How is this oil spill not a big deal?

[goof2]

Even if we replaced every internal combustion engine with electric (except jets, that may be a little impractical even for this exercise), only fed the increased energy demand with nuclear, and replaced every existing power plant with nuclear as I understand it we would still need over 5 million barrels per day of refined products from oil. Nuclear can play a large part in reducing our dependance on oil but even in fantasy land it only takes us so far.

As for the impact of this spill, I'm not arguing that it won't be huge due to its concentration, but lets put it in to some perspective. According to the National Research Council's best estimates over 1.1 million barrels of oil enter the seas in North America due to natural seepage from the ground every year. Worldwide their best estimate is almost 4.4 million barrels per year. While we do add to the total oil is going to get in the ocean no matter what.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by goof2

Even if we replaced every internal combustion engine with electric (except jets, that may be a little impractical even for this exercise), only fed the increased energy demand with nuclear, and replaced every existing power plant with nuclear as I understand it we would still need over 5 million barrels per day of refined products from oil. Nuclear can play a large part in reducing our dependance on oil but even in fantasy land it only takes us so far.

As for the impact of this spill, I'm not arguing that it won't be huge due to its concentration, but lets put it in to some perspective. According to the National Research Council's best estimates over 1.1 million barrels of oil enter the seas in North America due to natural seepage from the ground every year. Worldwide their best estimate is almost 4.4 million barrels per year. While we do add to the total oil is going to get in the ocean no matter what.

I avoided this tactic because they covered it with Rush Limbaugh...it could also be said that by draining off the pressure with drilling, we actually reduce the amount of oil that seeps into the ocean.... In other words, if we left oil alone, we would have hundreds of tar pits around the world....

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

I avoided this tactic because they covered it with Rush Limbaugh...it could also be said that by draining off the pressure with drilling, we actually reduce the amount of oil that seeps into the ocean.... In other words, if we left oil alone, we would have hundreds of tar pits around the world....

I'm always confused by the deflection statements of "it happens in nature anyway..."

Do zebra muscles have their place in the environment, yes. What happens when humans introduce them artifically into another environment? Bad things. To simply state that something happens to some extent somewhere else on the planet is not a valid argument.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by azoomm

I'm always confused by the deflection statements of "it happens in nature anyway..."

Do zebra muscles have their place in the environment, yes. What happens when humans introduce them artifically into another environment? Bad things. To simply state that something happens to some extent somewhere else on the planet is not a valid argument.

what if it occurs in that part of the world naturally... what if they could prove that this oil plus whatever has been pumped would have seeped into the ocean naturally, them what? oil is a natural compound... I honestly want to discuss this as I am honestly interested in non emotionally driven debate.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

what if it occurs in that part of the world naturally... what if they could prove that this oil plus whatever has been pumped would have seeped into the ocean naturally, them what? oil is a natural compound... I honestly want to discuss this as I am honestly interested in non emotionally driven debate.

OK, I won't use smilies.

If they can prove THAT MUCH oil seeps from the ground in that area naturally then I wouldn't have any issue with it at all.

Hell, I'm just hoping the industry starts taking the safety issues seriously. And, by safety, I mean for people and the world around them.

[EpyonXero]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

what if it occurs in that part of the world naturally... what if they could prove that this oil plus whatever has been pumped would have seeped into the ocean naturally, them what? oil is a natural compound... I honestly want to discuss this as I am honestly interested in non emotionally driven debate.

Thats a big IF. Proving that oil could leak through 1000 m of rock.

[the chi]

But then we would all die like the dinosaurs cuz hoomans are too stupid not to drive into things like that...

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by The Chi

But then we would all die like the dinosaurs cuz hoomans are too stupid not to drive into things like that...

Yep!!! Oh and I appreciate that you "get me"... I just get tired of people that use 3 drops less oil than I do, telling me how to live.

[Papa_Complex]

I sure hope that you aren't equating a minute level of natural seepage with punching a bike sized hole straight down to it.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

I sure hope that you aren't equating a minute level of natural seepage with punching a bike sized hole straight down to it.

That's what I'm reading.