Help me out on this one, why cant we drill for oil in alaska?

Question

and the california coast? i have heard many reasons as to why we should drill but none as to why we cant. all i know is people in california dont want to look at the oil wells to that i say tough noogies to you california! but I truly dont understand the alaska thing?

Answer 1

WE CAN!! People are just stupid. Gas companies want the money and they don't want to work to get the money so, they raise the prices.

And George Bush isn't doing anything b/c he has 'friends' that work for it. :(

Answer 2

STUPID DEMOCRATS WONT LET US

Answer 3

I believe many of you who answered are too young to remember when there was oil drilling off the California coast. The reason it was stopped was because there were too many oil spills and they fouled the beaches and killed off lots of wildlife. Many people don't realize that both California and Alaska are located in geologically unstable regions and are prone to earthquakes, which could rupture oil lines and severely damage drilling equipment. Also, the area of Alaska people are talking about is in an extremely remote area. The oil has to be found first (which could take years) and then the equipment has to be installed to pump it out and transport it. This part of Alaska has brutal winters so chances are, there would be big problems with that since oil gets thick when it's cold and the equipment would constantly freeze over. For those who believe this would solve our dependency on Middle East oil, let me mention that it could be years, even decades before that would happen. Most of us now will be elderly or even dead by then.

Answer 4

Estimates are that oil under the Arctic refuge might supply the nation's needs for six months or a year, maybe more and maybe less.

It wouldn't be a solution to the problem.

Answer 5

because the only oil in alaska is off shore and its illegal to drill offshore

Answer 6

Ohhhhh we can't kill the polar bears....ughhh, it all points back to animal and environmental activists.

Answer 7

There is already a tremendous amount of oil drilling in Alaska.  The North Slope of Alaska is the largest oil producing region in the United States.  The debate is whether to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration, not whether to drill for oil in Alaska.

Answer 8

There are many people that feel that drilling in Alaska will destroy an area that none of us will ever see. Drilling technology has evolved such that the footprint would do no harm to the environment. The real risk is moving the oil in pipelines and tankers.

I think the real problem will be with any profits that the oil companies derive from that drilling. It is little bit of an insult that the industry that shares a certain amount of the blame should benefit.

Answer 9

People drill oil in Alaska

We got huge pipelines here

Trust me, I would know! [Alaska grown=]]

Answer 10

The last time the government blew smoke up our skirts was when they told us the Alaskan Pipeline would solve all of our energy problems and end our reliance on foreign oil.

Neither of those lies have proven to be anything BUT lies so why would we believe that drilling in Alaska would make it better with evidence to the contrary.

Answer 11

Hippies.

Answer 12

its said that most of the oil in alaska is under the animal reservations and they can't do that..because it will hurt the animals...what i dont get is they drilled somewhere in alaska and wound up saving an endangered species because of it...thats what my teach said

hope that helps

Answer 13

because there are lots of snow and flys..

Answer 14

I am afraid, it will freeze.  Therefore, some other informal techniques will have to be applied in order to maintain its smooth flow to facilitate pumping it out at reasonable cost.  One thing to keep in mind is the cost effectiveness.

Answer 15

we can't yet drill in ANWAR because of various Political / Naturalists bring the arguement of numerous species of animal who inhabit that area becoming ill, dead, or even extinct.  They beleive if somthing at which US Government damage control and technology couldn't prevent during the drillings occurd, the slightest accident could bring about an onslaught of enviormental damage.  

However others beleive in the Drill Here! (usa), Drill Now, Pay less! approach which seems nicer on my wallet =)

Answer 16

More Votes for Gabby C. She has the answer.

Bleeding Heart Democrats!!! UGGH!

Answer 17

Because even if we do drill in Alaska, it won't help the United States in our energy crisis.  Oil companies are owned Nationally.  Therefore, if they drill and obtain the oil, it will be sold nationally.  Right now, oil is worth more in Europe.  Therefore that is where it will be sold.  With that in mind, what is the point of drilling in ANWAR if we (the U.S. citizens) won't even recieve the fuel from it?

Answer 18

Because the federal government owns huge portions of Alaska. Because Congress has to give permission for drilling in Anwar. And they refuse to do that.

Answer 19

Nature preserve.

but there are ways to drill without killing the environment

Answer 20

There is wildlife up there that live in a fragile ecosystem so the chances of an oil spill can take them out.

As for the reasons behind it. We need to find renewable resources instead of digging for new oil.

Drilling for Oil in Alaska or in the Gulf or Oil Shale won't change prices for years and when it does it won't be that much at all. You have to take into consideration that oil is sold on the open market so even if you drill it in your country companies still sell it on the open market at a set price. Then you have to factor in refineries and moving oil to where you want it.

Invest in green solutions instead of more drilling

Answer 21

Go to this Web site and watch Lindsey Williams if you really want to know, kind of long but very educational.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=li...

Answer 22

We are drilling in Alaska just not the wildlife reserves. Get your facts straight.

Answer 23

The oil in Alaska is in the middle of a wildlife reserve and in the migration path of caribou. people don't want to drill off of the coast of California due to environmental problems that have happened in the past such as bad ocean water, and wildlife dying.

Answer 24

it would cost alot it would be bad for the enviroment there are many other reasons but instead of using of more of things the earth cant remake why dont we make something that it can such as a car that runs on water and etc.

Answer 25

They already have the rights to drill for oil in over some 60 million acres right now and they are not doing it.  

Why do you think giving them more land not to drill in will help anything?

Truth is there is no shortage.