Friday, August 20, 2010

Oil Drilling News

GULF OIL DISASTER


Scientists challenge US optimism on oil spill damage


Oil found. Science lost.

Oil Plume Is Not Breaking Down Fast, Study Says

"The slow breakdown of the plume, if verified by additional research, suggests that scientists may find themselves tracking the toxic compounds from BP's well and trying to discern their impact on sea life for a long time. 
"I expect the hydrocarbon imprint of the BP discharge will be detectable in the marine environment for the rest of my life," Ian MacDonald, an oceanographer at Florida State University, told Congress in prepared testimony on Thursday. "The oil is not gone and is not going away anytime soon.""


Barton calls drilling moratorium stupid


WILDLIFE, HUMAN AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS


Toxic Oil Found Deep on Gulf Seafloor?


Sylvia Earle on the Gulf Disaster and Saving the Seas (Podcast)


CALIFORNIA


Forum on Offshore Drilling Safety, Santa Barbara, August 24


Boxer attacks Fiorina's pro-oil drilling stance in Santa Barbara

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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Oil Drilling News

GULF OIL DISASTER


BP to Bring in Well Device as It Awaits U.S. Orders


Admiral Thad Allen Issues Directive to BP Providing Authorization and Conditions for BOP Replacement Prior to Completion of the Relief Well


Regulatory Agencies' Attempts to Sweep Oil Under the Rug Raise Questions


WHOI Scientists Map and Confirm Origin of Large, Underwater Hydrocarbon Plume in Gulf

Does 3,000 feet under the surface qualify as "under the rug?"

How do they know the oil is gone? They guessed


Oceanographer To Challenge US Claims On Spill Cleanup


Deepwater Horizon's Enduring Lessons

Interview with Thad Allen


Finding New Ways to Fill the Tank

"Now the federal government is plunging in, in what the energy secretary, Steven Chu, calls the hunt for miracles. 

The work is part of the mission of the new Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy, which is intended to finance high-risk, high-reward projects. 

The goal of this agency, whose budget is $400 million for two years, is to realize profound results — such as tens of millions of motor vehicles that would run 300 miles a day on electricity from clean sources or on liquid fuels from trees and garbage."

WILDLIFE, HUMAN AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS

Murky Relationships Mark Scientific Efforts to Assess Gulf Spill's Impacts


ALASKA


Arctic villages stop seismic tests as Canada mulls oil future

"...five Inuit villages have won a court order that blocks a German icebreaker from conducting seismic tests of an underwater region that abounds with marine life — and possibly with oil, gas and minerals."

FLORIDA


Florida Weighs Billing BP More Than $1 Billion to Plug Fund Gap



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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Oil Drilling News

GULF OIL DISASTER


Final well-killing procedure is pushed back


BP / Gulf Spill - 4.1 Million Barrels of Oil, 11.6 Billion Cubic Feet of Natural Gas (Skytruth.org)

Americans divided on Gulf offshore drilling-Gallup

We Need a Real Discussion of the Impact of Tighter Offshore Drilling Regulation


Obama's new offshore oil drilling rules: too many loopholes?


Stronger drilling oversight overdue

Big Oil faces new rules after disaster

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK


Oil industry group to hold 'citizen rallies'

"The leading trade association for oil and gas companies is ramping up its public advocacy campaign this summer ahead of congressional debate this fall that includes efforts to clamp down on tax benefits for the industry.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) will hold a series of "citizen rallies" starting Sept. 1 with events in three Texas cities — Houston, Corpus Christi and Beaumont. API will partner with local energy and other business groups that they hope will translate into correspondence with lawmakers. While details are not yet firm, future rallies are tentatively planned to occur in Ohio, Illinois, Colorado and New Mexico."

WILDLIFE, HUMAN AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS

ALABAMA


Alabama state waters to be fully opened to recreational fishing

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Oil Drilling News

GULF OIL DISASTER

 

Scientists Say as Much as 79% of Oil Remains in Gulf of Mexico

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-17/scientists-say-79-of-spilled-oil-may-remain-challenging-administration.html

“Most of the oil that leaked from BP’s Macondo well from April 20 to July 15 is still beneath the water’s surface, five scientists including Samantha Joye, a professor of marine sciences at the University of Georgia in Athens, concluded in a memo made public yesterday. The researchers say they drew upon the U.S. government’s study while reaching different conclusions.”

