Not to be argumentative, but I'm curious what you are referring to when you say it takes 3 years to get an oil rig up and running? I want to make sure we're on the same sheet of music.

 

To build it, transport it, set it up and then to start pumpingoil out of the ground. It takes at least three years, right? Thats what they said on the Discovery Channel for a off shore rig.

 

That probably is about right for an off-shore rig. There's millions of dollars invested in each of those off shore rigs. A land rig can drill a well usually in less than a month. About 25 days is average time from breaking ground to a producing well on-shore, at least here in North Dakota. After each well, the rig has about 4 days of moving and maintenance before they start drilling the next well. They try to cut that time down as much as possible but usually end up getting the bit and drill pipe stuck in the hole or breaking stuff on the rig. Last time I heard we had 70+ drilling rigs operating in the state of North Dakota. One of the customers that my company works for is supposed to be getting 4 more drilling rigs but I don't know if that means 4 more rigs being brought in to the state or if they are just taking over rigs currently here.

Obama alone is not responsible for our current gas prices. It is Congress as a whole, republicans, democrats, independents, that are responsible. Their inaction and worrying about what is best for the party rather than the country has ut us in this situation. And I agree that the oil producing companies need to be held accountable for making record profits while the economy is in a slow down because of the energy costs. Even though I work in the oilfield I am effected by prices at the pump like everyone else and think something that needs to be done. Palin has actually issued a license to a Canadian firm to look into building a natural gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope down to Alberta where it would tie into existing pipelines feeding Canada and the northern US. It is not a end all solution but at least it's a step in the right direction. Everyday on the north slope they flare off enough natural gas to heat most homes in the lower 48 for a year. It's a huge waste but currently there is nothing else to do with the gas. Even here in North Dakota natural gas is constantly being flared. It's just a shame.

This is going to be an interesting election. I agree when people say it's time for change. But I think that the change needs happan in Congress, not just the White House. Anyone for Congress term limits?

 

We need term limits for all forms of government. But more than that we need the two parties to work together and stop trying to get their team to win no matter what.

 

AMEN!

 

Ok, on the way home, my wife saw gas prices of 4.99 that is an increase of 1.58 for regular. If that isn't gouging I don't know what is

 

A friend of mine was talking to a gas station clerk the other day and was told that the upper management gave orders to shut down the pumps even though they had over 6,000 gallons in the tanks. Doesn't that amount to gouging when you cut off the supply until you're one of the only ones left with a supply and you can get another buck or two per gallon for the same stuff? Isn't that taking advantage of a dire situation? I mean, I expect so much from some other countries who supply oil, but these are United States companies. This is just from one hurricane that's done temporary damage... Heaven help us if and when we have a more sweeping supply problem.

 

That is exactly why we need to NOT drill our own oil. If we save the oil in Alaska and off the coast of Florida until the rest of the world has run out of oil then we will have the power and money and the rest of the world will be at our mercy.
Yes it will take a few years before the rest of the world has run out, but it is likeplanning for your retirement, live lean now so that you can live like a hog later.

 

I agree, term limits in congress are a must after the preformance of our current congress. I know everyone is complaining about Bush's approval rating, but congress rating is actaully LOWER. Its pathetic and they cant get anything done. There is only one candidate running for president right now that actaully has the ability to reach across the isle and get things done. Im not going to say who, but if you look at both candidates platform its clear who is going to get the most solved. Liberals are WRONG conservatives are WRONG, we need the middle in these times.

 

A 2008 United States Geological Survey estimates that areas north of the Arctic Circle have 90 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil (and 44 billion barrels of natural gas liquids ) = 123 years of oil for us and Canada at the current rate.

the middle (love him or hate him) is mcain, probably the best for the country, although i disagree with him on many things.