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CBS
CBS
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 855 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone May 6-9, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. © 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Poll: Support for More Offshore Oil Drilling Plummets
CBS
Poll analysis by Sarah Dutton of the CBS News Polling Unit.
In the wake of the growing environmental disaster brought about by the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, Americans have turned far less supportive of increased drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coastline, according to a new CBS News survey.
Forty-six percent of Americans now say the support offshore drilling - a 16 point drop from the 64 percent who backed such drilling back in July of 2008, when "drill, baby, drill" was an oft-chanted Republican campaign slogan.
Forty-one percent, meanwhile, say the costs and risks of offshore drilling are too great - up from 28 percent in the summer of 2008.
The Obama administration ended the moratorium on new offshore drilling off some coastal areas prior to the collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig site, though no new drilling had yet been authorized. It has vowed not to authorize new drilling until the cause of the Gulf leak is clear.
Meanwhile, a carefully-crafted climate and energy bill may stall in the Senate in part because even those Republicans open to the legislation are unlikely to back a bill that does not include expanded offshore drilling. The spill has prompted some Democrats to come out strongly against including expanded drilling in the bill.
The survey suggests a correlation between opinions on increased offshore drilling and party identification. Sixty-three percent of Republicans still favor new drilling, while 29 percent say the costs and risks are too great.
By contrast, just 34 percent of Democrats back increased drilling, while 55 percent oppose it. (Independents are nearly split, with 45 percent in favor and 39 percent opposed.)
CBS
Roughly half the public sees the oil leak as an isolated incident, while 35 percent believe it is indication of a broader problem with offshore drilling, according to the survey. Republicans and independents are more likely than Democrats to see it as an isolated incident.
A majority of Americans say they have heard or read "a lot" about the oil leak, and more than four in five have heard at least something about it. Just 14 percent say they have heard not much or nothing about the leak.
Special Section: Gulf Coast Oil Disaster Gulf Oil Spill, by the NumbersThis poll was conducted among a random sample of 855 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone May 6-9, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
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BP has shown us that one of the worlds biggest oil companies does not have the technology to deal with a catastrophic drilling accident. Should we keep drilling?
The Federal government has no office, equipment or personnel dedicated to reacting to an oil spill disaster. Nothing, not even a plan. And we all know the orange oil booms strung along the shores look pretty, they do very little except give a little peace of mind. Should we keep drilling?
The oil industry has claimed and explored land on the lower 48 states bigger than the size of New Jersey, and the oil companies keep it all in in reserve. Should we keep drilling?
Perhaps this nation should take more responsibility and be more aware of the public resources that are being mines, pumped and harvested. maybe the Federal Government should work on improving its responsibility to protect this valuables by making sure the industries that take these resources are careful, responsible and operate with technologies that are commensurate with emerging states of the art.
In some cases it is not in a business's best interest to advance technologies, and this is clearly seen by the current BP catastrophe. In light of this, perhaps there should be an independent arm that assures the government and public that its natural resources industries are not ignoring new and better techniques, methodologies and technologies that can protect the ecology from man influenced disasters.
1. OK, so after excluding the rest of the planet and all causes except blowouts, you conclude it is an isolated incident. After excluding all causes except collisions with un-trailered boats on the Interstate highway network (even without a second non-sensical condition being applied), highway accidents are little more than isolated incidents over the past 50 years, let alone 20. That's right, a highway accident will only occur once or twice in a lifetime. Follow my logic? No? I don't either as you can't pile exception on exception and them represent the finding as a truth.
2. Only the most major events are highlighted. What are the cumulative effects and frequency of many lesser events, including those that go unreported?
Volcanoes is the way the earth cools itself. So if you don't want volcanoes, be green.
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FYI, Volcanoes release about 250 MILLION tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year !!! including toxic gasses, SO2 Sulfur Dioxide, which destroys the ozone layer.
Volcanoes are partially responsible for any warming trends on this planet.
you said "if you don't want volcanoes, go green".......how exactly does man, stop the earth from spewing magma and lava through volcanoes.....
Recycling your trash, and driving a Prius, will do nothing.....you are fooling yourself.
