Let's get that pipeline built!

[Don M.]

The biggest "side effect" from these oil prices may be the Russian Economy. Oil is about the Only thing Russia has to export, and it needs oil in the $80+ a barrel price range for its economy to remain fairly stable. The Ruble is falling, and the Russian economy is very close to going into recession. Couple that with the Russian leader, Putin, who is coming under increasing pressure...especially with his "adventure" in the Ukraine, which is siphoning off even more money from the Russian economy, and Russia could become very unstable in the near future, if these oil prices continue to stay low. Putin is a "wild card" and no telling what he might do if he feels his "reign" is threatened.

Iran is another powder keg, with these low prices. That extremist regime has pledged support to many of these Middle East terrorist organizations, and is a constant threat to Israel. If Iran decides to use Israel as an excuse, all Hell could break loose over there, and we would be dragged right into the middle of it.

At least, we are very close to not needing any oil from Russia, the Middle East, or places like Venezuela, but much of Europe and Asia must still depend upon those sources.

The Keystone Pipeline, or something very similar, Will eventually be built...it's just a question of when the nations energy needs, and the profits of the oil companies finally overcomes politics.

 

[BobF]

Gas here in southern Arizona had fallen to less than $2, like about $1.90. A couple weeks later and it is now, two days ago, at about $2.20 for mid grade. Next gas I will look again and likely find it at $2.40 per gallon or even maybe much more. I really can not see it staying as low as it was last week and the week before. The only problem we have with not having the pipeline being built is the White House. The gas companies would like it. The unions say yes, they want more work for their members. Likely many safety folks would like to have fewer kiled or injured in train wrecks and truck wrecks. Only the White House wants no more pipelines built. Where were they over the last several years as pipelines were being built to transport oil?

 

[Debby]

The biggest "side effect" from these oil prices may be the Russian Economy. Oil is about the Only thing Russia has to export, and it needs oil in the $80+ a barrel price range for its economy to remain fairly stable. The Ruble is falling, and the Russian economy is very close to going into recession. Couple that with the Russian leader, Putin, who is coming under increasing pressure...especially with his "adventure" in the Ukraine, which is siphoning off even more money from the Russian economy, and Russia could become very unstable in the near future, if these oil prices continue to stay low. Putin is a "wild card" and no telling what he might do if he feels his "reign" is threatened.

Iran is another powder keg, with these low prices. That extremist regime has pledged support to many of these Middle East terrorist organizations, and is a constant threat to Israel. If Iran decides to use Israel as an excuse, all Hell could break loose over there, and we would be dragged right into the middle of it.

At least, we are very close to not needing any oil from Russia, the Middle East, or places like Venezuela, but much of Europe and Asia must still depend upon those sources.

The Keystone Pipeline, or something very similar, Will eventually be built...it's just a question of when the nations energy needs, and the profits of the oil companies finally overcomes politics.

With regards to Russia and Putin, you and I both see the exact things going on, but my perspective on it is very different than yours and it's this. If another country was threatening my country the same way that Russia is being threatened, I would want my government to not just sell out and 'bend over' and I dare say if your country was being threatened in the same way, you'd want your government to be strong and to encourage and seek adjustments in how tax money is being allocated to keep things going as much as possible. And you wouldn't want your government to get all mealy mouthed and suck up to your aggressor but would hope that your government would speak strongly and with confidence. And all these things Putin does......and the average person and most governments 'spin' it to make him look like a bad leader, a despot.....
From the reading that I've done, he's confident, he's smart, he's a workaholic and he works 'quietly' and without a lot of fanfare, and he understands people and he's not afraid. He also loves Russia and his intention is to protect Russia now and for the future. All attributes that you would want from your government.

It also seems to me that taking Iran to task for 'support of terrorist organizations' is a little bit of the American pot calling the kettle black when you consider how much in American tax dollars has been sent to terrorists (over many years) in Afghanistan, now Syria, Libya and Ukraine.

I do agree that eventually the pipeline will be built and the 'slowness' of that approval is mainly about politics vs. the bottom line and the safety factor is only being touted by the pro camp as it lends a little more weight to their argument, but they don't really care so much about that. $25.00 a barrel vs. $9.00 a barrel - big incentive especially if oil prices remain low for a while. A big help as those companies try to survive.

 

[SeaBreeze]

Another crude oil train derailment, fire and evacuation in North Dakota. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/05/06/3655595/north-dakota-oil-train-derailment-fire/

A town in North Dakota was evacuated Wednesday after an oil train derailed and caught fire.

The BNSF Railway train went off the tracks Wednesday morning about two miles from the town of Heimdal, North Dakota. The derailment forced approximately 35 people to leave the town, but officials say there’s been no injuries. Ten out of the 109 cars on the train caught fire, but officials did not yet know as of Wednesday afternoon if the cars had exploded or were simply burning. Fire crews had been called in to try to contain the blaze.

It’s was also unclear on Wednesday whether oil had been spilled as a result the derailment. Tammy Roehrich, emergency manager for Wells County, where Heimdal is located, said the scene looked similar to a 2013 derailment in Casselton, North Dakota.

Oil train derailments have been occurring more and more frequently across North America, as oil shipments via rail have increased. Among the most infamous is the 2013 derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, which killed 47 people and destroyed the town’s center.

There have been multiple oil train accidents since the Quebec disaster, however: In March, an iol train derailed and caught fire in Illinois, an incident that occurred about a month after a train derailed and spilled oil in Ontario, Canada. This February, an oil train derailed and exploded in West Virginia, and last April, a train derailed and spilled oil into Virginia’s James River.

In the U.S., North Dakota is one of the states in the center of this increased oil train traffic, due to its location above the Bakken shale formation. North Dakota’s oil production began growing in the mid-2000s and skyrocketed in 2010, and trains — along with pipelines — have been used to move this oil around the country. But studies have confirmed that oil from the Bakken region is more volatile than other types of crude, making shipments from North Dakota and other Bakken states risky.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation released new standards for oil trains aimed at decreasing the number of derailments, rules that have been long-awaited in the U.S. but which were criticized by environmental groups and some members of Congress for not being strict enough.

Under the new standards, oil trains will require updated braking systems and will follow a new maximum speed of 50 miles per hour. The rules also call for the phase-out of old DOT-111 cars by 2018, cars that are some of the most prone to puncture.

 

[Josiah]

Let's let Canada keep its tar preferably in the ground. The future is with solar and for Canada hydroelectric.

 

[SeaBreeze]

I agree Josiah, the future is in solar and other alternatives, but that won't happen overnight. I think in the meantime, a pipeline is much better than transport by rail.

 

[Don M.]

I agree Josiah, the future is in solar and other alternatives, but that won't happen overnight. I think in the meantime, a pipeline is much better than transport by rail.

Perhaps in 50 years, we won't have much need for huge quantities of oil products....but for now, we are stuck with that goo. Moving this stuff by rail...especially on our aged rail lines....is just asking for trouble. One day, one of these trains is going to derail in a populated area, and the damage will be huge. Pipelines aren't perfect, but they are much better than moving this stuff by rail or truck.

 

[Warrigal]

It's funny how people can see the damage done by one rail derailment but cannot see the much greater damage caused by warming up the planet.
The coal and oil needs to stay exactly where it belongs - in the ground.