Destin Dome

[Candy]

Please share any information you have about the Natural Gas in the Destin Dome in this thread. You may also talk about you feelings on drilling for natural gas off our coast.

I will start this thread with the following post from the U.S. Department of the Interior - Minerals Management Service - Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.


************************************************** *****

U.S. Department of the Interior
Minerals Management Service
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

October 2000


Economic Effects of Coastal Alabama and Destin Dome Offshore Natural Gas
Exploration, Development, and Production



OCS Study MMS 2000-044

The Minerals Management Service (MMS), Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, announces the availability of a new study report, Economic Effects of Coastal Alabama and Destin Dome Offshore Natural Gas Exploration, Development, and Production.

In 1979 gas was discovered in Mobile Bay. In the decade that followed, coastal Alabama experienced the emergence of a large offshore gas industry that created thousands of jobs in Mobile County, Alabama, and in Louisiana and Texas. This study developed an input-output model that reflected the unique economics of Alabama’s offshore gas industry and used it to estimate that industry’s impacts on employment, population, and personal income for Mobile County, the rest of Alabama, and for the combined economies of Louisiana and Texas. The model was also used to project the industry’s economic effects through 2020. Possible industry activity in the Destin Dome area was projected separately.

The study found that total industry spending to fully develop existing coastal Alabama fields would total nearly $4 billion. Expenditures for ongoing operations and maintenance will add over $3 billion through 2020. The State of Alabama received close to $1 billion in lease bonus payments from offshore operators in State waters during the 1980’s. Coupled to these are ongoing production taxes and royalties, and a share of Federal 8(g) royalties for fields in the OCS. Much of what Alabama receives is invested in a trust fund. By the end of 2020, the State of Alabama and coastal counties will have spent close to $6 billion from trust fund earnings. Because the fund’s principal is not drawn down, it will continue to provide a significant economic stimulus to Alabama long after 2020 and long after the gas reserves have been exhausted.

According to the model’s projections, through 2020 coastal Alabama and Destin Dome OCS gas development will support at least 7,000 jobs annually in the Gulf region and, in some years, more than 10,000 jobs. Employment in Louisiana and Texas peaked in the early years of development. Mobile County and Alabama employment grew more slowly as local gas-related businesses developed. However, Alabama’s trust fund spending will continue to grow for at least another decade, reaching over $200 million annually by 2012. Jobs created by this Government spending are an indirect result of gas production, and because of this, employment created by Alabama’s gas industry becomes most significant after the year 2000.

For more information about this study or the Environmental Studies Program in general, contact the Environmental Sciences Section (MS 5430), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-2789.

You can obtain copies of the report from the Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, at a charge of $30.00 by referencing OCS Study MMS 2000-044. You will be able to obtain this report also from the National Technical Information Service in the near future. Here are the addresses. You may also inspect copies at selected Federal Depository Libraries.


Minerals Management Service
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
Public Information Office (MS 5034)
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394
Telephone requests may be placed at
(504) 736-2519, 1-800-200-GULF, or
FAX: (504) 736-2620 U.S. Department of Commerce
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, Virginia 22161
(703) 487-4650
or FAX: (703) 321-8547
Rush Orders: 1-800-336-4700

MMS is the Federal agency that manages the Nation's natural gas, oil and other mineral resources on the OCS, and collects, accounts for and disburses about $4 billion yearly in revenues from offshore Federal mineral leases and from onshore mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands.

-MMS-GOM-

Homepage Address on the Internet: http://www.mms.gov


Return to Technical Announcements

[Sea-r-cy]

I'm 100% for gas wells offshore. The fishing is great around them. :D

I don't know about the Destin dome, but I do have some experience with natural gas. (after all, that's my boat's name) :cool:

If drilling is done around here, get ready for an influx of workers. Houses will be bought, rentals will be rented, and motels will be at full capacity.

Natural gas was discovered in north central Arkansas, (my home area) and drilling was started in around 2005. A few years before this, rough land was worth 300-500 dollars per acre. The last offer I got for minerals only was $7000 per acre.
Land values will go through the roof if drilling is done in the panhandle.
The gas companies spend money like a drunk sailor. It will be a shot in the arm for the local economy. But get ready for some inconveniences.

