Massive oil spill off southern California coast is an 'environmental catastrophe'
Oil washes up in Huntington Beach, October 3, 2021 (Photo: AP/Ringo HW Chiu)
A large oil spill off the southern California coast that left beaches strewn with dead fish and birds has been described as an "environmental catastrophe" by the local mayor.
The crude has stopped leaking from the southern California pipeline believed to be the source of the spill, according to the head of the company that owns the facility.
Divers were still trying to determine where and why the leak occurred, but the flow of oil was stopped late Saturday from the line that runs under the ocean off Huntington Beach, said Amplify Energy CEO Martyn Willsher.
The US Coast Guard, working with local and state agencies, flew overhead to assess the spill and had hired contractors to clean it up.
The slick has washed up on Huntington and other beaches, and threatens delicate wetlands (Photo: AP/Ringo HW Chiu)
A 'potential ecological disaster'
An estimated 126,000 gallons, or 3,000 barrels, had spread into an oil slick covering about 33 square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean since it was first reported on Saturday morning, said Kim Carr, the mayor of Huntington Beach, at a press conference.
The beachside city, about 40 miles south of Los Angeles, was bearing the brunt of the spill.
Ms Carr, who called the spill a "potential ecological disaster," added, "Our wetlands are being degraded and portions of our coastline are now covered in oil."
She said the oil rig was operated by Beta Offshore, a California subsidiary of Houston-based Amplify Energy Corporation.
Skimmers and floating barriers deployed to stop the oil spreading further (Photo AP/Ringo HW Chiu)
"In the coming days and weeks we challenge the responsible parties to do everything possible to rectify this environmental catastrophe," Ms Carr added.
On Sunday, Orange County supervisor Katrina Foley said the oil had infiltrated the Talbert Marsh, a large ecological reserve, causing "significant damage."
A petroleum stench permeated the air throughout the area, she said.
"You get the taste in the mouth just from the vapours in the air," Ms Foley added.
Environmentalists say oil and gas drilling is too dangerous
Oceana, an ocean conservation group, called for an end to offshore oil and gas drilling.
Jacqueline Savitz, Oceana's chief policy officer, said in a statement: "This is just the latest tragedy of the oil industry. It's well past time to prevent future oil spills by permanently protecting our coasts from offshore drilling."
Miyoko Sakashita, director of the Center for Biological Diversity's oceans program, said: "The coastal areas off of Southern California are just really rich for wildlife, a key biodiversity hot spot."
Birds that get oil on their feathers can't fly, can't clean themselves and can't monitor their own temperatures, she said.
This sign was stuck in the sand after the spill on Huntington beach (Photo: AP/Ringo HW Chiu)
Whales, dolphins and other sea creatures can have trouble breathing or die after swimming through oil or breathing in toxic fumes, she said.
"The oil spill just shows how dirty and dangerous oil drilling is and oil that gets into the water," she added.
"It's impossible to clean it up so it ends up washing up on our beaches and people come into contact with it and wildlife comes in contact with it," Ms Sakashita said.
"It has long-lasting effects on the breeding and reproduction of animals. It's really sad to see this broad swatch oiled."
Beaches were closed to swimming and a local air show was cancelled, although some people were undeterred from setting up chairs on the beach to enjoy a sunny Sunday or strolling along the pier.
© Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Comments
And we wonder why people protest to save the Bight from drilling.
What could possibly go wrong?
would've been interesting if this happened during the US open, defiantly would've brought more action.
Oil is not the problem, how we use it is.
80% of car journeys are single driver only.
Yet we make numerous cars weighing 1500, 2000, 2500+ Kg to carry an avergae 70Kg person.
An each year the consumer kepes buying NO 1 seller those stupid Hilux and Ford ranger models.
And even worse they are diesel - diesel fumes are a proven cancer cause !!
Good point on car size. Bigger the car, the more energy they require regardless of the fuel source. Small cars are easier to park and cheaper to run. Outside of trades no one really needs a bigger car. It’s like a social mentality which has probably been heavily influenced from the US.
You don’t have kids with prams, bags, bikes etc I’m assuming?
This is an issue about how we use it, and oil is most definitely the problem, Logical. At least on human timescales.
Leaving CO2 issues aside, the issue is the transportation of oil from its source to the refinery and to the market. Until there is a proven method of avoiding leaks, spills and the like, there will always be impacts on the environment and human activities from oil spills. It's meant to be buried under sedimentary rocks, not on the surface.
