BP Drilling Off Libyan Coast May Threaten Ancient Sites

Astonished wrote:

Ok, this is another one of those bizarre deeep water drilling operations taking place around 125 miles off the coast of Libya. I was reading this article on a newspaper, and want your comments on these kind of drilling activity.

The way I see it they should stop this from happening as they will start by the end of this year. God forbid if an oil spill takes place, it will ruin all the ancient Roman Ruins in Leptis Magna thats for sure!!!

So all offshore exploration should stop because their MIGHT be an accident which results in an oil spill ?, if all humanity had that attitude we would still be living in caves and throwing rocks at each other. If anything the spill in the gulf of Mexico will ensure that BP in particular are very careful about what they do.

Hey let's jump on the anti BP bandwagon.

Do you know how much drilling and production is going on out there right now. You really ought to do a bit of research before you make a stupid post like that.

Horizontal Harry wrote:

Hey let's jump on the anti BP bandwagon.

Do you know how much drilling and production is going on out there right now. You really ought to do a bit of research before you make a stupid post like that.

Clansman you hit a nerve there, and I disagree with you clansman for obvious reasons you, I, infact the whole world saw what happend at the gulf of mexico that was no joke it's a massive destruction to the enviornment. God forbid something of that altitude hits the shores in Libya you'll forget about beaches for months or maybe years.

There's nothing wrong with deep water drilling if the correct safeguards are in place and correct practices are followed.
Hundreds of deepwater wells are drilled every year with no problem. If you are concerned about the environmental impact of Libyan drilling operations, goto Google Earth.
Look at some of the areas where NOCs have been drilling over the years. Don't worry you won't have to zoom in much.
See any large black 'pools' ? That's just oil contaminated drill cuttings and slop that they dump. Then there's the stuff you can't see because they bury it. And it's not because the waste can't be treated. It's because it's cheaper to deliberately pollute the desert.

Astonished wrote:

I was reading this article on a newspaper, and want your comments on these kind of drilling activity.

Before you go slagging BP on a "what if" that you've read as hearsay, you should go out to the desert to site where the likes of Zeutina, Sirte and Agoco drill wells. They have a common practise of routinely dumping thousands of gallons of used drilling fluid in the desert.

The difference between the pollution caused by the Deepwater Horizon disaster and the routine dumping by the Libyan NOC's is that the latter have a deliberate policy of doing so. This is unforgivable and wanton destruction of the environment.

I suggest that you refrain from commenting again until you have at least half a clue of what you're talking about.

Astonished wrote:

Ok, this is another one of those bizarre deeep water drilling operations taking place around 125 miles off the coast of Libya. I was reading this article on a newspaper,

You might like to explain why you think it's "bizarre" or even why it's "news", given that BP signed the agreement to invest over $900 Million just in exploration (that's not appraisal or development) in Libya back in May 2007 when Tony Blair visited the country.

Astonished wrote:

God forbid something of that altitude hits the shores in Libya you'll forget about beaches for months or maybe years.

It ain't gonna hit the shores if it's at "altitude" now, is it? It'll land somewhere out in the desert along with the $hit dumped there by the NOC's

My first post and felt it necessary to say my piece. I work at a major international energy company.

Astonished - please produce some hard, quantatative facts which support your accusation. A trivial and poorly researched news article is not sufficient evidence to bring your argument to the table. Over to you.

Thank you

man...astonished is so awesomely pwned right now, I think I just heard him throw himself off a cliff in Gheryan.

he doesnt have the bollox Mo

Astonished wrote:

Horizontal Harry wrote:

Hey let's jump on the anti BP bandwagon.

Do you know how much drilling and production is going on out there right now. You really ought to do a bit of research before you make a stupid post like that.

Clansman you hit a nerve there, and I disagree with you clansman for obvious reasons you, I, infact the whole world saw what happend at the gulf of mexico that was no joke it's a massive destruction to the enviornment. God forbid something of that altitude hits the shores in Libya you'll forget about beaches for months or maybe years.

Now you have me really confused, you have a go at me whilst quoting Harry, which one of us is it then ?

Clansman wrote:

Astonished wrote:

Horizontal Harry wrote:

Hey let's jump on the anti BP bandwagon.

Do you know how much drilling and production is going on out there right now. You really ought to do a bit of research before you make a stupid post like that.

Clansman you hit a nerve there, and I disagree with you clansman for obvious reasons you, I, infact the whole world saw what happend at the gulf of mexico that was no joke it's a massive destruction to the enviornment. God forbid something of that altitude hits the shores in Libya you'll forget about beaches for months or maybe years.

Now you have me really confused, you have a go at me whilst quoting Harry, which one of us is it then ?

Surely he's having a go at you!!!

Ohh my god thats a rain of comments from Brits & Scots. I see why, everyone from the UK gets p*ssed when BP is to blame. I'm sorry people but they made hell of the enviornment in GOM and surrounding areas, you can't deny that.