Our traffic in Searcy, Ar. went from an occasional 18 wheeler to a steady stream of drilling equipment and vacuum trucks (to haul water). Several times I've seen a 20+ vehicle convoy of 18 wheelers going to a drill site. At least 50% of all the pick up trucks on the road are gas related.

It will be a fishing and financial blessing, but it comes with a price. The area will never be the same.:(

Sea-r-cy

[Candy]

I saw a report on the news that there is enough natural gas in the Destin Dome to provide ALL the energy needs for the entire state of Florida for 30 years.

I also saw that our President and Congress just gave Brazil $2 BILLION dollars to do oil exploration off the coast of Brazil. I guess after we pay them to find and drill the oil we can then pay them top dollar for the oil. That will help Brazilians find high paying jobs but does nothing to provide jobs for Americans. It will also help George Soros who invested $800 Million in the Brazilian oil company that just got a cool $2 Billion in U.S. taxpayer’s money. Now, isn't that special?

China is working on a deal with Cuba to drill just 40 miles off our coast.

I'd like to see America become Energy Independent.

Why is Congress giving our tax dollars to Brazil to do what we should be doing here? If we don't start drilling into the Ocean Floor off South Florida, We'll be buying our own oil from CHINA!

Did our leaders eat lead paint when they were growing up?

[captfrankie]

Candy I'm sorry I am going to be as blount as I intend to be here, but their haven eaten lead paint, you know some times there just one reason for STUPID, and that is that it is naturally occurring. We just happen to have a bunch of it in Washington at the moment.

Just imagine if we could drill that dome of natural gas.

[Candy]

Attached is a petition form that will help to get the drilling issue on the ballots so that the People can decide what they want.

Obviously, our elected officials can't risk upsetting their big GREEN contributors.

By getting this issue on the ballot, it takes the POWER away from politicians and lobbiests and gives it back to the people.

Power to the people!

If you want to visit their website, it is: www.floridaoil.org

[Candy]

Here is a site run by Newt Gingrich. It is the Drill Here, Drill Now site.
go to www.americansolutions.com If you want to sign Newt's Petition for Drilling.

[captfrankie]

As has happened so many times in the past, the people will vote their emotions on this and any issue that those who would work tirelessly to misinform will lead them to vote. "POWER TO THE PEOPLE" just so much B.S. The power rest with those that control the line of information, either for the good or bad.

[Candy]

Frankie, you do have a point there...misinformation is powerful and the uninformed are easy to mislead and therefore control. Look at the spin doctors lead the masses with feel good words. Scary!

For the rest of the population that aren't afraid to do a little research, information is powerful and by allowing the people to vote on an issue, it does give the power back to the people.

For example:
For many years, Florida's legislature refused to ban smoking in public places. They wouldn't dare because the tobacco companies donated to their campaigns.

It was a citizen initiative that put Smoke Free for Health on the ballot and the People in Florida voted to change the law that the law makers refused to change.

The same Green groups that are destroying our fishing rights are also against our Country being energy independent. I'd bet my mother that they are also donating BIG money to the people that are supposed to be representing us, our State Senators and Representatives. Who do you think these lawmakers are going to listen to, ordinary folks who may give a measley $100.00 - $250.00 to their campaigns or to the Green groups that give them millions?

Does voting give Power to the People? You bet! I say, put it on the ballot and let the people decide what they want.

[captfrankie]

I am not at all opposed to the idea of the public voicing thier view through the a ballot.

But you and I both know that those with selfish motives or perhaps narrow sighted views are going to make the most noise before any vote.

An issue that comes to mind here is the fish net ban. It carried because the people voted to pass it. They voted to pass it after Millions of Dollars were spent, by groups the some of us would embrace, to run a misinformation campaign to sway the vote. Then, just as today some would have us believe that every person that says they are a commercial fisherman must be evil. On these issues there are laws on the books that could have been enforced and can be enforced. There wasn't then and there isn't now any reason to kill an entire industry. The Fish Net Ban put 47000 people out of work the moment it passed. Now that's the "American Way". If someone is doing something you don't understand find a way to get it banned. I understand that Gigs and Spearfishing is on the agenda.