Of course, if there wasn't a humanity issue, there would be ample time for natural leaks to impact the environment on a far smaller scale and for the system to recover.
Well there you go. The first time I have heard anyone mention the issue of oil 'meant to be under sedimentary rock'.
I like your thinking around this subject tango.
126000 gallons of oil is a Potential Environmental catastrophe ?
The Exxon Valdez spilled 11 000 000 gallons of crude oil in 1989 . That was a catastrophe !
With todays technology and regulations the problem will be hopefully cleaned up in a few weeks with , again hopefully , minimal long term impacts on the environment .
theres no amount of technology or money that would be able to clean up a spill lapping up against the 1000s kms of reef strewn shear cliffs from Victoria to WA. Out of sight out of mind would be their memo hoping no one would see the damage to the empty coastlines. Its dangerous enough doing a search and rescue mission when the roaring 40s are in action and its gale force onshore just look to 2019 when 2 lifesavers died trying to rescue some beachgoers near the 12 apostles, we are truly fkd if a spill is to occur
Declining EROEI will force us to adapt
Coming soon to an east coast Australian beach soon...
Thanks Scomo!
Willi - "theres no amount of technology or money that would be able to clean up a spill lapping up against the 1000s kms of reef strewn shear cliff "
A bit negative imo . Where there is a will there is a way . Humans are good about caring especially given the right incentives - good and bad .
The world still needs oil and gas . Look at the energy problems now being faced in China and Europe . I think you will hear a lot more about them very soon . Thermal coal is at world record prices because of this .
The Bight is a strategically important environmental area ( as really the whole world is ) . If and when we can use it with the right processes in place we should .
The head of these companies all they care about is money and greed. If they cared one bit about the environment they’d shut up shop.
https://news.mit.edu/2021/MIT-CFS-major-advance-toward-fusion-energy-0908
Hopefully this gets legs soon and they have to shut up shop anyway :)
Cool. Would love to know what we are doing as a nation that is searching for new solutions.
How can there be a need for new wells? only greed. Oil reserves have 47 years left in them. We’re goners if we use all that before transitioning to clean energy.
“Where we drill, we spill”, it’s just a matter of how much. That presents a totally unacceptable risk when we have options galore of clean resources. Many countries would give their left one to have our consistency of all the earths clean options on tap.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way…the only will that energy companies have is maximising profits…don’t delude yourself into thinking they extract fossil fuels for some noble cause to help humankind…if there was a will with these people, we would have no need to jeopardise any coastline ever again
Classic Hutchy. The only commenter with the temerity to call others "negative" for wanting a cleaner world.
are you... dim? or just willfully ignorant?
The tech can't possibly fix it up to how it was prior to the event, and if humans really cared the investment would be rock solid and it wouldn't happen in the first place. Not to mention the world would be off fossil fuels by now, having had decades to do it. It's easy to care with an Insta post, but much harder to throw serious effort and funds at it.
Interesting…3 days…what WAS going on with their monitoring system? Hard to believe it could go unnoticed for three days unless the company crew had gone on holidays. I mean, they DESERVE a good holiday after all the good work they put into caring for the environment right!! I mean who spends more time and money and expertise on technology and responsible environmental practice than big oil!! I hope they sleep well in their extra large homes - upsized McDonalds lives!!! Because that’s what it’s all about isn’t it? Feeling good about life!! Yeah that should be their moto “Big oil, just feeling good about life!!”
Be a prick of a job being a diver going down in that muck to find the problem.
Sorry for all the crew that are gonna have to cop that at their local. Worse for all the marine creatures. Imagine being a surfer there and being wedged between LA and an oil slick. Surf city! Yew.
Gonna surf city gonna have some fun
Gonna surf city where its 2 to1
2 oil slicked birds for every boy
......sad so sad
Are there any similar issues with gas? There was an earlier thread about the proposed east coast gas rigs but it wasn't clear whether gas leaks happen and if so then how dangerous they are
Looks like it may have been a ships anchor that pieced the old pipeline .
The shares in the company plummeted on the news ( as they should ) proving that the market provides good incentives for the industry to avoid these mistakes .
Dawn - not sure what figure you are using to get to 47 years of Proven oil reserved . Is it P3 figures ?
All this needs to be drilled to be extracted . Same with Gas . New drilling techniques are much more effective , safer and cost effective ( includes fracking ) .
