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Permalink Reply by sesport on July 22, 2010 at 4:36

Hardage - I'm not an engineer, not even closely educated as such (just some shade tree mechanics), but it does sound practical. Any idea put into R&D would be better than no idea from the standpoint that, due to the current devastation, another "accident" would most surely annihilate gulf coast life. That, to me, would be the more (most?) shameful loss.

I think you're correct in your thoughts that imply it will be argued that bottom line will be negatively impacted, shareholders will be looking for their dividends (ahem, don't look now). Then, of course, that cost will be passed down to consumers, who will most likely strenuously object not realizing that the costs to "repair" will be passed on to them anyway.

So, in terms of costs per well per company, would you be able to speculate what this might cost per year to a company as opposed to what it's guesstimated the total cost of the aftermath clean-up & remediations will be?

Dollars can be replaced, ecosystems that sustain us cannot.

I guess what I'm interested in finding out is how much cost for prevention would be passed on to consumers as opposed to costs passed on for "fixing" another spewke. Seems to me that China is now contending with a similar situation, too. Probability ... someone needs to take another look at that.

thanks - 80)

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Permalink Reply by Mac Davis on July 22, 2010 at 5:28

For all of their bluster and posturing, the price of oil and gasoline haven't gone up a dime since the moratorium, giving you some idea of how significant this loss is in the big picture.

Since the moratorium only affects wells in the process of being drilled, there probably hasn't been any drop in production at all yet. It's only been a month or so since the moratorium started. Unless there are wells that would have been completed and start production since the moratorium took effect, there would be no change in oil production yet.

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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on July 22, 2010 at 7:33

There was a good article in The Times this morning about the defacto moratorium in shallow water.

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Permalink Reply by sesport on July 22, 2010 at 19:15

Senate's comprehensive energy bill has been scrapped, couldn't get the 60 votes. They're thinking a "do-over." 80)

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Permalink Reply by sesport on July 23, 2010 at 2:11

A narrower bill (can't find the number) is expected to pass next week. I find mentions of "narrower" meaning focused on "accidents," residential energy efficiency & transportation with specific mention of ng fueled hd trucks. No mention of fuel for electric plants or industry, looks like it was taken off the table.

With the exception of Con Ed making noise for ng and a few power plants here & there, not sure electric industry is convinced & willing yet to fuel with ng. And my feeling is that they resist businesses & industries going with co-gen, even though that would help lessen the demand on the grid.

Wait & see, I guess. 80)

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