Oil and Gas Industry Chastises Delegation for Folding on Directional Drilling Vote; U.S. House of Representatives Reacted to Political Pandering, Not Scientific Evidence.Business Editors NOTE TO MEDIA: Photo is available in a Smart News Release(TM) on Business Wire's Home Page at www.businesswire.com and at www.newstream.com LANSING, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 2001 Michigan oil and gas industry leaders today denounced the U.S. House of Representatives' recent approval of a bill that would ban any additional exploration for crude oil and natural gas under the Great Lakes Great Lakes, group of five freshwater lakes, central North America, creating a natural border between the United States and Canada and forming the largest body of freshwater in the world, with a combined surface area of c.95,000 sq mi (246,050 sq km). . "The result of this vote is very disappointing to the oil and gas industry and should be very disturbing to every Michigan resident who relies on petroleum products to power their vehicles and heat their homes and offices," said Frank L. Mortl, president of the Michigan Oil and Gas Association (MOGA). "The bill's supporters clearly let political propaganda get in the way of what is truly best for the residents of the Great Lakes states and the nation as a whole." The U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment Thursday, June 28 to essentially block oil and gas companies from developing new directionally drilled holes beneath the Great Lakes to tap into, or search for, new natural resources. Only three Michigan Congressman opposed the amendment -- Joe Knollenberg Joseph (Joe) Knollenberg (born November 28, 1933) is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan, representing Michigan's 9th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. (R-Bloomfield Hills), Mike Rogers Mike Rogers may refer to:
"Drilling directionally or horizontally ... provides a very precise and safe way of exploring for and developing any potential reserves under the lakes from the safety of isolated on-shore positions," said Dr. Robb Gillespie, an assistant director of the Michigan Basin The Michigan Basin is a geologic basin centered on the lower peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The feature is represented by a nearly circular pattern of geologic sedimentary strata in the area with a nearly uniform structural dip toward the center of the peninsula. Core Research Laboratory and professor of geology at Western Michigan University Western Michigan University, at Kalamazoo, Mich.; coeducational; founded in 1903 as Western State Normal School, became accredited in 1927 as a college, gained university status in 1957. . "The bottom line is that there is overwhelming scientific evidence that proves directional drilling Directional drilling (sometimes known as slant drilling outside the oil industry) is the science of drilling non-vertical wells. Directional drilling can be broken down into three main groups: Oilfield Directional Drilling, Utility Installation Directional Drilling (commonly is safe and that the practice poses no reasonable risk to the lake water or the lakeshore's natural environment," said Mike Miller, chairman of MOGA. "In fact, there are thousands of land-based directionally drilled holes across Michigan that are specifically used to protect fragile natural habitats -- including the highly prized Pigeon River The Pigeon River may refer to:
There are currently seven directionally drilled wells owned by Michigan oil and gas companies operating under Lake Michigan and Lake Huron -- one well producing crude oil, six producing natural gas -- all of which have operated with no significant environmental problems. "Many of the bill's supporters have said that there is not enough oil or natural gas beneath the Great Lakes to warrant directional drilling, that is simply not true," Miller said. "The six directionally-drilled natural gas wells that are owned and operated by Michigan oil and gas companies produce enough gas each year to heat 18,000 homes. Not allowing companies to develop crucial oil and natural gas reserves beneath the Great Lakes could severely cripple crip·ple n. One that is partially disabled or unable to use a limb or limbs. v. To cause to lose the use of a limb or limbs. Michigan's capability to provide basic necessities like heat and power." "I am stunned stun tr.v. stunned, stun·ning, stuns 1. To daze or render senseless, by or as if by a blow. 2. To overwhelm or daze with a loud noise. 3. at the representatives who voted 'yes' to the amendment because they have made politics more important than scientific evidence and the historically safe practice of directional drilling," Mortl said. "They have blatantly ignored every credible scientist and study on directional drilling and crowned themselves the experts of the topic, apparently without ever so much as visiting one of the successfully directionally drilled wells. This is the political equivalent of going to a doctor only to ignore the doctor's medical advice." Note: A Photo is available at URL URL in full Uniform Resource Locator Address of a resource on the Internet. The resource can be any type of file stored on a server, such as a Web page, a text file, a graphics file, or an application program. : http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.062901/bb4 |
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