Cuba's oil prospects pose dilemma for U.S.

[JBeukema]

On May 12, the Cuban government took advantage of an international meeting on oil drilling safety in Trinidad and Tobago to announce that drilling is about to begin for offshore wells in deep water off Cuba's northeastern coast. The amounts that might be eventually produced are substantial and of potentially high quality, and could radically improve the socialist island's economic prospects. In the United States, this has produced varied reactions, from calls for action to stop the drilling, to calls for an end to the 50 year U.S. economic blockade of Cuba.

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[Mr. H.]

That's a good article. They are inviting U.S. companies to participate.
If Cuba's oil demands amount to little more than 150k bbls/day maybe we s/have lifted the trade ban long ago and gone ahead and supplied them with crude, as opposed to Venezuela.

 

[editec]

Well a huge windfall like that would certainly improve Cuba's economy.

How much it will really help the people is another kettle of fish, I suspect.

 

[Mr. H.]

And so it begins...

RIGZONE - Repsol to Begin Offshore Cuba Drilling Later This Year

The embargo means that, if an emergency arises or if a piece of equipment is needed, international oil companies operating offshore Cuba could not turn to U.S. based companies in these situations.

 

[editec]

And so it begins...

RIGZONE - Repsol to Begin Offshore Cuba Drilling Later This Year

The embargo means that, if an emergency arises or if a piece of equipment is needed, international oil companies operating offshore Cuba could not turn to U.S. based companies in these situations.

YUP!

Free enterprise?

Not hardly.

 

[Mr. H.]

Could it be considered Cuban "free enterprise"?

A mere 60 miles from Florida waters. Oh the irony.

 

[Samson]

That's a good article. They are inviting U.S. companies to participate.
If Cuba's oil demands amount to little more than 150k bbls/day maybe we s/have lifted the trade ban long ago and gone ahead and supplied them with crude, as opposed to Venezuela.

Maybe?!?

The only reason we haven't is because there are 27 congressmen from Florida afraid that their Cuban Constituants would Castroate them.

 

[Mr. H.]

Or force them to drink Castro oil.

I wish them success in their endeavors. Cuba could soon be exporting crude and products, bringing much needed capital into their economy. And with Raul as President, who knows what the future may hold?

 

[Mad Scientist]

The US has a Trade Embargo with Cuba. That means the US and US owned companies cannot do business with Cuba. Furthermore, US Citizens cannot travel to Cuba without Gov't permission.

The US doesn't not impose a Blockade on Cuba. Cuba trades with EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, yet they are still poor because of their leaders.

So what would the effect of Cuba drilling for oil?: The Cuban government will have more money, the Cuban people will still be poor.

 

[Trajan]

I think that the issue is rigs will be going up like gang busters 60 miles from our shores but we won't be putting any of them up as American concerns.

If they suffer a failure we are almost sure to feel the blowback, ipso why don't we just build our own off the fla. coast?The risk is basically the same, but, with much greater upside.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

We have laws in place. Cuba does not.

Sometimes doing the right thing sucks. But you do it anyway.

 

[Mr. H.]

The US has a Trade Embargo with Cuba. That means the US and US owned companies cannot do business with Cuba. Furthermore, US Citizens cannot travel to Cuba without Gov't permission.

The US doesn't not impose a Blockade on Cuba. Cuba trades with EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, yet they are still poor because of their leaders.

So what would the effect of Cuba drilling for oil?: The Cuban government will have more money, the Cuban people will still be poor.

Looks like the noose is loose:

New US rules promise legal Cuba travel for many - Yahoo! News

 

[Mr. H.]

Michael Bromwich, director of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, said federal officials have talked with Spain's Repsol about its plans to drill off Cuba as early as this summer but have not made an agreement to ensure that work meets the same standards it would if it were in U.S. waters.

60 miles from Florida waters, but not in U.S. waters.
Close enough wouldn't you think?

Standards on Cuba's offshore drilling?

 

[Baruch Menachem]

I would not put it past the Cubans to dump stuff just out of spite.

 

[Samson]

Michael Bromwich, director of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, said federal officials have talked with Spain's Repsol about its plans to drill off Cuba as early as this summer but have not made an agreement to ensure that work meets the same standards it would if it were in U.S. waters.

60 miles from Florida waters, but not in U.S. waters.
Close enough wouldn't you think?

Standards on Cuba's offshore drilling?

Shit has been known to float.....

But Communists have a notable record of environmental concern.

 

[Mr. H.]

We've known for years that this might happen exactly as it's currently unfolding.

It's almost perverse, and on so many levels.

 

[Mr. H.]

What will soon take place off the shores of Cuba has implications dating back decades.

It flies in the face of every U.S. administration since Kennedy.

It will finally put into perspective the ignorant shortcomings of our current President, his predecessors, and the American public.

I almost wish for a catastrophic environmental disaster the likes of which this world has never seen.

The shores of Florida will be awash in oil- wait for it. Here it comes...

 

[Mr. H.]

Soon... 60 miles from the pristine beaches of Florida's shores... there they'll be. Massive behemoths floating on Gulf waters. Lowering drill pipe through the moonpool. Puncturing the earth far below.

Without the wrath of the Obama God, far from the gaze of Salazar. Bereft of the knowledge of the technologically giant brain-trust of the U.S. petroleum industry.

Drilling, baby, drilling.

 

[Mr. H.]

They will drill. They will come.

Those of whom you forsook shall soon impose themselves upon your country's shores.

Slashing, gnashing, gnarling to the very crux of earth's bounty. Puncturing and punctuating the life blood of liquid gold.

Cuba- it's not just cigars anymore.

 

[Mr. H.]

A cigar is just a cigar, but sometime oil is just oil.

Cubanoil. Coming to a Gulf theatre near you!