N.C. drilling article

[TunaTeaser1]

It would be interesting seeing one of these just outside The Point, Big Rock, etc. Would definitely create some new fishing opportunities...thoughts?

http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/148132.html

[captnemo]

Nice how the one and only picture in the article says "drilling rigs like this one pictured" And thats not even a drilling rig. Where is the derrick? You can't drill offshore without a derrick. They really did their research.

In most aspects the coastal economy of NC would benefit hugely from Oil and Gas exploration, (jobs and revenue) but the public is going to need a real education on exploratory drilling, because the public perception down there (really everywhere) is way off for the most part. Seems people just want to automatically default to thinking drilling is bad, dirty, dangerous, ugly etc...which doesn't have to be the case...Drilling is being conducted very responsibly in the Gulf of Mexico and the modern day drill ship is cleaner and more environmentally conscience then the average cargo ship which transits the Atlantic coast by the thousands. I know of each from personal first hand experience.

[Sea Draggin]

"That would be dynamite for North Carolina," he said. "We need to offset the risk for our tourism and fishing industries." William Witherspoon

Someone needs to post this guys email address. He isn't talking to fishermen, because if he were, he would know that there is only upside for us.

Remember folks....DRILLING = ACCESS

Oil money is the only way we will have more ramps and dredged inlets in the future.

[captnemo]

"That would be dynamite for North Carolina," he said. "We need to offset the risk for our tourism and fishing industries." William Witherspoon

Someone needs to post this guys email address. He isn't talking to fishermen, because if he were, he would know that there is only upside for us.

Remember folks....DRILLING = ACCESS

Oil money is the only way we will have more ramps and dredged inlets in the future.

And a lot of productive structure,

[treyfry]

HOW GOOD THE FISHING WILL BE AROUND THEM IN A FEW YEARS. WE HAVE RIGS AND PLATFORMS EVERYWHERE IN OUR OFFSHORE WATERS FOR AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE IN EVERY DIRECTION. THE JIGGING IS AWESOME AROUND VERTICAL STRUCTURE LIKE THAT.









ALL OF THOSE EQUAL THESE








AND LOTS OF THESE

[Sea Draggin]

Here you go. Remember Drilling = Access.

Don't worry about the structure aspect, we get that regardless. If your going to ask for something, make sure its something you aren't already going to get.




Attn: MR. William Weatherspoon
150 FAYETTEVILLE STREET MALL STE 2850
RALEIGH, NC 27601-2961
Phone: 919-828-5438
Fax: 919-821-0337
Email: northcarolina@api.org

[Robja]

I for one would love to see oil platforms off the coast.Even with the immence fishing pressure Frying pan tower has it always has plenty of bait around it which attracts all the other fish.

[captnemo]

Also guys remember the pictures shown above are not what you are going to see off the coast of NC. The important difference in the topography in the GOM and NC is the GOM is shallow out a hundred miles or so, and I mean shallow as a couple hundred feet until you hit the gulf canyons. NC they are talking about drilling 40 miles offshore, your already WAY over the water depth reuirement of these little jack-up rigs and production towers like shown above. You will see drillships and semi-submersible drilling rigs, which have no permanent underwater structure. They do run some structure down, but its not permanent. Fish are still attracted, it only takes a couple days before the fish show up in the shade of the ships hull.

This is what you'll see offshore, at least for the first couple years before they bring in the FPSO's (floating production, storage and offloading) vessels

[dolphinfrenzi]

I VOTE not just yes but HELL YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Put them out there PEOPLE WILL NOT SEE THEM from the BEACH. After fishing the National Championships in Biloxi the last several years, I am A FIRM beliver in this. We will jig up 5lb american red snappers on SABIKI rigs trying to catch bait. Last year the very first sabiki I dropped in Biloxi got SMOKED and was pulling dragg until the sabiki finally broke. Fishing around these rigs is UNBELIVABLE just look at the pictures we have seen from the guys working on the rigs here on SF.com. And not to mention FP Tower. And the jobs it will create will also be helpful but they serve the same purpose as an AR just that part of them is out of the water and the other half is under. We honestly caught so many at nationals every time I pulled through this pod of bait I marked off the leg of the rig we had doubles everytime my teammates actually asked me to stop so they could get a bite to eat. That is truth, I told them eat while you reel we got to catch a STUD! Boat beside us caught a 52lb king. shutup talking about it and just do it da$% it, tired of them teasing me.

[scalez]

I'm no expert on this but READ captnemo's post again ! There will not be any platforms or 'rigs' off the NC coast --- period. The water is too deep. Frying Pan tower is in 60' of water, not 200'. Drill ships will be stationed there -- temporarily until the bottom head is installed then it will be pumpers and tankers. Maybe, just maybe some natural gas will be discovered inshore that will be shallow enough for a base platform or two but that would be about it.