Even existing wells will NEVER get all the oil out of the formations . There is always some left as it doesn't have the pressure ( or other factors ) to come out .
this may well be our east coast if the grubs in our goverment get there way
funny how its not even on our news here in commie australia . .
Commie Australia????
I saw it on SBS and ABC, and read about it elsewhere too.
How that makes Australia a commie country is beyond me.
A great example of what can go wrong and how slow / ineffectual the response is by big petroleum is.
This leask / spill is a shallow ocean with much less swell / storm activity not to mention very close for a potential quick response than anywhere in Aus let alone as isolated as the Bight.
This will be a good case to watch
It is strange that surf related websites are onto this story before mainstream media
Classic Stu - AGAIN you misrepresent me . You are so good at it ! As I have said your dislike for me is making you look like a goose .
"theres no amount of technology or money that would be able to clean up a spill lapping up against the 1000s kms of reef strewn shear cliff "
Saying that it is a bit negative to say no amount of technology or money can clean up a spill . Ha Ha
Definitely did NOT say this -" the temerity to call others "negative" for wanting a cleaner world."
You really don't do as you say .
We have the technology and the money to produce gas and oil on the North West Shelf off WA . It is one of Australia's most important areas for producing gas and oil for both domestic and offshore consumption . What environmental disasters has this caused ?
I would guess all those against the extraction of mineral wealth from the Bight were ( if they were old enough ) against the NW Self .
The area is equally important and sensitive as the Bight .
@hutchy said "As I have said your dislike for me is making you look like a goose ".
hehe. Not from where i'm sitting dear Hutchy.
Baseload reliable power is what is required - renewables are not that. Until we get battery technology to store these intermittent sources (in a decade?) they are just a feel good story,
Green Greta and her ilk are turning off fossil power before having a reliable replacement implemented - Europe now paying for it
Nuclear has to be part of a reliable non-emitting baseload mix but hysteria ensues still from the brainwashed Peter Garrett era - same hysteria as non-surfers get from shark attack stories but we still surf
Laughable some of the comments on here from well-intentioned but misinformed tree-huggers
Wont bother arguing though with people (Mr 47 years of reserves ffs) who get their research from a video delivered from some manipulated algorithmic feed suiting your bias track record - combined with lack of technical knowledge and well, you know, a bit of information in the wrong hands..
For more than 30 years Bass Strait has been Australia's premier oil and gas production area, supplying the nation with more than three billion barrels of oil and over three trillion cubic feet of gas.
Going alright down in vicco. If you don't want drilling don't buy the product
Another good example inzi .
And as I am trying to point out the technology has been developed a lot since that and the NW Shelf were built .
Seems like old dogs on this site can't learn ( from experience ) new tricks .
Any Sat images of this spill anywhere?
Going to California in Dec for work hope it clears...
Was a Healthy Marine system below ...
https://www.oceanlight.com/log/scuba-diving-beneath-oil-rigs-eureka-elle...
"If you don't want drilling don't buy the product."
Nonsense comment.
Till very recently we haven't had a choice. You and Hutchy and your ilk can ridicule the outspoken all you want but it takes agitation to stir government into action. It's not a matter of simply switching from one energy economy to another, there's a great well of infrastructure beneath the oil economy and one that has to be built for the coming transition. Yet for three decades we've known what was ahead of us only for our government to stall, while research and investment gets trashed by oil companies and their paid lackeys in the LNP.
The last few years has seen rapid leaps in battery storage. Imagine if that R&D began in the 90s? Or if it began back when Maggie Thatcher addressed the UN on climate change?
Stu - you say "Till very recently we haven't had a choice. "
Same answer that Price Harry and Megan give when flying in private jets .
You could choose to not go surfing . Or ride a bike . Don't fly in a plane . Lead by example . Easy .
You do all this in spit of your beliefs .
I only ridicule outspoken views that are wrong or hypocritical . Just like you do .
Imagine if we started using batteries when Maggie spoke . Funny that people like you hated her so much you would have done the opposite like they did with Trump and covid . We did develop batteries . They were full of lead . Rats , we didn't know what Lithium could do . Small details .
Oil was cheap . Who cares someone other than Thatcher should have seen it coming .
", there's a great well of infrastructure beneath the oil economy and one that has to be built for the coming transition. " Also the coal and gas industry .
Batteries will never be able to do what we need and we will have a new energy source before they can .All the money that is spent on the" great well of infrastructure beneath the battery economy " will be wasted .
