Technically difficult exploration and environmental costs:

1
Technically difficult exploration and
environmental costs
2
Supply new sources

• As oil prices remain high, and fears of peak oil
  and gas increase the search is on for new
  sources

Example Source Technical challenge Environmental impacts
Canadian (Athabasca) tar sands Bitumen combined with sand / rock under boreal forests close to surface MODERATE Strip mining or extraction by steam gas is used to heat the sands and extract oil. HIGH Energy intensive extraction and destruction of ecosystems
Arctic oil Conventional oil in fragile wilderness region, both on and offshore LOW Conventional drilling and extraction Arctic oil has been taken from Prudhoe Bay for decades. MODERATE Fragile environment but production has relatively small footprint
West of Shetland, Foinaven field Conventional oil in deep ocean water HIGH Production began in 1997, but using floating rigs LOW Low risk of spills and limited impact on sea bed
USA (Green River) oil shale Bitumen encased in solid rock MODERATE Opencast mining, then can be directly burnt or heated to drive off oil. HIGH Large areas mined, scarring landscape and energy intensive production
3
Viable alternatives?

• The chart below shows the estimates oil price
  required for each energy resource to be
  competitive with oil and gas without any form of
  State support or subsidy

Source the FT 2009
4

• Read p 28-31 Oxford and very interesting p 34-35)
• (and p 19-21 Pearson sheet)

5
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Protected
but there are oil reserves there And the
Prudhoe Bay oilfield is nearly exhausted.
6
Varying Views

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vNMKcxVdju8Q The
  truth about ANWR
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v5JbgzWCM0A4feature
  related Dont believe the lies- against ANWR
  drilling
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v3xYGED1j65Yfeature
  related as above longer version
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vpOZRrbE8Qaofeature
  related ANWR blood and oil

7
http//www.anwr.org/Video/View-our-ANWR-Flash-Movi
e.php
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
Opinions
Sarah Palin- John McCain's running mate for 2008
us PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
I hope people understand, in a
20,000-square-mile area, this is 2,000 acres. It
is a plot of land the size of LAX that we would
want to drill to explore. ,"
12

• ANWR Drilling could keep America's economy
  growing by creating jobs and ensuring that
  businesses can expand and it will make America
  less dependent on foreign sources of energy,
  scientists have developed innovative techniques
  to reach ANWR's oil with virtually no impact on
  the land or local wildlife."

13
"I strongly reject drilling in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge because it would
irreversibly damage a protected national wildlife
refuge without creating sufficient oil supplies
to meaningfully affect the global market price or
have a discernible impact on US energy security."
14
We support the drilling- it will provide jobs
for locals and Americans all over the country- it
will enable Alaska to further develop energy
security and it doesnt affect us or the caribou
migrations we rely on
Me not want any of your dirty oil spilling on me
food or land- my calves might eat it or step on
it
15
Other arguments in favour

• A June 29, 2008 Pew Research Poll reported that
  50 of Americans favor drilling of oil and gas in
  ANWR while 43 oppose (compared to 42 in favor
  and 50 opposed in February of the same year).
• A CNN opinion poll conducted in August 31, 2008
  reported 59 favor drilling for oil in ANWR,
  while 39 oppose it.
• A large majority of Alaskans support drilling in
  ANWR, including every governor, senator,
  representative, and legislature for the past 25
  years.
• In the state of Alaska, residents receive annual
  dividends from oil-lease revenues. In 2000 the
  dividend came to 1,964 per resident.
• Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., chairman of the
  Resources Committee, seized on the finding
  Tuesday that development of the refuge would
  boost domestic oil production by 20 percent over
  what it otherwise would be in 2025.
• Given Americas energy crunch, ANWR production
  is a must, Pombo, who requested the analysis,
  said in a statement.

16
Other arguments against

• The economic impact would be negligible, thus
  meaning no financial reason to drill there as the
  amount is not thought to be enough for mass
  production levels
• Environmentalists state that the required network
  of oil platforms, pipelines, roads and support
  facilities, not to mention the threat of foul
  spills, would play havoc on wildlife.
• The US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE has stated that
  the 1002 area has a "greater degree of ecological
  diversity than any other similar sized area of
  Alaskas north slope." The FWS also states,
  "Those who campaigned to establish the Arctic
  Refuge recognized its wild qualities and the
  significance of these spatial relationships. Here
  lies an unusually diverse assemblage of large
  animals and smaller, less-appreciated life forms,
  tied to their physical environments and to each
  other by natural, undisturbed ecological and
  evolutionary processes."
• The Gwich'in tribe adamantly believes that
  drilling in ANWR would have serious negative
  effects on the calving grounds of the Porcupine
  Caribou herd that they partially rely on for
  food.

17
The debate is about the environment
(conservation) Compared with the economy
(exploitation) About local , national and even
global interests
But You cant eat the scenery
18
The Arctic Tundra is a treeless plain by the
Beaufort Sea Here you can see patterned ground
made by the seasonal melting of the upper ground.
19
Is this place really so special?

Outdoor enthusiasts think it is and are against
drilling for oil
Depending on whom you listen to, ANWRs coastal
plain is either a bleak, buggy land of misery
deserving no special protection or a precious
piece of Americas natural history.James Balog
20
In summer the hollows fill with midge infested
swamps.
Like Alaskas Prudhoe Bay (pictured above), ANWR
may soon bear the scars of modern oil extraction.
21
Do the nature lovers overstate the threats to the
environment?
The oil companies love photos like this -  some
environmentalists had feared that the pipeline
would disrupt normal wildlife migrations. It
turns out, however, that not only does the
pipeline not bother the local wildlife, but some
of the critters like to scratch their backs on
the supports.  
22
There are risks to endangered species if drilling
is allowed Shouldnt we cut back on fossil fuels
anyway to slow Global Warming?

Polar bears, the largest bear and terrestrial
predator, find prime habitat in Alaskas Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge.
23
What local people are affected?
The Inupiat of Kaktovik, Alaska
The village of Kaktovik in 1995
24
Tool for survival Kaktovik whaling captain
Charlie Brower displays the harpoon he uses when
his village goes after its quota of three bowhead
whales in the fall (Autumn).
Kaktovik is next to the Beaufort Sea and within
the northern boundaries of the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge.
They tend to support the development they want
the money from the oil companies
25

The Gwichin Tribe live inland
Adeline Raboff, is a member of the Gwichin tribe
26
They are Caribou hunters
Some of their land is Taiiga forested with pine
conifers
27
Arctic Village home of the Gwichin Native
Americans
28
The Gwichin object to the proposed oil
development because the fear the caribou will be
disturbed
The Gwichin have the inherent right to continue
our own way of life and this right is recognized
and affirmed by civilized nations in the
international covenants on human rights.
29
Back in mainland USA Some right wingers back
their government And the oil industry And the
troops in Iraq And hate the other protesters who
try to stop progress.
30
Environmentalists also campaign in Washington DC
31
The gist of the sales pitch was "we haven't
spilled much oil up here, we haven't spilled much
along the pipeline, the Exxon Valdez was someone
else's fault ... oh, and we're starting to run
out of oil up here, so could we please please
PRETTY please be allowed to start exploration in
the wildlife refuge next
The Oil Industry has been persuading people for
years to try to get permission to drill in ANWR
32
More research

• http//www.anwr.org/