Also see this UGA News Release

 

Report Regarding the Minerals Management Service’s National Environmental Policy Act Policies, Practices, and Procedures as They Relate to Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Exploration and Development

http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=42036

 

More environmental review planned for oil exploration and drilling

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/08/more_environmental_review_plan.html

“In the aftermath of the blowout of BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, the federal Minerals Management Service was widely criticized for issuing BP "categorical exclusions" for exploration and drilling that permitted the operation to proceed without a more painstaking environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act. On Monday, the Interior Department announced that it will restrict the use of those exclusions to only those situations posing "limited environmental risk."”

Also see: Obama administration tightens drilling oversight and Drilling Permits for Deep Waters Face New Review

“I applaud Secretary Salazar for the steps he is taking,” Mr. Rahall said, “but permanent reform requires passage of my CLEAR Act, which would put the last nail in the coffin to the practice of allowing Big Oil to jam through offshore drilling projects with minimal review.”

But predictably, Oil industry slams Interior over expanded environmental reviews for offshore drilling

 

Director Bromwich to Host Forums in California and Alaska to Discuss Drilling and Workplace Safety, Spill Response

http://www.boemre.gov/forums/

Dates and locations have just been announced for CA and AK:

August 24, 2010: Santa Barbara, Calif.

Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort

633 East Cabrillo Road

Santa Barbara, CA

Doors open at 8 A.M., event begins at 9 A.M.

 

August 26, 2010: Anchorage, Alaska

Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center

555 West Fifth Avenue

Anchorage, AK 

Doors open at 7 A.M., event begins at 8 A.M.

 

WILDLIFE, HUMAN AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS

 

Uncovering the Lies That Are Sinking the Oil

http://www.truth-out.org/uncovering-lies-that-are-sinking-oil62345

“There is a clear pattern that VOO workers in all four states are consistently reporting:

·         VOO workers identify the oil.

·         They are then sent elsewhere by someone higher up the chain of command.

·         Dispersants are later applied by out-of-state contractors in Carolina Skiffs (usually at night), or aircraft are used, in order to sink the oil.

·         The oil "appears" gone and, therefore, no additional action is taken.

"There are surfers coming in with oil on them," Yerkes continued, "There are divers telling us it's on the bottom. We have VOO workers coming in after finding oil three inches thick atop the water as of last week and they go back out there and it's gone."”

 

Oil spill recovery grant includes $3 million for mental health care in Florida

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/oil-spill-recovery-grant-includes-3-million-for-862689.html

“Other agencies receiving money include: the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Heath Services Administration, $10 million; Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals, $15 million; the Mississippi and Alabama mental health departments, $12 million each.”

 

 

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Monday, August 16, 2010

Oil Drilling News

GULF OIL DISASTER

 

BP's Relief Well Effort Delayed by U.S. Concerns Over Risk of Oil Release

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-15/bp-s-relief-well-effort-delayed-by-u-s-concerns-over-risk-of-oil-release.html

“BP determined that 1,000 barrels of oil remain trapped in the well after cement was pumped in from the top earlier this month. Now U.S. officials fear some of that could be released, or new leaks may form, when the company pumps in more mud and cement into the bottom of the well for the final plug.  The London-based company will probably need until Aug. 17 to come up with a plan for the so-called bottom kill that won’t result in an uncontrolled release of crude, National Incident Commander Thad Allen said during a conference call with reporters yesterday.”

 

Gulf Driller to Light up Cigar After Job Is Done

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gIXWYBTpLtSayJtg41LKXpxSxVPAD9HK6KFO0

 

With BP spill under control, US looks at drill ban

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iM1T8GtiBLmkcVfhDRmNAtfeJmJwD9HJFFBG3

“Now that the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history has effectively been stopped, the White House is considering an early end to its moratorium on deepwater drilling.”

 

Categorical Exclusions for Gulf Offshore Activity to be Limited While Interior Reviews NEPA Process and Develops Revised Policy

http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Categorical-Exclusions-for-Gulf-Offshore-Activity-to-be-Limited-While-Interior-Reviews-NEPA-Process-and-Develops-Revised-Policy.cfm

 

BP oil spill may result in sea change for industry

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/14/business/la-fi-oil-future-20100814

“Experts predict that energy production will slow and regulation will increase along with the cost of drilling in deep water. Better technology will have to be developed. New projects may require rigorously tested emergency plans. Government oversight will be overhauled. "The days of easy oil are over," said Michael Klare, program director at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington. "Only the tough crude remains, in unfriendly parts of the world or in difficult places where the technology and the regulations have not caught up. There are bound to be greater risks."”

