Geologists to look again for oil in Appalachian foothills

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05178/528940.stm

A consortium of the U.S. Department of Energy, several states, 17 energy companies and an industry group plans an exhaustive study in search of new oil reserves beneath the Appalachian foothills.

The two-year review is being sparked by record-high prices for crude oil and the country's continuing need for it.

Standing in the way of the revival of the Appalachian basin as a top oil-producing region are the same factors that sent speculators elsewhere after the area's heyday: the expense of and technical obstacles to finding the reservoirs, digging deep enough to strike and moving the oil where it needs to go.

Appalachian oil made the Rockefeller family fabulously wealthy when some of the world's first wells were dug in 1859, and the region remained a significant producer through the early 1900s.

Beverly Hillbillies Redux!

[Maple]

1. They'll be digging

in everybody's back yard soon enough

[Tux]

2. Maybe

They'll understand that Republicans don't care about them once they take their homes to drill for oil. SC said a local gov can do that for private uses. Jobs are scarce there and this may make them blue again.

[jmcon007]

3. This is a good point.....

Many Republicans today are learning that the neos of their party will walk over them, too, if need be to get where they want to go.

[WildClarySage]

4. Oh fer fucks sake

as if the coal industry hasn't done enough damage to my beautiful adopted home state.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. Well, now that they chopped the tops off half the mountain

it will be so much easier to blow them up to get to the oil.

[hollowdweller]

5. I lived in Glenville WV during the last oil crisis and the area boomed

Knew LOTS of people who had decent jobs in the oil and gas industry.

Then the price dropped, they capped all the wells off, and the place really took a dive. They could get it cheaper from the middle east.

I have always said they don't have to drill in the arctic reserve, there are plenty of wells capped off because oil dropped to the point that working them became economically unfeasible.

Oil and Gas are dirty and the big trucks tear up the road, however if people watch the companies and hold them to the law the environmental vs economic impact of these smaller wells is not too bad.

[WildClarySage]

8. unfortunately, industry oversight

is not something WV has much experience with.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. WV, maybe. W, certainly.

[dbt]

6. Paging John Prine. Mr. John Prine to the Courtesy Phone, please.

"Paradise" may need a sequel soon.

[tkmorris]

15. One of my favorite people

I recommend going and telling him yourself. He'll be at the Orpheum in Memphis on Sept 30th.

[Township75]

9. Hasn't Appalachia been raped enough for the sake of energy.

What upsets me most about this is that the Dems will not be any better at protecting people or the environment than republicans should oil be found.

They are such a dissapointment when it comes to protecting us from coal whores, and now there is a new threat.

Appalchia is way too halcyon to let it get torn-up anymore.

[BornLeft]

10. Beverly Hillbillies?

I guess you thought you would get a free pass on that one. Please take the stereotypes elsewhere. And if ever you have the fortunate opportunity to visit my wonderful state, perhaps you will see beyond ignorant comments like that.

[cmd]

12. Now taking bids on my backyard

It's virgin land, never been mined or drilled. Alley bound on two sides, excellent access. If the bid is high enough, you might get the house and front yard, too. Of course, you might lose it all when a big oil company claims it through eminent domain.

[fasttense]

13. I bet they have their eyes on the Smoky Mountains National Park. n/t

[Vogon_Glory]

14. Assuming The Drillers Find Another Elephant, Might they Then...

Assuming that the drillers do find another "elephant" like East Texas or the North Slope, might they then turn around and claim that energy conservation, public transportation, and alternate energy technologies are unnecessary after all? That's what the energy companies and their Banana Republican friends were doing before the price for a barrel of oil marched past $50 a barrel.

BTW, what WAS the price for a barrel of oil on January 19th, 2001? That might be a fun fact with which to needle Freepers and other "cons."

[Javaman]

16. god help the community that has oil found on it's land...

Soon the big oil corps will rush in and take the land under the original eminent domain laws, kicking people off their land because of a national emergency. Then with the new ED law, next will come the retail corporations, kicking people off their land so they can build walmarts and strip malls for the instant wealthy. Then will come the real estate corps kicking people off their lands to build multi family condo units to sell at outrageous prices. Then finally it will be fast food corps to kick people off their land so the new wealthy can eat their mad cow infused mcdonalds and taco bell.