Will deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico lessen our energy dependence or is it too inefficient?

Question

At the current price of oil it seems that it will be profitable but oil shale seemed to be profitable at one time also ( due to wrong assumptions on cost and market )

so classy -- you might want to reseach that most of the hybrids are not that efficent in real world usage ( and the batteries will be a future disposal problem ) ///// and we ain't got enough land to grow our fuel ( silly PC/farmer helper program )

Answer 1

As long as deep water drilling can produce oil at a profitable risk/reward ratio, it will be efficient and reduce our need for foreign oil.

I think the current production from deep water is well over 6000 barrels per day. Don't know where that number comes from but it sounds incorrect.

Oil shale's biggest problems are environmental. There are huge deposits but the majority of folks don't want to deal with having it in their backyard and it can't be moved to someone else's yard. If we could get past this question then the processes for recovering the shale oil could be developed and made economic.

Answer 2

Currently, the new deep drill produces only 6000 barrel a day, while US consume more than 1 million barrel a day.

There is no way to make an impact to the current US situation.

I think we need to continue to pitch for better usage of gas. I still don't understands why people are still driving their hummer to work or those giant SUV with only one person in it during rush hours.

If only we can lower our freeway speed down 5 to 10 miles. We can easily save 3-10% of gas consumption due to better MPG number. You can easily test it on your car. Compare driving at 65mph vs. 55mph. You can see the difference in the pump.

It must be preached into every driver's mind to conserve energy.

We can continue to find supplies but it will be way better if we can cut down the demands.

Answer 3

You need to understand the global markets and how the oil markets work. The U.S. & Canada can produce MORE than enough oil to sustain themselves. We don't need foreign oil, but it doesn't work that way. Research the oil industries & markets and you may understand why problems over seas affect us the way they do.

There is WAY too much to explain how this works in this forum.

Best answer?

Answer 4

The only thing that would lessen US dependancy is by manufacturing hybrid cars, or powered by Ethanol