Didn't you see the last Iceland volcano pollute the planet, like no one's business
We can only hope we will end oil drilling permanently. The environment will be clearly helped if we ban oil drilling(so it will have to be replaced with something else---probably those environmentally friendly coal fired power plants).
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You surely must know that cars and trucks don't run on coal.....you must know that coal cannot "replace" oil.
Shine baby, Shine......when cars run on sun, yeah
Blow wind, blow......when cars run on pinwheels
Alcohol baby, alcohol.....when there is sufficient flex vehicles to be practical
You said "Obama must not be blamed in any delay in responding" ?? are you kidding, the clown takes 5 days to react to the spill, and hasn't done anything or since......why can't he be blamed ? Barrackatrina is his new girly first name.
Less Oil Produciton = +HIGHER OIL PRICES!
you figure it out...
In 1979, the IXTOC-1 blowout flowed uncontrollably in the Bahia de Campeche, Mexico until it was capped 9 months later. 3,500,000 barrels
Occidental's Piper Alpha platform was destroyed by explosion and fire in 1988. 167 workers were killed in the blaze.
Phillips Petroleum's Ekofisk B platform experienced an 8-day oil and gas blowout in 1977 during a production well workover. 202,381 barrels
Hurricane Rita (2005):
66 platforms destroyed, with 32 more suffering extensive damage.
13 MODUs broke their moorings and were set adrift.
1 jackup rig was sunk, with 7 jack-ups and 2 semi-subs experiencing extensive damage.
In 1980, the accommodation rig Alexander L. Kielland capsized during a storm after a leg support brace failed.
Oil from the 1980 Funiwa 5 blowout polluted the Niger Delta for 2 weeks, followed by fire and the eventual bridging of the well. 200,000 barrels.
During a blowout on the Enchova Central off Brazil, 42 workers lost their lives attempting to evacuate the platform. Barrels not estimated.
Hurricane Katrina (2005):
47 platforms destroyed with 20 suffering extensive damage.
6 rigs broken from moorings and set adrift.
3 platform rigs destroyed and 1 jack-up capsized (Rowan New Orleans), with 2 jackups,
5 semi-subs and 2 platform rigs suffering extensive damage.
Drilled in 1980 by the Ron Tappmeyer jack-up, exploratory well No. 6 blew out in the Persian Gulf for 8 days and cost the lives of 19 men. 100,000 barrels
Storm winds caused the Usumacinta jack-up to strike the adjacent Kab-101 platform, resulting in a fatal evacuation and blowout in 2007. Barrels not estimated.
The 1969 Union Oil Platform A blowout lasted 11 days but continued leaking oil into the Santa Barbara Channel for months afterwards. 80,000 barrels
A blowout and fire in 2004 destroyed both the Adriatic IV jack-up and Temsah gas platform off the Egyptian coast. Barrels not estimated.
Santa Fe's Al Baz jack-up burned and sank after a blowout in 1989 with the loss of 5 lives.
A leg punch-through in 2002 led to a blowout and fire which sank both the Arabdrill 19 and a production platform in Saudi's Khafji Field. 3 lives lost.
In 1992, Greenhill Petroleum's workover oil well blew out in Timbalier Bay, igniting after 2 days and taking 11 days to cap. ?Major release?, barrels not estimated.
Built in 1962 using an uncommon catamaran design, the C. P. Baker drilling barge burned and sank after a shallow gas blowout. 22 lives lost.
Petrobras' Enchova Platform suffered twice with blowouts and fire in both 1984 and 1988, ending with the loss of the platform in 1988. 42 lives lost.
A blowout and fire in 2001 in the Gulf of Mexico caused the collapse of the Ensco 51's derrick, resulting in extensive platform damage. Barrels not estimated.
This 1988 North Sea blowout occurred whilst drilling an HPHT well on the Ocean Odyssey, resulting in the death of the radio operator. 1 life lost.
Hurricane Ivan (2004):
7 platforms destroyed and six with major damage;
5 drilling rigs with major damage, including the Ensco 64.
So, other then a hurricane, the last U.S. incident was 18 years ago (1992) ?
I'd say that this is an isolated event....every 18 years ?
You aren't the only person sick and tired of Skyk's comments about other people's education, in every single post !!! I mean come on, already....does he have some "insecurities" about his own education, that he has to knock others.