“Never beable to” look whose negative now
"Batteries will never be able to do what we need"
Funny how your 'humans can do anything' mantra runs out of power at opportune times.
And don't be such a patsy to big business, Hutchy. Vast fortunes have been built on the back of extracting oil, enough wealth and influence to kneecap any competing technology. Do you really think, what with billions of dollars at stake, that it's a level playing field?
We haven't had an alternative because they've been relentlessly squashed while cheerleading idiots like you blame the public.
Stu - You are wrong again . I believe humans can develop huge batteries for peak load storage if necessary . I just believe that by the time we do we will have a new no CO2 energy source so all the money developing them will be wasted .
Funny how you misrepresented again what I wrote requiring me to have to write it again .
I am no ones patsy . Do you really think Musk is not making billions . Or billions is not being thrown at renewables . Yes the oil industry is trying to protect their industry and the millions of jobs ( and profits ) it makes . I would expect EVERY industry to do the same and try and improve to make the problems less. When any company over step the mark the regulators are supposed to stop them . Look what happened to Standard Oil which was forced to break up .
We have perhaps been slow to change because cheerleading idiots like you say they have no alternative . What sort of car do you drive to the beach ? How many in the car ? A gas guzzler ? Where are you planning on flying to next because the waves are a bit better or less crowded .
No alternatives really ? No conviction more likely .
Hutchy, have you somehow managed to access this forum from the year 1970? (That's when your mindset appears to be from). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know the only reason we as a human race are persisting with fossil fuels: we've done all the hard yards over the past however-many decades in investing in infrastructure, pricing structures, job creation, greasing of government officials, etc., and so naturally the corporations that are in deep want to milk every last drop out of it all (no matter what the cost to the world) before turning off the taps. We all know it's terrible for us, and for the environment, but it's a pure financial play. We all know there are far better, proven ways to power all the stuff we use and need (and want), but we won't all significantly benefit from those until the decades-old mindset changes and we get a critical mass of investment in a cleaner future by the big players and global leadership. Eventually, your job in the fossil fuels industry (assumption based on your obvious passion for it) will transform into a job in a far cleaner, more modern, and more forward-looking energy industry. We must continue to hope for and push for this. Step 1: change the way we all think and act.
genuine question gents but are battery cars any more environmentally friendly than petrol yet? I mean factor in the pollution from electricity generation to charge which is predominately coal, factor in the mining of the chemicals etc (trucks, digging, transport of product, manufacturing process including materials and energy). to make them battery, factor in the toxic chems in the battery and the limited lifespan with disposal issues.
Guess we have to start somewhere.
Fraz - I recently posted an article on the Climate page that gave an indication from a study in Japan that said it takes about 10 years for a new ev car to better an old ( good ) car that's replaced on CO2 output .
The CO2 cost of building the new car was the starting point .
My figures could be out but the moral was don't throw out all the old good cars too quickly .
Yeah right. I was wondering if the 'math' actually worked out to make battery cars more environmentally friendly.
Given nearly every product we use is built, at least in part, on a petroleum base, it will be a long while before the human races oil mining need changes.
Hope they can clean up that spill over there without to much devastation. Be hard to imagine them being able to clean up properly if it happened in the Bight.
Dear stu
I respect what you are saying re oil but it really does start or finish with consumers.
Too many people cry about oil and don't buy electric cars. Sad thing is lithium is no more friendly than oil
Hutchy - who cares about the accuracy of my figure? You’re missing the point that you started about new rigs.
What is the point investing in an existing road thats easy to build but it goes off a cliff? With a little bit of short term pain the road can go on forever.
Im not saying stop oil, just saying Australia needs to grow a set and start something else.
Frazp do a bit of your own research on life cycle emissions of electric vehicles. Recent Reuters fact check looks into the source of power you use to charge electric vehicle as part of lifetime emissions and compares a Toyota Camry petrol with Tesla 3. Roughly the life time emissions are better with electric after about 20000 km when charging with coal fired power. About half that many kms if charging with green energy.
Rediculous studies that are often funded by petrochemical groups try and undermine progress on green energy. In the past used to question life cycle emissions of solar panels and wind turbines. Quick fact check will provide more credible info.
Like Hutchy says the only 0 emissions is don’t drive. However reducing emissions can be delivered through electric vehicles and if you can charge off your rooftop solar you will be even more effective.
Dawn - From memory you said there was 47 years of oil available and we didn't need to do much more drilling . This is a huge call and I know this is wrong .
