Alaska's North Slope: Biggest Oil Spill Yet
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 03.13.06
Despite BP's claim to be "Beyond Petroleum" and its various renewable energy projects (see links at the end of this post), we must not forget that the company still has bl.. oil on its hands. Friday, Reuters reported that the March 2 oil spill is worse than previously reported and that "up to 267,000 gallons (6,357 barrels) of crude oil poured out of a pipeline at the Prudhoe Bay field [not far from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge], making it the largest oil spill ever recorded on the state's North Slope." According to Leslie Pearson, on-scene coordinator for the Department of Environmental Conservation, the spill is spread over 1.9 acres (0.76 hectare) of snow-covered tundra. The environmental impact remains unknown, but it doesn't take a genius to know that it won't be good. ::Alaska's North Slope sees its biggest oil spill, via ::Dave Pollard, ::BP Solar Profitable – Solar has Bright Future Ahead, ::BP Plans to Invest $8 Billion In Renewable Energy, ::Toyota and BP Biofuels Research Partnership, ::Arctic Refuge Drilling Blocked in US Senate, ::Arctic Wildlife Refuge Safe... For Now, ::Treasure America's Arctic Wildlife Refuge Video
Five questions:
Why does Congress want ANWR drilling so much? One seeminly plausible explanation is that the fields already served by the Prudhoe Bay pipline are "at Peak". If production in those old fields slows down soon or is interrupted, the pumps in the piplien won't be able to keep an even flow, leading to pressure swings and possible freeze ups. The added ANWR production will be needed to keep the PB system working and be able to deliver previously projected reserves. Because the State of Alaska gets most of its revenues from this oil (unlike the rest of us who pay income and property taxes to our states), this possible explanation indicates a positive feedback loop stuck in full open position.
I'm not sure what's worse. The fact that there was an oil spill, or the fact that it happens so often that they had to order rolls of "Spill Area" tape!!!
Intersting. Is there any alterinative(sp) oil company that doesn't have ties to big oil?
"Why does Congress want ANWR drilling so much?"
We could go with the obvious and oft-stated reason which is that... there's oil there. And if you want to be conspiratorial, then there's nothing wrong with pointing out that big oil carries a lot of influence with Congress, while the non-voting moss covered rocks on that barren stretch of arctic wasteland don't.
The alternative is to poke more holes in the Gulf of Mexico. Compare the environmental records of Gulf Drilling with arctic drilling, and it quickly becomes clear that not drilling in ANWR is some kind of reverse NIMBY nonsense.
Reminder: do not feed the trolls.
Thank you.
Yes this spill is very bad news - but at least we've heard about it. Apparently, BP's track record of reporting spillage in Prudhoe Bay has been less than great over the years (check out this article by Jason Leopold posted on Common Dreams 5/05)
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0516-30.htm
thanks for posting this up for me. still seems like the major news is not keen on covering this story. bushco has their attention diverted elsewhere. anwr? are they kidding?
check out:
www.alaskaaction.org