Any way back to the issue at hand, the money will be spent by the power brokers to lead the poor misinformed public to vote the way that is needed by them. There will be well intentioned individuals that will jump on the wagon and do all they can to promote the cause. They will believe in what they are doing but that alone doesn't make them right.

[Candy]

Frankie,

You are right that the power brokers will work hard to mislead the masses. I believe that is why our country is still dependent on other nations for our energy even though we have enough resources within our borders to be energy independent.

I guess we both agree that people should have a right to vote on the matter. That is after all, the American way.

I signed both petitions because I believe that our Nation needs to be energy independent. Wind and Solar energy are great ideas but it will be decades before our nation could possibly be converted to those technologies. Congress can't just keep printing money or borrowing from China until we are converted over, we need a proven and affordable energy source to sustain our economy until the other green technologies have a chance to improve to the point that our country is able to convert without destroying our Economy or threatening our National Security.

Besides, my boat needs gas so I can go spearfish at the natural gas rig Artificial Reef in the Destin Dome. ;)

[Candy]

For Immediate Release: October 12, 2009
Contact: Kirsten Stade (202) 265-7337

NOAA RAISES RED FLAGS ON AGGRESSIVE OFFSHORE DRILLING PLAN — Exclusion Zones, Buffers and Oil Spill Protections Would Scale Back Lease Schedule


Washington, DC — The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration urges that an ambitious lease schedule for oil and gas drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf be dramatically cut back, according to official comments posted today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). NOAA recommends safeguards for fisheries, marine mammals and coastal populations that would significantly dial down the number and size of offshore tracts offered for exploration and development leasing.

The NOAA comments were filed on September 21, 2009, the comment deadline for the Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2010-2015 issued by the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS). That plan issued in January reflects the pro-drilling approach of the outgoing Bush administration. It would offer 12 large lease areas (4 in Alaska, 3 in the Atlantic, 2 in the Pacific and 3 in the Gulf of Mexico) covering much of the American OCS.

In its comments, NOAA laid out positions not heard during the Bush years, including:

•Exclusionary zones that would block lease sales in the Northern Aleutians (including Bristol Bay), near shore in the Chukchi Sea, as well as all the proposed Atlantic and Eastern Gulf tracts;
•Buffer zones that would bar drilling “around national marine sanctuaries, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, Critical Habitat for endangered and threatened species, major fishing grounds and to provide visual buffers to coastal areas dependent upon tourism”; and
•A moratorium on any Arctic Ocean drilling until much better oil spill prevention and response capability is in place. NOAA also contends that MMS understates the expected frequency of and risk from spills, generally, noting aftereffects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita among other factors.
“It is refreshing to hear the voices of marine scientists who were silenced for the past eight years,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, whose organization released a stream of suppressed emails and other internal communications about negative effects of noise, invasive species and other effects in Arctic waters that are now reflected in the NOAA comments. “The question now is whether NOAA’s precautionary approach will drive federal policy or be run over by Interior.”

In February, incoming Interior Secretary Ken Salazar invited public as well as interagency comment on the plan. Salazar has identified “energy independence” as his top priority. In addition to expanded OCS exploration, Salazar is promoting non-conventional energy developments offshore, as well as drilling.

The NOAA comments state that OCS renewable energy planning is vague, lacks baseline resource data, and is not coordinated with oil and gas planning. NOAA also faults the failure to consider impacts from climate change including “shoreline erosion” and sea ice reduction in the Arctic.

Professor Rick Steiner, a marine conservation specialist at the University of Alaska, applauded the NOAA comments. “NOAA’s recommendations echo concerns voiced for years by Alaska’s Inupiaq people, scientists, and fishermen regarding the real risks of offshore oil. The issue is whether Interior will allow industry to drill anywhere it wants or whether marine ecosystems will be protected from the inherent risks that accompany offshore petroleum drilling.”

“To avoid conflict, the Obama White House has thus far straddled the fence without taking firm stands on the underlying elements of a coherent oceans policy,” added Ruch, noting that NOAA has, for example, ruled out designation of new national marine sanctuaries or monuments in the Arctic that would preclude drilling. “Decision time is approaching, however. If NOAA’s warnings are not heeded Interior’s offshore leasing plans will again be ensnared in litigation.”

###

Read the NOAA Comments

See the MMS Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2010-2015