Oil companies reserves are categorised at three levels . Probable1 ,2 and 3 . P1 they are sure about and P3 is what they hope they have . To move P3 into P1 requires lots more drilling to analyse what is down there , what quality , pressure , porosity etc . P3 reserves don't add up to 47 years . Probably not 5 .
Over the last 10 years oil companies have not invested enough ( low prices , negative sentiment ) in oil exploration . This will lead to higher oil prices which is a negative for world growth .
Geez you do like to waffle. Lets just stick with P1 - proven. If 47 is wrong, why don't you tell me what it is?
Stick to your guns and look for the positives that would come from high oil prices. There are heaps of them if you try.
"Batteries will never be able to do what we need"
" I believe humans can develop huge batteries for peak load storage if necessary "
This is coming from the one person, wow
I remember visiting Huntington Beach in the late 90's and seeing small pumpjacks up and down the coast.
How's this video from Bakersfield!
?t=35goofy .
I will put it in a way you may be able to understand as I am not being clear .
It will take 20 plus years ( a prediction ) of development before huge batteries ( not car batteries ) will be able to store base load energy . We need to build lithium mines from scratch for a start .
Within 20 years ( also a prediction ) a new CO2 zero energy source will be available .
The money spent developing huge batteries would be better spent elsewhere . The huge batteries will never be used for what they are being designed for .
I hope that clears up my view !
positive change, from little things big things grow. Cultivate a healthier world it's a win win.
Dawn - you write like a very uninformed person on this issue . I have no intention of righting your wrongs Mr 47 years .
Oh hutchy you disappoint!
How the hell did you know I’m 47? You are wrong about one thing, I don’t wear a uniform
Dead Kennedys - Moon Over Marin
Very sad. Lived near River Jetties in Newport for 4 years in the late 90s and it was a hell hole for pollution even back then, with the Santa Anna river regularly pouring human refuse into the line ups from the Wedge up to HB and Seal Beach, not to mention globs of oil sticking to your feet on the walk across the sand. There's still a huge refinery and 24/7 oil pumps right along the coast line there. Nature losing the battle against huge populations, over development and ageing infrastructure.
Youngone : "We all know there are far better, proven ways to power all the stuff we use and need"
name them
actually, first read about the energy situation in Europe and China currently so you don't waste our time
Look up, mate. See that fiery ball in the sky? It's the original source of many sustainable energy options, all of which are capable of adequately meeting our needs - solar, wind, wave,...
All we need is a significant shift in thinking and commitment from global leaders and captains of industry.
Try to stay positive (else you may end up like Hutchy).
Hutchy19. There’s definitely only air between your ears. Fancy intimating that because there are reserves in the Bight we should eventually use them. Are you for real ? You’ve definitely been visiting the Not Quit Right outlets.
Alfred - You are right . Fancy me thinking that if there is gas or oil ANYWHERE we should eventually use them . What a silly thought !
Just because it has been proven to be safe in equally sensitive area as the Bight ( NW Self and Bass Straight ) the Bight should not be considered .
Not sure what I was thinking . Thank you for showing me the light and your valuable contribution to this thread .
Yes, it's an idiotic thought.
So too is thinking the NW Shelf or where the oil rigs are located in Bass Strait - off the Gippsland coast, shadowed by Wilsons Prom - have anywhere near the wave action as the Bight.
Stu - I would have thought the Indian Ocean with both Southern storms and cyclones would have some serious wave action but you are the expert .
The oil industry flourishes in the North Sea ( UK ) but maybe not much wave action there either .
Not much surf in the Pilbara, Hutchy. Doesn't take an expert to figure that out. Same goes the east facing Gippsland coast.
As for the Bight, a Montara-size leak down there would blight 1000's of kms of coast, though of course you'll defend it with typical chutzpah. "Black sand makes a nice change" etc.
Stu - You might be surprised to find out that the Pilbara in on shore , that's where the iron ore is produced .
Unless there is a wavepark there I don't think there would be many waves either but as you say I am no expert .
The NW Shelf is off shore and produces gas and oil . Lots of waves there . Think Indo .
The North Sea I think has the record for the largest wave ever recorded . No problems producing oil and gas there for over 50 years .
" Montara-size leak down there would blight 1000's of kms of coast," . It has not happened on the NW Self or Bass Straight . The technology today is also better than when the NW Shelf started .
