Offshore oil rigs coming from delaware to florida

This thread has lots of good points and intelligent discourse. I just want to remind folks not to get paralysis through analysis. Oil drilling off the east coast is bad for surfers, living things, and many major industries such as tourism, boating, diving, fishing etc. My point is that we - you and I - have to go to these damn environmental impact meetings, and make some noise. If you can't go, contact the bastards. A written letter has more weight than an email which has more weight than a phone call, but it all adds up. Contact your local, state and federal elected officials, and encourage other to do so. We have done hands across the sand and several other oil related protests that get the news crews out. It is everyone's responsibility to protect our coastline.

Impacting Our Beaches for a Clean Green Future for our Kids, Surf, and Fishies

 

You say that they are bad for surfers, tourism, boating, diving, fishing. Is that only of there is a catastrophe like the Horizon? Have the oil rigs in California hurt these activities?

I'm NOT saying I disagree, I'm just asking.

 

I dont think they have the hurricane exposure like the EC does, granted they have MUCH more wave activity....

 

a catastrophe like deepwater horizon is not the only way to negatively impact the economy & ecosystem via offshore oil rigs. the DH accident was not too far off the worst-case scenario. but the things leak almost constantly...tarballs, anyone?
of course, MIS already mentioned the increased exposure to hurricanes that the east coast has over the west, so there's always the possibility of something going horribly awry & a hurricane creating a major leak by damaging the rig.
have rigs impacted the coast of california? absolutely. but it's probably impossible to quantify how or to what extent.

 

I am not an anti business enviro nut. I subscribe to capitalism and a free market economy (with necessary constraints to protect children, the environment, and our health and safety - the topic of a non surf related discourse). Ask surfers in California if there has been any harm to the ocean, not just from the drilling, but from the transportation and storage at the ports. All those tankers foul the coastal waters near these ports. There are plenty of breaks on the East Coast that will be impacted. It does not take rocket science to figure it out, although there are plenty of scientific studies on both sides. It all boils down to what do you believe - is it OK to expand fossil fuel extraction off our coastlines, or should we be harnessing other forms of energy that are not so poisonous.

 

there is no need to 'protect the environment' if ecosystem services were included in the bill/cost, it would protect itself if we recognized and included the services it provides when making these choices

 

Thanks for the input. As usual I am far behind on the conversation (still reading posts and it looks like there's a lot).

The use of diesel kept those Germans going back in the 40's. Good thing they didn't use them on their tanks (not that they would have won). Would have dragged things out. Diesel engines need more oil, but who knows, someone has likely addressed my thoughts (someone usually does). I'm still typing...

 

Diesel takes less energy to refine. That is something to keep in mind. Also, biodiesel is one alternative fuel that doesn't lose a whole lot of energy density versus the crude based counterpart.

 

to extract and refine this uses more energy than it produces, yes? and to use a source of food for energy (corn based ethanol) creates ****ensian conditions for the bottom few rungs of society

really charles ****ens? ****ensians? you efftards have jumped the shark with your censorship

 

I like it when people regurgitate what I've already said, while trying to make it sound like a new statement or thought.

 

Oh no, don't get me wrong. I am against using food for fuel. Not all biodiesel is produced from food, either. I was just pointing out that if your were going to go eco-hippy with a vehicle, diesel is going to be the best way to go. Ethanol only has 65% of the energy density of gasoline, so it is a poor substitute. Biodiesel is closer to 93 or 94% the energy density of diesel.
As for refining crude, I wouldn't say that it takes more energy to refine the fuel than you actually get out of the finished product. After the distillation stack is up to temp, I think they are fairly efficient. Most refineries heat the stack using products of the distillation itself. Exploration and drilling may take a lot of energy, but you have to remember that they can pump billions of barrels of oil out, when they find a pocket.

 

Not to go off topic but they did use diesel in their tanks. US tanks ran on gas, and were not affectionately called "Ronsons" after the cigarette lighter of the same name as they tended to explode when shot. German tanks, not so much. Was a moot point after the Allies bombed their oil fields and refining capacity into rubble.

The complexity of their systems also led to frequent break downs and lack of an efficient parts system often doomed them to the scrap heap. Allies would often find them broken down and abandoned for seemingly minor repair issues.

For lack of a nail...

Sorry not trying to hijack, back on topic...

 

What do you guys know about algae? Isn't there some potential there?

 

to strain the algae takes a lot of energy, I have heard larger particles such as duckweed have a higher potential

 

There is nothing new under the sun my friend, get the sand out of yo slit

 

Ya, good stuff so far. I'll check them out too... thanks.