 

Feds CONFISCATE independent LSU scientists’ samples because project not approved by BP, others

http://www.floridaoilspilllaw.com/feds-confiscate-independent-lsu-scientists-samples-because-project-not-approved-by-bp-others

 

WILDLIFE, HUMAN AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS

 

Debate Over Reopening Gulf Fishing Grounds Falls Along Surprising Lines

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/08/controversy-over-opening-gulf-fishing-grounds-falls-along-surprising-lines.html

 

Oil, Price Worries as La. Shrimpers Start Season

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wirestory?id=11407210&page=1

 

Health Effects of the Gulf Oil Spill

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/jama.2010.1254v1?etoc

 

CALIFORNIA

 

Abandoned oil wells still sit off Oceanside coastline

http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_8646451b-60a8-5f9e-88d9-22dc3ab69e57.html

 

FLORIDA

 

Nonprofit pursues more tests for dispersants on Gulf Coast

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/nonprofit-pursues-more-tests-for-dispersants-on-gulf-859943.html

 

GREAT LAKES

 

Activists want constitutional ban on Great Lakes oil drilling

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1687632/Top.Stories/.Activists.want.constitutional.ban.on.Great.Lakes.oil.drilling

 

Photo essay: Michigan oil spill from the air

http://michiganmessenger.com/40841/photo-essay-talmadge-creek-clean-up-fly-over

 

 

 

 

 

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Friday, August 13, 2010

Oil Drilling News

GULF OIL DISASTER

 

BP May Not Need to Finish Drilling Relief Well, Allen Says

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-12/bp-may-not-need-to-finish-drilling-relief-well-allen-says.html

“Yesterday was the first time Allen said the relief well may not be required.”

Also see: Science, engineering teams assessing BP well and

BP relief well needs to be finished, U.S. says

After a day-long back and forth on this, it appears that they will complete the relief well.

 

Chief Concedes Drilling Regulator Relied on Industry

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704407804575425971920279034.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

 

7 lessons from the oil spill

http://www.htrnews.com/article/20100810/MAN06/8100430/Donna-Brazile-Commentary-7-lessons-from-the-oil-spill

1.       Unregulated or loosely regulated international mega-corporations threaten our democracy.  2. Addictions destroy.  3. We don't know as much as we think we do.  4. Our government should be at work before, during and after a disaster.  5. Politicians are human, for better or for worse.  6. The Endless News Cycle is a Noise Machine.  7. The Gulf Coast matters.

 

Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival

http://www.shrimp-petrofest.org/

This is not a joke. Also see an article about this.

 

WILDLIFE, HUMAN AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS

 

Officials deny dispersant use, residents beg to differ

http://www.thedestinlog.com/news/residents-14872-multiple-differ.html

“Okaloosa Island resident Joseph Yerkes, who had been employed by BP as a VOO operator, wrote in a letter that he distributed at Tuesday night’s meeting that he had “witnessed and reported” suspicious activity over the Gulf of Mexico on July 30. Yerkes, who was sitting on the back porch of his third floor condo about 1:30 p.m., wrote that he witnessed a military C-130 “flying from the north to the south, dropping to low levels of elevation then obviously spraying or releasing an unknown substance from the rear of the plane.””

 

Louisiana Fishermen: Don't Eat The Seafood

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/louisiana-fishermen-dont-eat-seafood

I’m trying to reconcile this with the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival.

 

Hope that oil spill effects already waning causes debate among scientists

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/hope-that-oil-spill-effects-already-waning-causes-854733.html

 

Microbes To The Rescue

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/science/88/8832sci1.html?featured=1

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thursday, August 12, 2010

Oil Drilling News

 

GULF OIL DISASTER

 

Making oil company CEOs responsible

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-sarbanes-letter-20100812,0,830170.story

 

How Long to Pass an Oil Spill Bill? Try 18 Months

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/08/12/12greenwire-how-long-to-pass-an-oil-spill-bill-try-18-mont-13939.html

 

Summary of recent Gulf Oil Spill-related Legislation (NRDC):

