Sorry Ima, the oil in the Dakotas story is a myth. I was there interviewing with one of the oil exploration companies last year, and there is actually very little accessible oil there. Most of it is shale oil, and the problem with that is it would cost more to process than any profit they can make off of it. I’m not sure where the whole idea that we have more than the middle east came from, but the engineers and scientists I got to talk to are not seeing it. We can access it, but the rate of production is too slow and relying on it would cause the price of gasoline to skyrocket. At most, the expect to use it for petroleum product and plastics production, not fuel.
I was there to set up the communications network, not to drill. When I brought up the subject of how much oil was there, that is the answer I got. The area may be comparable to the Saudi oil fields, it’s just not as accessible. These ARE the people trying to get to the oil. I suggest you stop reading propaganda sites and do some real research. Nothing is stopping you from going to the companies themselves and asking where your oil is.
For those who think Peak Oil is a myth — which is sort of odd, since everyone knows it is a finite resource — let me remind you of something. Petroleum was discovered oozing from the ground in Pennsylvania, which is where the first American oil wells were. By contrast, the “oil sands” of Canada — shale rock — were known but were not worth developing until very recently because of the cost of (literally) squeezing oil from a stone. Now they are the hottest property in Canada. Why? Because the cost of oil has gone up and readily available sources have run dry. Why do you think we have to drill in the Gulf of Mexico and process rock to get oil? Because this is what we have left to exploit. You can quibble with “Peak Oil,” which is a concept not unlike Y2K (technically the peak should have been before we started drilling, right?), but the fact is that oil is no longer as cheap and easy to come by as in days past.
No, I know of no such thing. Or either thing. Try again. Are you speaking of ANWR? The TOTAL oil in that area would last the US six months — IF we got to use it. The Keystone pipeline will potentially spread a line of contamination right through middle America, and the oil will then be sold overseas. And I don’t know about you, but keeping MY children from being poisoned seems only sensible. That used to be a conservative stand.
motivemagus has it right. Do you have anything other than blind (dis)belief? Do you even understand what “peak oil” specifically means? And what DO you think oil is? Where DO you think oil comes from?
Dtroutma about 12 years ago
The last guy just needs to do a Godiva, and give them the shirt off his back. (Just ask Exxon/Mobil)
rockngolfer about 12 years ago
Wow, Pulitzer Prize.I do like his drawing style.
Nebulous Premium Member about 12 years ago
The American Government doesn’t like Mass Transportation.
Dtroutma about 12 years ago
Ima IS a train, very narrow gauge.
El Rey about 12 years ago
http://www.gocomics.com/mattwuerker/2011/05/31
Fourcrows about 12 years ago
Sorry Ima, the oil in the Dakotas story is a myth. I was there interviewing with one of the oil exploration companies last year, and there is actually very little accessible oil there. Most of it is shale oil, and the problem with that is it would cost more to process than any profit they can make off of it. I’m not sure where the whole idea that we have more than the middle east came from, but the engineers and scientists I got to talk to are not seeing it. We can access it, but the rate of production is too slow and relying on it would cause the price of gasoline to skyrocket. At most, the expect to use it for petroleum product and plastics production, not fuel.
leweclectic about 12 years ago
What a gas!
Fourcrows about 12 years ago
I was there to set up the communications network, not to drill. When I brought up the subject of how much oil was there, that is the answer I got. The area may be comparable to the Saudi oil fields, it’s just not as accessible. These ARE the people trying to get to the oil. I suggest you stop reading propaganda sites and do some real research. Nothing is stopping you from going to the companies themselves and asking where your oil is.
Motivemagus about 12 years ago
For those who think Peak Oil is a myth — which is sort of odd, since everyone knows it is a finite resource — let me remind you of something. Petroleum was discovered oozing from the ground in Pennsylvania, which is where the first American oil wells were. By contrast, the “oil sands” of Canada — shale rock — were known but were not worth developing until very recently because of the cost of (literally) squeezing oil from a stone. Now they are the hottest property in Canada. Why? Because the cost of oil has gone up and readily available sources have run dry. Why do you think we have to drill in the Gulf of Mexico and process rock to get oil? Because this is what we have left to exploit. You can quibble with “Peak Oil,” which is a concept not unlike Y2K (technically the peak should have been before we started drilling, right?), but the fact is that oil is no longer as cheap and easy to come by as in days past.
Motivemagus about 12 years ago
No, I know of no such thing. Or either thing. Try again. Are you speaking of ANWR? The TOTAL oil in that area would last the US six months — IF we got to use it. The Keystone pipeline will potentially spread a line of contamination right through middle America, and the oil will then be sold overseas. And I don’t know about you, but keeping MY children from being poisoned seems only sensible. That used to be a conservative stand.
lbatik about 12 years ago
motivemagus has it right. Do you have anything other than blind (dis)belief? Do you even understand what “peak oil” specifically means? And what DO you think oil is? Where DO you think oil comes from?