AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

I keep hearing and reading anger vented against the environmentalists and the liberals for not allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge...and that drilling is the solution to our suffering at the gas-pumps. I didn't know enough about it, so I did a little research.

I found that if we sucked all the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil into barrels, the amount would only last the United States 10 to 12 months (at 2007 rate of consumption), if we stopped importing oil.

I've enclosed some links to interesting data, because I really liked learning about this stuff and think you will too (if you haven't read up on it yet).

I hope we can all eventually talk realistically about this, without pointing fingers at the liberals or the Republicans, etc., for causing our pain at the gas pumps. Maybe together we can realize sustainable ideas for the future.

Love,

Nance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves#Proved_reserves

the following is pulled from the above link (more links follow):

As of 2007, the Energy Information Agency (EIA) of the US Department of Energy projected that in 2007 oil consumption would rise to 20.9 million barrels per day

A 1993 United States Geological Survey (USGS) study indicated at least 4.3 billion (95% probability) and possibly as much as 11.8 billion (5% probability) barrels (0.9 to 2.5 km³) of technically recoverable oil exists in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1002 area, with a mean value of 7.7 billion barrels (1.7 km³). In addition, in the entire assessment area, which covers not only land under Federal jurisdiction, but also Native lands and adjacent State waters within three miles (5 km), technically recoverable oil is estimated to be at least 5.7 billion (95%) and as much as 16.0 billion (5%) barrels (0.7 to 1.9 km³), with a mean value of 10.4 billion barrels (1.2 km³). Economically recoverable oil within the Federal lands assuming a market price of $40/barrel (constant 1996 dollars - the highest price included in the USGS study) is estimated to be between 3.4 billion (95%) and 10.4 billion (5%) barrels (0.5 to 1.7 km³), with a mean value of 6.8 billion barrels (1.1 km³).

Here's some additional links I learned a lot from:

http://middleeast.about.com/od/oilenergy/a/me070905e.htm

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aairaqioil.htm

http://atheism.about.com/b/2005/10/16/discussion-world-oil-reserves.htm

PS, I'm interested in anything you want to enlighten me with on this subject, as well...N