Chernobyl has cleaned up beautifully after a nuclear spill . Oil and gas has leaked naturally out of Oceans ( and on land ) for millions of years . If your car spews oil on the way to the surf it will also get cleaned up .
Try not to worry so much .
Hutchy, you might be surprised to learn that people ride waves on shore, from storms that form out to sea. If the Pilbara has no waves on shore, then ergo.....fuck, why bother?
No worries about pollution? Not from your privileged confines. Typical selfish twat.
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."
Stu - you keep asking me questions !
You write -Hutchy, you might be surprised to learn that people ride waves on shore, from storms that form out to sea. If the Pilbara has no waves on shore, then ergo.....fuck, why bother?
I am surprised Stu that there are waves on the land from storms that form out to sea . You are the expert so I will check on google maps to find the best banks in the Pilbara . I would guess they would be uncrowded as most would be working to keep Australia going .
You write - Typical selfish twat.
Just letting you know there is a spelling mistake .
With the amount of posting and pretty much opposing opinions, regardless of topic and on every forum I am wondering if 'Hutchy" is an agent provocateur, bot or less interestingly just a ignorant fucker with a lot of time on his hands in a sydney or melb lockdown perhaps? (most likely)
Hello Mike - just a ignorant fucker with a lot of time on his hands in melb lockdown . Will kill some time on Google maps today looking for some good banks .
I wish you guys would stop asking me questions .
Hey "hutchy", a couple more questions:
1/ can you please let everyone know why you worship Tony and the LNP so much, and hate the ALP.
2/ why do you have to cause trouble here? Why not stick with FB and IG?
Hey Hutchy You might find that Port Hedland is in the Pilbara, the biggest bulk export terminal in the Southern Hemisphere, on the West Coast of Australia, an eastern shore of the Indian Ocean. So too Dampier and Karratha coastal towns of the Pilbara.
Long Continental shelf there to, so while yes there is the potential for waves it is hardly considered a surfing coast.
You really are a shit dribbling protagonist and nothing more. Enjoy lockdown mate.
The one I liked from Hutchy was:
"Chernobyl cleaned up beautifully after the nuclear spill"…
Says it all really
Hahaha let’s take Chernobyl to hutchys backyard I’m sure he’ll love that
Soogy - I know this "Hey Hutchy You might find that Port Hedland is in the Pilbara, the biggest bulk export terminal in the Southern Hemisphere, on the West Coast of Australia, an eastern shore of the Indian Ocean. So too Dampier and Karratha coastal towns of the Pilbara. "
Would also guess that there is an off shore reef providing some wave protection for the vital ports .
It is Stu that has let me in on the secret that there are waves on land in the Pilbara . Look at previous posts .
Try and keep it quiet .
Google it Danno . It surprised me to .
Google is good for finding out stuff hey, “proven oil reserves” yields an enlightening result for the uninformed.
stu
the bass strait is shutting down over the next 15 years, gas is the primary product now coming out of the ground. oil is over out there. like ive said a hundred times on various forums the bight is safe, the cost of drilling is way to high for the returns. if oil returns to 100 plus a barrel they might look at it again, but its very doubtful. why is everyone not crying about the drilling happening off the coast of port cambell ??
Tony - Don't do social media ( only new on SN ) so not on FB ( other than to buy on ebay ) or Instagram ( took me a few seconds to work out what IG stood for ) .
The other answer is too long . I am not really a worshiper of anything . There are many traits that Tony has that I respect including being a surfer , firefighter , life saver , good husband and father ( I assume ) . Just because he made one ballsy decision it doesn't mean I don't think he made mistakes .
Not a member of the LNP but do vote conservative .
Common Dawn . Give me the link . I will then go through the numbers ( and prove I am right that these reserves need to be drilled ) .
I am sure there is enough oil and gas on this planet to last us a long as we will need it before a new energy source is found to be better .
Reserves that have not been found , that are uneconomical to remove , that current technology can't remove . This will all require NEW drilling .
Yep that’s why I suggest you use the word proven
Dawn - I have already explained P1 ,2 and 3 . Found the site you are using Worldometre . 46 years of our annual current use .
It does NOT say what their definition of Proven is so not helpful to let me know what drilling needs to get this oil out .
Proven 1 oil is where a company has to prove that there is a 90% chance of the oil being there ( not recoverable ) . Most of the data that calculates P1 comes from discovery wells . Only a few of these wells can be converted to Producing wells ( very different to discovery wells and MUCH more expensive ) .
