Guest AuthorOur country’s Atlantic Coast, including parts of Florida’s Atlantic coast, might have billions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas available to lead America toward energy independence from unstable countries.
However, without clearance from Washington D.C., decades-old information about these potential resources can’t be updated.
That’s why 3D seismic surveying needs to be conducted in the Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The federal Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management recently conducted an environmental study to determine whether this new technology should be used to gather more accurate information about the energy resources that might be available.
More than 30 years ago, people believed the OCS had 3 billion barrels of oil and 31 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, but those estimates were made using obsolete technology. Now, advanced seismic technology that uses compressed air can create 3D maps of what lies below the ocean floor. With much greater precision, we can see where the resources are. That would mean fewer wells, more efficient drilling and better protection of our environment and wildlife.
The fact is, we don’t really know what’s out there and we won’t know until we look with the right tools. For example, the Gulf of Mexico has so far yielded six times the resources it was estimated to contain in the 1980s, and the OCS reserves are likely to be five to six times greater than originally thought, as well.
If oil and gas production on the Outer Continental Shelf could produce millions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas, create tens of thousands of jobs, and generate billions in revenue for our state and federal governments, it would be irresponsible not to pursue this opportunity at a time when our national economy needs help.
If substantial, those reserves could help meet our state’s and our nation’s energy needs, revitalize our economy, and reduce our dangerous dependence on unreliable foreign sources of oil. The economic and national security benefits could be enormous.
And, while seismic surveys are a necessary prelude to development of our offshore oil reserves, they’re not a commitment to development. They’re simply a means of gaining the information we need to make an intelligent decision.
Knowledge is power. Using the latest technology to better understand our options is only a first step, but it’s an important first step we must take.
The federal government is seeking feedback on seismic surveying and I urge Floridians to get involved by voicing your support for this new technology that will enable us to see exactly what our country may have available off our coast.
Nicolás J. Gutiérrez, Jr., Esq. is the State Chairman for the FLA Energy Forum. Gutiérrez is also a founding partner of GUTIÉRREZ & FRANCO LLP in Coral Gables, Florida. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
