Thursday, March 24, 2011

US Spending Billions to Restore Libyan Oil to France; Meanwhile France Puts a Moratorium On Their Own Domestic Drilling Program; Sound Familiar?

I had no plans to post this or link this story. I saw it a few days ago but felt it was not worth it to post it.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon extended a moratorium on research and drilling for shale oil and gas until mid-June, pending reports commissioned by the government to establish their impact on the environment.

France has large oil and gas shale reserves, but projects have sparked controversy due to the possible impact on the environment caused by drilling techniques used on such deposits.

The hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, technique involves injecting water, sand and chemicals into rock formations at high pressure to force out oil and natural gas.
The story will become newsworthy if this is a permanent moratorium. A temporary delay is fine. But if it is permanent, it explains why France took the lead in attacking Libya.  Sad. If only the average person in the US realized that we are spending billions so France can have Libyan oil because France won't drill on its own soil. 

"Oil projects have sparked controversy due to the possible impact on the environment caused by drilling techniques" but apparently there was less controversy to attack another country for its oil. I wonder if the Libyan war would have been delayed had environmental impact statements been required?

The Paris Basin would ultimately produce more oil than Libya is exporting to France.  North Dakota currently produces more oil than Libya.

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