[Rod_Cloutier]

I see no reason why Antartica shouldn't have as much oil as any other continent.

North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia might very well constitute 7/8th of the world's supply of fossil fuels, sooner or later the 1/8th remaining in Antartica will become valuable.

[Tanada]

I see no reason why Antartica shouldn't have as much oil as any other continent.

North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia might very well constitute 7/8th of the world's supply of fossil fuels, sooner or later the 1/8th remaining in Antartica will become valuable.

Valuable or not is not the issue, while a few seams of coal and a couple oil seeps have been found on exposed land most of the shallow seas around Antarctica and the land which has been periodically submerged, are under ice or varying thickness. You might drill in the region of seasonal sea ice, but drilling through 200 meters of floating ice shelf that moves slowly out to sea is a whole different situation, and drilling through glaciers and continental ice sheets is impractical at best.

[Serial_Worrier]

Even if crews do find new oil places in Alaska, Antarctica or anywhere esle its basicaly pointless. The earth is only one planet and oil does not grow on trees. ALL Oil will run out one day. Find more if you want but that will run out too. We need to get our cocks out of oil and get our brains on new sources of energy.

Wrong. We need to stop focusing on energy sources and focus on getting back to subsistence farming AFTER the massive 6 billion dieoff.

[TheDude]

Antarctica: Fact Sheet (EIA)

The call for an environmental protocol to the Antarctic Treaty came after scientists discovered large deposits of natural resources such as coal, natural gas and offshore oil reserves in the early 1980s. Antarctica is considered to be part of the theoretical super-continent known as Gondwanaland, which separated near the end of the Paleozoic era and consisted of South America, Africa and Australia. And, because it once was completely covered in vegetation, many scientists believe it may hold one of the last supergiant oil fields yet to be discovered. The continental shelf of Antarctica is considered to hold the region's greatest potential for oil exploration projects, and although estimates vary as to the abundance of oil in Antarctica, the Weddell and Ross Sea areas alone are expected to possess 50 billion barrels of oil - an amount roughly equivalent to that of Alaska's estimated reserves. However, Antarctica's extreme conditions make oil field accessibility in many areas economically problematic.

Nevertheless, following the energy crisis of the 1970s, several oil companies looked to Antarctica as a possible solution to future world oil shortages by announcing plans to exploit the continent's resources. The necessary conditions for economically-sound oil production projects were beginning to ripen along with high oil prices and demand, and improved drilling technology. The prospect that Antarctica's fragile wildnerness could be tainted as a result of oil exploration and drilling activities resulted in the mobilization of several conservation groups who were intent on preserving the continent's status as the most pristine in the world.

I also came across this: Antarctic Oil?, page 1, on the AboveTopSecret Forums - which have a Peak Oil Discussion Forum which has been in business for at least 4 years - which was when the above thread was started. Huh - wonder what those conspiracy addled whack jobs know about peak oil...oh...wait a minute...

[eastbay]

I see no reason why Antartica shouldn't have as much oil as any other continent.

We'll find it and extract it treaty or no treaty. Wait til things get desperate. The luxury of holding certain lands off limits will be a thing of the past and quickly forgotten.

[dorlomin]

I see no reason why Antartica shouldn't have as much oil as any other continent.

You mean like Austalia, its long time partner in Gondwana?

[Tanada]

I see no reason why Antartica shouldn't have as much oil as any other continent.

You mean like Australia, its long time partner in Gondwana?

Doesn't Australia hold the record for least oil but have a great deal of coal? We know Antarctica has both those as well, and seems how it is larger geographically than Australia even if it had the same amount per hectare or square kilometer it would still be quite wealth making to the country or company exploiting it.

[kiwichick]

dorlomin;you got it dude

[dougprince]

Okay, first, bignev -- Do you know why Argentina shipped it's women to the Antarctic to give birth? Have you ever SEEN an Argentine woman give birth? If you thought that scene in "Alien" was upsetting, you'd be puking your guts out for days with this one.
Everybody else, k_semier got it right. It's a moving land mass and any possible oil there (the spooky, tinfoil-on-head crowd notwithstanding) would be basically frozen solid. And even if was economically feasible to suck up that frozen black crude, it would have to be super-heated to travel through the thousands of feet of pipeline to stay liquified for barrelling. And frankly, I would not want to be standing on that platform when that well gets struck. You do remember what happens on a rig when a well is suddenly struck? Super-hot oil gushing down on your workers? Oh, yeah, no PR problems there...

[dorlomin]

I see no reason why Antartica shouldn't have as much oil as any other continent.

You mean like Australia, its long time partner in Gondwana?

Doesn't Australia hold the record for least oil but have a great deal of coal? We know Antarctica has both those as well, and seems how it is larger geographically than Australia even if it had the same amount per hectare or square kilometer it would still be quite wealth making to the country or company exploiting it.

Antartica has been pretty much on the same spot for several hundred million years IIRC. Could be wrong but its likely to have spent a considerable time iced over, dark, largely landlocked or other states that may deminish its oil bearing potential I could be wrong though. The coastal shelf may be a candidate for deep water drilling though.

On the flip side when continental antarctica is available for drilling, oil is the least of our problems.

[rockdoc123]

Antartica has been pretty much on the same spot for several hundred million years IIRC. Could be wrong but its likely to have spent a considerable time iced over, dark, largely landlocked or other states that may deminish its oil bearing potential I could be wrong though. The coastal shelf may be a candidate for deep water drilling though.

On the flip side when continental antarctica is available for drilling, oil is the least of our problems.

If you are truly interested check out Chris Scotese's Paleomap project website which will walk you through the plate reconstructions and attendant climate variations. The northern coastal area was likely in a similar situation to the Australian NW shelf during latest Jurassic through the end Cretaceous which would have provided similar opportunities for source rock and reservoir. Onshore I would expect it to also be similar to Australia with perhaps some not so prolific basins such as the Cooper/ Eromanga basins. Unfortunately given the immense technical and logistical challenges, the fact that most of the very large pools in the NW shelf are gas and trap risk is high suggests it will be a long, long time before anyone gets large enough ouevos to drill in the area.

[Maddog78]

You do remember what happens on a rig when a well is suddenly struck? Super-hot oil gushing down on your workers? Oh, yeah, no PR problems there...

Bwahahaaaa, that is exactly what does not happen.
This isn't 1910 any more.