ASBPA Wimps Out on Oil Drilling

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) just issued a press release on offshore oil drilling. You would think that an organization that is "dedicated to preserving, protecting and enhancing the beaches, shores and other coastal resources of America" would be at least a little concerned about the "coastal resources of America" being slimed from an oil spill.

But no, all they say is: "ASBPA has taken no position on the general proposition of increasing oil and gas production along the U.S. coast. However, it is critical that any new oil and gas development be carefully reviewed to assure that pipelines and supporting equipment do not impede, diminish or eliminate vital offshore sand resources that are needed for the protection of America's shorelines."

So, all they really care about is being able to dredge offshore sand so they can keep coastal engineers employed to implement expensive, un-sustainable beach fill projects. Hey ASBPA - Do you think the coastal tourism industry that you talk so much about will still be there to enjoy your "nourished" beach after it's coated with oil?

Oil spills poison the Red Sea
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/11/05/oil-spills-poison-the-red-sea/
“Egyptian tourism commercials present the Red Sea as an untouched paradise where “the sun shines 365 days a year” and the water is full of exuberant marine life. But the reality is that the beaches and marine life are being destroyed as a result of offshore oil drilling and spills.”

Huge Australian Oil Spill Raises Questions
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/04/eveningnews/main5527406.shtml
Leak from Deep-Water Rig Has Released an Estimated 9 Million Gallons of Fuel; Bad News for the "Drill, Baby Drill" Crowd?

Australia Sets Up Commission for Timor Sea Oil Spill
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=a6aPROziqOwI

Shell Oil deciding on Alaska offshore drilling
http://newsminer.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Shell+Oil+deciding+on+Alaska+offshore+drilling+%20&id=4341427-Shell+Oil+deciding+on+Alaska+offshore+drilling+&instance=home_news_window

Spill Ends After 74 Days, But............

Irregular Times reports:


Of course, a good deal of oil that’s already leaked still has to come up to the surface, and the pollution resulting from the spill is spread out over tens of thousands of square miles. The environmental impact of the spill is likely to persist for decades – long enough for another spill to take place, unless a moratorium on offshore drilling is put into effect.




But hey, let’s look on the bright side. The Montara offshore drilling platform did not collapse into the sea. It just turned into a melted, oily, twisted, smoking, disgusting, useless heap.

And reportedly:

• The cleanup of the pollution from the oil spill will take 7 years to complete.


• PTTEP Australasia, the oil company responsible for the ten week long oil spill will begin drilling again in the same oil field in a matter of months.


• A PTTEP spokesperson says that his company knows what caused the oil spill, but won’t tell anyone else what that cause was.

Five Alternatives that Make More Sense than Offshore Oil

Offshore oil drilling proponents ignore the reality that offshore oil reserves are too small to significantly impact world oil prices or U.S. reliance on foreign oil. Offshore oil, which necessitates costly and environmentally dangerous drilling, is estimated to be able to produce only about 514 million barrels annually by 2030—less than 1 percent of global oil production.

Instead, these five alternatives to offshore oil for the transportation sector would decrease energy demand, limit U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cut costs for consumers, and reduce carbon emissions.

1. Increasing fuel economy standards

2. Hybrid-electric vehicles

3. Alternative commuting patterns

4. Plug-in hybrids

5. Cellulosic ethanol

Read more

Australian Rig on Fire Video

Hey Florida - Is This in Your Future?

Burning Rig May Sink
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=asC4plvYuEuE&pos=7
“The fire is out of control,” Jose Martins, a director of the Thai driller’s Australian unit, said today in Perth. “It looks like the rig’s going to sink,” Holly Pattenden, head of oil and gas analysis at Business Monitor International in London, said in a telephone interview.

Offshore Oil Rig Blazing in Australia
http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/02/offshore-oil-rig-blazing-in-australia/
Includes video of burning oil rig

Australian Oil Spill – Just When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Any Worse

West Atlas Rig and Montara Well Head Platform on Fire
http://www.au.pttep.com/uploads/MediaRelease83_01-11-09.pdf
Australian oil spill well on fire
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jBnSKYWjVXfddqxWb00p8eb6SqXQ
Timor Rig Ablaze as PTTEP Starts 4th Bid to Cap Leak
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aKcuzHRNaXhE&pos=9
Flaming Oil Rig Award Goes to... a Flaming Oil Rig
http://oilonthebeach.blogspot.com/2009/11/flaming-oil-rig-award-goes-to-flaming.html


Florida

Wondrous claims about offshore drilling bogus
Gulf states with offshore rigs get paltry royalties

http://www.bradenton.com/442/story/1821387.html