Whenever the prospect of drilling for oil and natural gas off North Carolina's coast is raised, environmentalists point to BP's catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 as a reason to deep-six the idea.
Unfortunately, not enough leaders here have exhibited the political fortitude to get past the fear-mongering over carbon-based fuels and to make the case that scientifically sound, common sense methods of extraction can protect the environment.
A major development on the national stage could force these foes to confront this question: Why is new oil exploration possible off the coast of Alaska, but not off the coast of North Carolina?
Last week, Shell Oil cleared a major hurdle when the Interior Department approved its Oil Spill Response Plan, now a prerequisite for new exploration. Shell has learned the lessons taught by the BP spill and will implement them in the environmentally sensitive Chukchi Sea about 70 miles off the Alaskan coast.
Shell has proposed drilling up to six wells over two summer seasons (the waters freeze during winter) within the Burger Prospect in approximately 140 feet of water. Because of the Deepwater Horizon accident, the feds have required Shell to prepare for a similar worst-case scenario.
As part of its response plan, the oil company will provide a capping stack to shut off any flow of oil if other shut-off systems fail. Shell also will have the capability to capture and collect oil from that stack. To be sure it will work, Interior Department inspectors will conduct a deployment test of the stack before Shell is permitted to drill its first well.
For those who say that's not enough to prevent a BP-like catastrophe, there are even more new safeguards. Shell must have access to a rig capable of drilling a relief well that could kill any blowout like that at the Deepwater Horizon. To ensure compliance, Interior personnel will conduct on-site, unannounced inspections of any response equipment. Once Shell begins drilling, an inspector will be on each rig 24//7.
These are smart rules, as is the requirement that Shell terminate drilling in September so that, if an accident occurs, capping and spill-kill operations could be conducted in open water before ice forms in the Chukchi Sea.
Shell isn't the only party that has to meet higher safety and environmental standards. To avoid the governmental-authority confusion that occurred in the wake of the gulf blowout, federal and Alaska officials have developed a command and control system headed by the Coast Guard. At a minimum, the Coast Guard plans to have on stand-by a flight-deck equipped cutter and a 225-foot buoy tender during the summer months when drilling occurs. Several response exercises have taken place and more are planned. In December, Coast Guard and Alaskan officials conducted a joint incident command workshop with Shell, and another is planned for the spring.
Clearly, oil exploration can be done with a reasonable level of risk when appropriate rules are applied and followed.
Data sharing is another crucial element in the new era of offshore exploration. Interior, NOAA and Shell have identified a body of data the company must develop and make available as it drills. This includes marine mammal routes, sea currents, and offshore and onshore ecosystem monitoring.
The environmentally sound techniques being deployed in Alaska can be used here as well, and not just offshore. The data sharing aspect could be extremely instructive as lawmakers consider legalizing fracking for natural gas exploration in our state.
Landowners, government entities and citizens must have access to basic information such as the amount of water used in the process, the chemicals injected into the ground and where the used water is being disposed of.
The more knowledge we have, the more likely science and engineering will be used to protect the environment. If it can be done in Alaska, it can be done in North Carolina.