So most of the P1 reserves need new production wells to be drilled to get the oil out ( usually around 75% of whats there as the pressure drops which stops the remainder coming out . They don't pump it out ) . P2 and P3 requires more discovery well to enable P1 classification and then the expense of putting in the production wells . Banks used to lend money for production wells .
The moral of the story , as I originally said , is that a lot more drilling needs to be done .
I hope that helps .
Hutchy, are you not aware of the large oil spills that have occurred off the NW shelf?
Asking for a friend.
Hey Batfink,could you ask your " friend " when these large oil spills occurred please ? I know that I am pretty cooked these days but can't remember any. I lived and worked there for a number of years.The NW shelf is an LNG hub but if you could show me the oil spills it would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Dawn - just thought you might be asking why look for oil and gas in new places like the Bight if we have 46 years of oil . A good question .
I don't have an answer other than to say that the oil and gas is not in Australia . The 46 years looks to have been around that figure for ages and we explored and built Gladstone in that time . We were very lucky to do this . With oil and gas being so important there is an argument that Oz should be self sufficient . We currently rely on Singapore for refining .
As Europe is showing us now by relying on Russian gas and pipelines it is risky relying on overseas sources .
No batfink . Please let me know the environment disasters . Other than filling up the car not my area of expertise .
As I have said the technology has improved a lot since the project was built .
Since there has been no reference on this on this thread I hope it was cleaned up and the area had no lasting consequences .
There's a thousand sites, worldometer being one, another source being the BP Statistical Review of World Energy. Also a cool clock that is way more dramatic. I think its fair to say the definition of Proven is pretty well established but only half copy/pasted in your comment. You missed the most important part - 90% chance of the oil being there AND economically viable for extraction in current conditions.
I guess that constitutes as hutchy being wrong this time, hey.
At the end of the day the only reason they don't maximise the available oil in existing wells is because its cheaper to go somewhere else and people with your view on the world rubber stamp the application. If they need to stop at 75% because there is not enough pressure than the other 25% isn't Proven.. by definition.
The oil spill in California was a "crisis" (by definition from your mates at NOPSEMA) and logic tells most people that more wells increases the risk of this happening. How the hell you feel its OK to drop 3000 barrels of oil in the ocean defies belief.
https://stabmag.com/news/orange-county-oil-spill/
Dawn - I was trying to be nice but since you aren't I will stop .
As you write "you missed the most important part - 90% chance of the oil being there AND economically viable for extraction in current conditions.
Proven oil is not 90% sure of being there . This is P1 which I have explained but you are unable to comprehend . Proven oil has nothing to do with economics pea brain . Why do you think think Proven number has remained pretty constant when oil prices have fluctuated constantly in the last 10 years . NFI .
I don't think spilling anything that damages anything is ok . What defies belief is that you have so little common sense , no ability to read or comprehend and that I wasted time talking to you .
Batfink - where is your link ?
I don't want to have to quote BB and say no link , no cred .
I will give an example which will demonstrate to nearly all ( not you Dawn so don't bother reading further ) how humans undertake activities that they will KNOW with cause damage but do it anyway .
The world went to war against Hitler and Germany's allies . We knew millions of gallons of BLOOD would spill . We did it anyway for the betterment of humanity ,
Try telling the mothers who lost their sons and daughters that the clean up was easy !
This is the most tragic metaphor I’ve ever heard can’t believe you’ve gone this low. Based off this though your admitting the clean up won’t be easy….
Hutchy19, that’s so messed up. Starting to think 19 is your age.
I would be a pea brain if I took my information from some self proclaimed oracle typing from his dad’s computer instead of referring to the SPE Petroleum Resources Management System Guide for Non-Technical Users. From which I quote this little nugget:
‘The term 1P is frequently used to denote proved reserves, 2P is the sum of proved and probable reserves and 3P the sum of proved, probable and possible reserves. The best estimate of recovery from committed projects is generally considered to be the 2P sum of proved and probable reserves. Note that these volumes only refer to projects that are currently justified for or already in development.’
I may have proven I’m no expert..
But you’ve proven you know SFA and have it all arse about.
You might need to do a bit of revision before the next exam.
Dawn - I have said almost the same thing but now I know THEIR definition of Proven is P2 .
You also quote them " Note that these volumes only refer to projects that are currently justified for or already in development.’"
Without the need to check I will say this is completely wrong . They would need to define development as have put one or two exploration holes and have a 50% idea of whats down there .
