I did a bit of online research and found this article on
Arctic Oil. CNN writes:
One study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said 25 percent of all untapped reserves in areas known to contain oil are found north of the Arctic Circle. That number could be even higher as the study didn't take into account unexplored regions, which most of the Arctic is.
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The Arctic ice pack, three to 10 meters thick and always shifting, poses significant challenges.
The solution involves heavy reinforcement of rigs or drill ships and using steel that is less brittle, as normal steel can more easily break at temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, said Alan Spackman, director of offshore technical and regulatory affairs for the International Association for Drilling Contractors.
"They're made horrendously strong," said Spackman. "The common rigs working in the Gulf of Mexico wouldn't survive."
And there's also a feeling that drilling in the Arctic, made possible largely by global warming at least partially caused by burning fossil fuels, is perverse.
Antarctica is shared by all nations, but the Arctic has undefined boundaries.
Which, I suppose, could be interpreted as prophetic. The bottom line is that all nations must learn to cooperate if they want that oil.
Edited by Phat, : edit
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