froberts said:
Don't care what the stats show. Gas is still to high when you consider the profit margins the gas producers are getting from the price gouging. For us to be one of the richest countries in the world, as well as the savior of most of them. It's a shame that we still rely on imported oil. What happened to our oil producing states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Alaska. Our government has let control of OUR oil production go down the toilet so that we can be friends with these "friendly" oil production countries. So with that off my chest, ya'll have a good day. :banghead :skep :nopity :grouphug :flag
We have 25 offshore drilling rigs operating daily in the Gulf of Mexico - some in over 8,000 feet of water (floating rigs). Technology expense to push us out that far has been astronomical over the last ten years. Ten years ago, 3,000 feet was deep water. We work for the oil companies and some of the deeper rigs cost them over $200,000 a day for the rig alone and over $500,000 a day for total costs. And this is with no guarantee of any payout.
Anybody thinks the government controls our oil production just doesn't understand the business. A year ago, with lowered oil prices - those same rigs were losing their ass at $80K a day. These are HUGE vessels with crews of well over 120 people on board. We lost money three years running. When the price is up, the activity increases. Supply and demand control price and price controls exploration - simple as that.
The Demand side is changing drastically - with China and India creating massive demand where none was before. Don't look for this to change anytime soon. That chart from beer100 is spot on - on an adjusted basis we aren't paying any more than we did in the 50's. We still have the cheapest gas by far of any nation in the world - and that's due to the people who work two to four weeks in a row without a day off in some of the harshest conditions known in any industry.
Now that's off MY chest. :boxing
Pic is the Ocean Confidence - 8500 water depth - 35,000 well capability - bunks 144 people - and it's fully crewed!!