I hope I don't have to do anymore exams !!! Just passed one where you needed a Uni credit score equivalent to pass . Had to do it to be able to keep working . It required a lot of work as only 60% pass .
Not sure what currently justified means but I know that no one would put in a production well UNLESS they were guaranteed to make good money .
Little Willi - Energy ( Oil , gas and coal ) makes the human world turn round . Wars are fought over energy as you should know .
" hope I don't have to do anymore exams !!! Just passed one where you needed a Uni credit score equivalent to pass . Had to do it to be able to keep working . It required a lot of work as only 60% pass"
Hope you didn't show up the day after and have to smoke a whole pack to get the doctors note for special consideration. Ha ha. .
Your memory is still as amazing as it was at uni number 12. No joke .
Enough of airing my dirty linen . ha ha
Get off SN and go surfing . I wish I could !
News out today on the oil spill .
Investigators are still searching for the large vessel(s) that struck an offshore pipeline miles from the coast of Orange County, California, creating one of the state's worst oil spills in three decades. It turns out, the Rotterdam Express, a German-flagged container ship measuring 1,000 feet long, which was initially believed to be the vessel behind the spill, didn't drag its anchor on the seabed and puncture the pipeline because new evidence suggests damage to the line may have been caused several months to a year ago, according to ABC News.
So far, the Coast Guard's office of investigation and analysis have narrowed their search down to an anchor from a massive vessel as the likely cause of Amplify Energy's pipeline rupture that has devastated the Huntington Beach area. In total, estimates show at least 25,000 gallons to 132,000 gallons leaked from the pipeline.
Amplify's CEO Martyn Willsher noted Tuesday that divers determined that 4,000-feet of the pipeline was dislodged 105 feet from its original spot.
Meanwhile, investigators are still hunting for the vessel(s) responsible for the pipeline accident. More than 4,000 vessels traverse the waterways around the pipeline to unload and load cargo at the Long Beach-Los Angeles port complex.
Yep for sure, its almost the same, but its not, its different.
Their definition is P1 and you say its P1+P2. Exactly 50% correct, I guess that's a pass.
Actually P1 is way more important than P2 so it should really be closer to 90%.
One good thing you've brought is an inspiration to stream Monty Python. I wonder if you're brother is getting a haircut.
Dawn Not exactly sure what you mean by this - Actually P1 is way more important than P2 so it should really be closer to 90%.
P1 is oil or gas that is 90% certain that it is there and recoverable ( nothing to do with economically recoverable ). P2 is 50% and P3 is lower again .
Not sure what you mean about Monty Python ( I can be slow ) or if you know my brother .
Lets move on re the P's .
Good show on the deep water horizon oil spill
On SBS right. Shows they had absolute no plan to clean up and to stop the pipes from spilling. Hutchy what makes you think it’s much better now.
Willi - The pipeline has been at the bottom of the ocean for many years . The company would have no staff or plan ready for this type of accident . Other common accidents yes . Hard to expect any company to plan for a ship doing the wrong thing .
Expecting anything else is silly . Like saying a factory should have its own fire brigade is case of fire .
All technology improves . Response times improve as do clean up techniques . Humans are smart and learn from experience .
Hutchy, most large mines and refineries do have emergency response teams, some specialists and some volunteers from the wider work force. Trained in all manner of potential emergencies that could arise. To say that a pipeline rupture is not a potential hazard in an emergency response plan once again shows you have very little knowledge on how large industry operates responsibly.
Soggybrain - I do know this . I have been underground at the Stawell Gold mine . They had their own , highly trained , rescue team . Other mines didn't and would call in this team if needed .
They went down to Tassy to help the trapped the miners there .
You , as you say , "once again shows you have very little knowledge on how large industry operates responsibly."
Most of the things your soggy brain thinks , assumes and writes are wrong .
The company that had the accident are small , not BP .
So you think every company needs a team for every potential hazard . I know you don't run a company as it would go broke .
They all do have a response plan . Get on the phone and tell the relevant people ASAP .
Any info on the rumour of code black, does it exist and what does it entail? For those outside the inner circle.
Deep water horizon wasn't an accident. It was all about bean counters doing what they love most. Cutting corners and safety so they can make the company they work for more money. The blow out preventers on the sea floor of deep water horizon hadn't been serviced in ten years. In Australia you must pressure test your BOPs every 21 days to keep drilling ahead. Way different regulations in OZ compared to other parts of the drilling world.