  • On 7/22 Sens. Whitehouse (D-RI), Snowe (R-ME) and Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced the National Endowment for the Oceans Act (S. 3641), which would create a new trust fund to protect ocean resources -- long a goal of the environmental community. The endowment would be funded from a combination of sources, including money from fines collected for violations of federal law that occur in our oceans, interest from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, and revenues from offshore energy development. Importantly, the money would be distributed to coastal states and other entities without regard to whether oil drilling is allowed by a state.
  • On 7/28 Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) introduced the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act (S. 3663) to begin to reduce U.S. dependence on oil and address the Gulf oil spill. The bill would reform the liability system to make sure that oil companies pay the full cost of cleanup and damages resulting from oil spills; strengthen government oversight of oil and gas exploration; promote vehicles that run on electricity and natural gas; offer rebates to encourage homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes; and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, an existing onshore trust fund that pays to purchase lands in need of permanent protection. The legislation would also strengthen both the requirements for oil spill response plans, and the policies and the standards for determining where, when and whether to lease areas for offshore drilling. For example, oil drilling would be allowed only when it could be done in a way that provides adequate protection to life, health, the environment, property and other uses of the sea. On land, the legislation would ensure drilling activities meet environmental standards by requiring the disclosure of hydraulic fracturing chemicals and removing the oil and gas industry's special exemption from the Clean Water Act's stormwater requirements. The Senate was initially expected to vote on the bill before the August recess, but on 8/3 Sen. Reid decided not to press for a vote in August because the bill lacked the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster due to uniform opposition from Republicans joined by some oil-state Democrats. The Senate is expected to take up the bill when it returns in September. NRDC is working to get Senator Reid to include the National Endowment for the Oceans in this package. The bill should also be further strengthened by creating a stronger role for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in oil and gas decisions, a measure already approved by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Visit NRDC Oceans Advocate Regan Nelson's blog to read more details on the bill.
  • The Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act would eliminate the $75 million liability cap on damages so that polluters, and not the taxpayers, are responsible for all damages from an oil spill. This provision would apply to existing claims, including those for damages resulting from the Gulf spill disaster, and is one of the most controversial aspects of the bill. On 8/6, Sen. Begich (D-AK) released draft legislation intended as a compromise on the liability cap issue. Under Sen. Begich's bill, companies operating offshore would be required to carry insurance to cover costs up to a level determined by the Secretary of Interior, which must be at least $250 million. Beyond that level, all offshore producers would collectively share liability for up to $20 billion in damages.
  • On 7/30, by a vote of 209-193, the House passed the Consolidated Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act (H.R. 3534), which would strengthen government oversight of oil and gas exploration and ensure polluters like BP pay the full cost of damages resulting from oil spills. The bill passed with nine amendments, including one offered by Rep. Himes (D-CT) and another from Rep. Connolly (D-VA) that were strongly supported by NRDC. The amendment offered by Rep. Himes clarifies that land acquisition is one of the tools that the government should use to promote ecological restoration after an oil disaster (land acquisition is allowed under current law, but is never a preferred option). The amendment offered by Rep. Connolly would close a legal loophole to ensure that oil companies will be held responsible for the oil spill liability of a bankrupted subsidiary. The bill also would assure that American taxpayers get a fair market value for oil and gas extracted from federal leases and would set up a new system to cover liability from spills to ensure that taxpayers are not stuck with the cleanup costs or with paying for environmental and economic damages. In addition, the legislation would create an oceans trust fund paid for by oil royalties, fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and remove the special exemption from the Clean Water Act's stormwater requirements that the oil and gas industry received three years ago. The bill could be even stronger and includes some undesirable provisions, including one that would modify the current deepwater drilling moratorium. That provision originated in an amendment from Rep. Melancon (D-LA). Yet, after passing Rep. Melancon's amendment, the House defeated a Republican motion to completely repeal the moratorium. Visit NRDC Legislative Director Scott Slesinger's blog to read more details on the bill.

WILDLIFE, HUMAN AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS

 

Gulf of Mexico `Dead Zone' Grows as Spill Impact Is Studied

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-12/crude-marred-gulf-of-mexico-s-dead-zone-grows-as-spill-impact-is-studied.html

“The oil dumped into the water by the BP spill from April 20 to July 15 could create dead zones by spawning an explosion of bacteria that feed on crude, Rabalais and Diaz said. The spill “may cause a local oxygen drawdown” as bacteria decompose the oil, Diaz said.”

 

Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf Of Mexico

http://mpa.gov/pdf/helpful-resources/horizon_spill_mpas_june.2010.pdf

This map shows the boundaries of the 234 U.S. MPAs that have been or could potentially be affected by the oil spill.  I guess “protected” doesn’t apply to offshore oil drilling operations.

 

VIRGINIA

 

Va. environmentalists urge oil, gas drilling ban

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HI3SAG0.htm

 

AUSTRALIA

 

Australian oil industry acting on lessons of Montara spill

http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews.aspx?xmlpath=RSSFeed/HeadlineNews/NaturalGas/6292750.xml

 

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