of ANWR, with a mean estimate of 10.4 billion barrels, of which 7.7 billion barrels lie within the Federal portion of the ANWR 1002 Area. In comparison, the estimated volume of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil in the rest of the United States is about 120 billion barrels. The ANWR and undiscovered estimates are categorized as prospective resources and therefore, not proved. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) reports US proved reserves are roughly 29 billion barrels of crude and natural gas liquids, of which 21 billion barrels are crude. A variety of sources compiled by the DOE estimate world proved oil and gas condensate reserves to range from 1.1 to 1.3 trillion barrels.
A June 29, 2008 Pew Research Poll reported that 50% of Americans favor drilling of oil and gas in ANWR while 43% oppose (compared to 42% in favor and 50% opposed in February of the same year). A CNN opinion poll conducted in August 31, 2008 reported 59% favor drilling for oil in ANWR, while 39% oppose it. A large majority of Alaskans support drilling in ANWR, including every governor, senator, representative, and legislature for the past 25 years. In the state of Alaska, residents receive annual dividends from oil-lease revenues. In 2000 the dividend came to $1,964 per resident.
The United States Department of Energy estimates that ANWR oil production between 2018 and 2030 would reduce the cumulative net expenditures on imported crude oil and liquid fuels by an estimated $135 to $327 billion (2006 dollars), between 2018 and 2030, reducing the foreign trade deficit.
Oscar is Editor of TheOilReport.com (http://www.theoilreport.com) - a comprehensive and in-depth look into the Oil Business, the Peak Oil Myth, Crude Oil Prices, Energy Research, and overall opinion regarding Alternative Energy and Oil Consumption.
Tessie's analysis of the Peak Oil Myth can be found at http://www.theoilreport.com/news.php
Oscar Fouche http://www.theoilreport.com (888)872-2723 1278 North Main Coto De Caza, CA 92688
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Web Site: http://www.theoilreport.com
Contact Details: Oscar Fouche http://www.theoilreport.com (888)872-2723 1278 North Main Coto De Caza, CA 92688
2025
