Big Clean-Up in the Big Easy

Julia,

Thanks for the honest, open, and overall positive tone of your article. As an employee of the energy industry, I am often dismayed by the general resentment of the public and press towards the energy lifeblood of our society. Without oil, gasoline, and natural gas, our world would cease to function.

Overall, this is an industry that is very safe and environmentally responsible. For example, in 2007, ExxonMobil had no spills by ExxonMobil operated transportation vessels. And since the Exxon Valdez tragedy, ExxonMobil averages less than 1 teaspoon of spilled oil per million barrels transported.

Yes, every spill is bad. Yes, every accident is avoidable. But Americans spill more gasoline at gas stations than the companies spill during production, processing, and transportation of that gasoline.

Remember, everyone is responsible for caring for the environement, not just the big companies.

Risk management has improved, only occasional eco-disasters.
The price of oil is so high, protection of every drop is a must.
To loose a drop, and clean it up, is a double loss

As an ex-environmental employee in an oil refinery, I agree that spills can probably not be completely eliminated. People are in charge of moving oil and people make mistakes. However, most of the spills and accidents can be avoided. It is common for refinery management to delay required maintenance for six months because "dollar margins are real good right now", and then to delay for another six months, because "everything is still working fine". Then when something breaks, blows up, catches fire, etc, they either say "oops" or "there was a weak spot in a pipeline caused by wear.

In my opinion, lobbyists, de-regulation, and government inaction has allowed the oil companies to purchase/own the entire energy production stream. They own or control (through subsidiaries) the drilling lease, drilling company, transportation system, refineries, distribution system and retail outlets. The recent major oil company mergers and joint ventures have all but eliminated competition, so I am not at all surprised that fuel prices have risen.

Fuel prices won't come down significantly until alternative energy sources become competitive, then they will be reduced to the point the alternative energy companies are forced out of business, at which point the prices will rise again.