AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Environment DRILLING FOR OIL OFF AC? NOOOOOO ......... !!!!!

bywarren, "As with any decision a country must make"
Thats the problem, the country isn't making any decisions! some one made it for us.

That is the way republics and democracies work.

Also, an analogy you might understand. Just because someone has an accident doing a decompression dive to the bottom of the Blue Hole, doesn't mean diving Hol Chan is just as dangerous.
Using the BP accident as a reason not to consider drilling in Belize is not applicable.

Its just not worth the chance.

But seeing what happened in the Gulf of Mexico and (to an extent) understanding what went wrong at the various stages should inform us (to an extent) of the risks we must look out for.

There are crews all over the country right now doing the work to find the petro on land. I spoke to a crew staying in a hotel in Orange Walk. They had all the sensors they use to find the oil stacked up and were very nice to talk to.

Me casa is in OW so I will go ask them if they know anything about exploring off the reef. To easy to get what is on land seems to me.

Elbert, if ignorance is bliss, your life must be most blissful. Unfortunately for me, I have to go thru life trying to get all the facts before making decisions. Like in this case, what are the potential reserves? How deep will the wells need to be? If offshore, in how deep of water will they be? What type of wells will be drilled? Along with other questions.
Also, keep in mind that the rigs in the gulf provide artificial reefs that improve the fishing. Besides potential risks, there are potential benefits other than just the revenues.
Damn, my life could be so much less complicated if I could only be as blissful as you.

FYI

From a tech who is sounding the Shipyard area now, he is not aware of any plans to do anything in the waters of Belize. This is from a man working in the field who is not privy to what may be going on in the shadows.

Keeping my ear to the rail.

Also Peter, there have been approximatly 4000 oil platforms constructed in the Gulf of Mexico. Each of those can support in excess of 20 wells drilled off of them. The one BP accident is a "deep water well" that I doubt is being considered at this time in Belize. There would have to be exploritory wells drilled first to determine the extent of the reserves and more shallow wells utilized before the cost of a deep water well could be justified. These wells have a great safety record. Just do the math on the amount of wells in the Gulf and the lack of any problems. Further, if a problem would present itself in other than an deep water well, correcting that problem without damage to the environment is easily accomplished.
Once again, I am not advocating drilling in Belize at this point. But to not consider all the facts, and to condemn it based soley on the BP accident is uninformed and premature. Not to mention blissful.
The potential rewards to the Belize people suggest that a more thoughtfull approach be taken.

bywarren, No advocate of drilling off Belize myself due to the prevailing wind and currents. A small accident could be a big problem so special care would be necessary. You make good arguments why most drilling for oil has perfectly acceptable risks.

In addition I would like to add that deep water drilling is taking place because hard core environmentalists are forcing companies to go to deep water. Area's such as the Artic in Alaska, large portions of Federal land in the West in the USA and inshore drilling along most of both coasts is not allowed. These are low risk areas. Yet the thirst for oil continues.

There are ways to get off significant amounts of oil but no to that also. I'm not talking Wind or Solar which needs a fossil fuel backup, is expensive and is many years away from being a large source of electricity. The answer is here today in developed countries with Nuclear Power. The USA which is one of the largest consumers of oil puts many obstacles for political reasons in the way of building Nuclear. The administration just guaranteed the loans on a few plants but the effort was totally inadequate. Very few plants are being built and not many are on the drawing board. I believe that part of the supply of electricity from Mexico to Belize is Nuclear. Nuclear is here now, is safe and does not pollute.

I've been told that at current growth rates in population and wealth in the world the need for oil will double in the next 40 years. We must do some thing quick but that should not include an absolute band on drilling unless you want a world economic calamity.

Mr Warren has some valid points however the last statement I wonder about

With the current oil bonanza on the mainland, can you tell me where the people of Belize are benefiting and since whatever those benefits are may give an idea of the potential benefits offshore drilling will be for the people.

I personally think the risk is far too great for any reward as in my eyes the only people that will benefit from oil will be those in power and the drilling companys.

For all the oil drilled in Belize we can really see how it is benefiting the people who are still paying $10 a gallon

The potential is there though

Gaz