You talk about Libya and the way it manages by dumping drilling fluids in the desert, I 100% agree with you that is true but let me put some facts & figures infront of you from GOM 60,000 barrels of oil per day were leaking into the water. It is the largest oil spill in U.S. history, what you say about that??? Now, God forbid imagine a similar incident of that type off the Libya coast (could be even worse to kill, because the well in this case is 200m deeper) what does it bring to your mind? I'll tell you what it brings to my mind..BP spent $1.25 billion (it's estimated more than this) on their so called operation ''Top Kill'', mudman as you say they signed an agreement worth $900 million WTF are they left with when a disaster of that magnitude or even worse comes to them again! Probably sell another one of their assets, but what are they doing to the enviornment? **ckin* it up for others!

I think you'll find we're not defending BP. We're defending a drilling practise because we actually know something about it and base our opinions on year's of experience and a technical understanding of the facts.

MoEl wrote:

man...astonished is so awesomely pwned right now, I think I just heard him throw himself off a cliff in Gheryan.

LOL you taking *iss, listen I like parking my bus in other people's garage and if your garage is open I'd me happy to park it there! Stay out of this 2 faced!!

Mudman wrote:

So, Astonished, where're your rebuttals and counter arguments?

Just trying to have a healthy conversation going here.

Mudman wrote:

I think you'll find we're not defending BP. We're defending a drilling practise because we actually know something about it and base our opinions on year's of experience and a technical understanding of the facts.

Mudman, I know your not defending BP but why would you be defending a drilling practise of this type..thinking of the consequences?

Astonished wrote:

I know your not defending BP but why would you be defending a drilling practise of this type..thinking of the consequences?

Although I'm not a drilling engineer, I've worked on enough offshore rigs to understand that deep and ultra deep water drilling is fundamentally safe and that until alternative energy sources become technically and financially viable we will have to continue to extract hydrocarbons from these reserves. There are risks in every industry, which need to be mitigated but ultimately cannot be eliminated entirely.
The environmental impact of the GoM accident is regrettable, it is however insignificant compared to the damage being done to the environment by thousands of companies every day world wide. It was just highly visible compared to say the leaching of fertilisers or discharge of chemicals into the water systems.

Astonished wrote:

Clansman wrote:

Astonished wrote:

Clansman you hit a nerve there, and I disagree with you clansman for obvious reasons you, I, infact the whole world saw what happend at the gulf of mexico that was no joke it's a massive destruction to the enviornment. God forbid something of that altitude hits the shores in Libya you'll forget about beaches for months or maybe years.

Now you have me really confused, you have a go at me whilst quoting Harry, which one of us is it then ?

Surely he's having a go at you!!!

Shows you how thick you really are then doesn't it ?

Come! Come! Today's special! Ya dont wanna miss it! Ya dont wann miss this one!
Watch Astonished getting schooled before he goes and gets another username.

Next in our program tonight...*Pausing, turning aside, then whispering to assitant* I forgot, do we have the dancing goat or the midgets next?

Astonished wrote:

Ohh my god thats a rain of comments from Brits & Scots. I see why, everyone from the UK gets p*ssed when BP is to blame. I'm sorry people but they made hell of the enviornment in GOM and surrounding areas, you can't deny that.

You talk about Libya and the way it manages by dumping drilling fluids in the desert, I 100% agree with you that is true but let me put some facts & figures infront of you from GOM 60,000 barrels of oil per day were leaking into the water. It is the largest oil spill in U.S. history, what you say about that??? Now, God forbid imagine a similar incident of that type off the Libya coast (could be even worse to kill, because the well in this case is 200m deeper) what does it bring to your mind? I'll tell you what it brings to my mind..BP spent $1.25 billion (it's estimated more than this) on their so called operation ''Top Kill'', mudman as you say they signed an agreement worth $900 million WTF are they left with when a disaster of that magnitude or even worse comes to them again! Probably sell another one of their assets, but what are they doing to the enviornment? **ckin* it up for others!

Stockfish be glad to see your views....

Clansman wrote:

Astonished wrote:

Clansman wrote:

Now you have me really confused, you have a go at me whilst quoting Harry, which one of us is it then ?

Surely he's having a go at you!!!

Shows you how thick you really are then doesn't it ?

Clansman get to the point and stop the lame talk!

Mudman wrote:

Astonished wrote:

I know your not defending BP but why would you be defending a drilling practise of this type..thinking of the consequences?

Although I'm not a drilling engineer, I've worked on enough offshore rigs to understand that deep and ultra deep water drilling is fundamentally safe and that until alternative energy sources become technically and financially viable we will have to continue to extract hydrocarbons from these reserves. There are risks in every industry, which need to be mitigated but ultimately cannot be eliminated entirely.
The environmental impact of the GoM accident is regrettable, it is however insignificant compared to the damage being done to the environment by thousands of companies every day world wide. It was just highly visible compared to say the leaching of fertilisers or discharge of chemicals into the water systems.

I agree but why would a company like BP take a bigger, and so soon risk when they aren't completely finished with GoM. That's what sickens me, feels as if making money is the key here. Just not right!

Sandman6 wrote:

Astonished wrote:

I was reading this article on a newspaper, and want your comments on these kind of drilling activity.

Before you go slagging BP on a "what if" that you've read as hearsay, you should go out to the desert to site where the likes of Zeutina, Sirte and Agoco drill wells. They have a common practise of routinely dumping thousands of gallons of used drilling fluid in the desert.

The difference between the pollution caused by the Deepwater Horizon disaster and the routine dumping by the Libyan NOC's is that the latter have a deliberate policy of doing so. This is unforgivable and wanton destruction of the environment.

I suggest that you refrain from commenting again until you have at least half a clue of what you're talking about.

Refrain? why should I do that? Is it because you don't want to know the truth? Your the one defending BP here, it's 60,000 barrels of oil per day we're talking about what can you say about that?....not enough? It cost them $1.25 billion plus to kill the well...not much? I can go on, I haven't even got to the enviornmental damage charges and other charges not to forget the people of region there and damage to marine and wildlife habitats as well as the Gulf's fishing and tourism industries.

I'm know not all the offshore Drilling Engineers would agree with me, but am sure that there are more that would agree with me to the fact that GoM was a huge mistake, and a drilling operation of that scale should never be implemented.

We eagerly await the next reincarnation...

It's a conspiracy! BP have paid off Julien to silence the only voice of truth. Big Oil beats the little, tiny, insignificant bleating lamb again.

I didn't read the whole discussion (and I won't) but I would accept BP's money with pleasure

I just want to say that, deep water drilling is not considered a good practice as the risks are high and rightly so should be banned from happening as the US Gov did.

FireFox wrote:

I just want to say that, deep water drilling is not considered a good practice as the risks are high and rightly so should be banned from happening as the US Gov did.

The US action was an ill considered knee jerk response to placate those who don't know anything about the industry.
That'll be you then.

And try not to get yourself banned again eh?

His ignorance knows no boundaries.

I have to assume that the article to which Mr Astonished (deceased) refers to in the OP is this piece:

"On one hand, environmental activists warn the risks of a disaster in the Mediterranean, similar to the oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. This is because the oil in the Sirte Basin lies 200 meters deeper than oil in the Gulf of Mexico"

Published by Deutche Presse on 9 September.

And like Astonished, Anne-Beatrice Clasmann has little or no knowledge of the drilling process.

To suggest that a similar (Gulf of Mexico) catastrophe is likely due to the fact that "the oil in the Sirte Basin lies 200 meters deeper than oil in the Gulf of Mexico" is utter nonsense and worthy of publication only in the proletarian Sunday tabloids.

Mudman wrote:

FireFox wrote:

I just want to say that, deep water drilling is not considered a good practice as the risks are high and rightly so should be banned from happening as the US Gov did.

The US action was an ill considered knee jerk response to placate those who don't know anything about the industry.
That'll be you then.

And try not to get yourself banned again eh?

Your referring to the American people?

FireFox wrote:

Mudman wrote:

FireFox wrote:

I just want to say that, deep water drilling is not considered a good practice as the risks are high and rightly so should be banned from happening as the US Gov did.

The US action was an ill considered knee jerk response to placate those who don't know anything about the industry.
That'll be you then.

And try not to get yourself banned again eh?

Your referring to the American people?

wow!

At least with a computer, you only have to punch the information in once.

Obama's moratorium on deepwater drilling will haunt him for the remainder of his term. His personal attacks on BP and it's (then) chairman Tony Hayward did untold damage to the US economy (BP supplies a sizeable percentage of US crude production), meaning that they had to rely on costly imports from the Middle East and West Africa.

The US government are not experts in well control; BP are. Obama got egg on his face as a result and he had to give the impression to Congress and the voters that he was in control. The US department of the interior will not come away from the enquiry without their own share of blame.

DWH was to Obama what Katrina was to Bush. Ineffectiveness and incompetence abounded through both.

FireFox wrote:

Mudman wrote:

FireFox wrote:

I just want to say that, deep water drilling is not considered a good practice as the risks are high and rightly so should be banned from happening as the US Gov did.

The US action was an ill considered knee jerk response to placate those who don't know anything about the industry.
That'll be you then.

And try not to get yourself banned again eh?

Your referring to the American people?

He is most certainly refering to you though, how many incarnations is that now ?.

It's like reading Shakespeare to the illegal immigrants at Home Depot's parking lot.

Sandman6 wrote:

The US government are not experts in well control; BP are.

Are you sure about that? it took them billions to kill it!!!