Santo Domingo.– For a country with no current oil production, hopes are high for potential
exploration and production success in the Dominican Republic.
The nation is currently reviewing proposals from companies
interested in e&p possibilities in the Cibao, San Juan, Bani-San cristobal
and San Pedro basins.
Melaneo Aquino, the Dominican Republic's hydrocarbons exploration director,
would not name the companies that have submitted proposals. He added that
e&p opportunities are open to companies interested in the area. There will
be no formal bidding round at this time, he said, nor have there been plans to
schedule one.
Reports indicate that seismic surveys acquired by companies conducting
exploration activities in the area can be obtained by interested companies.
"All we have now are potential areas," Aquino told the press recently.
"We have not discovered deposits."
On Sept. 7, 2005, the Dominican Republic signed an agreement to become a
member of Petrocaribe, a Caribbean oil alliance with Venezuela in which oil is
supplied to Caribbean nations, based on a preferential payment.
Written by: Belial, 26 Apr 2008 11:24 AM
From: United States, Texas
"Reports indicate that seismic surveys acquired by companies conducting exploration activities in the area can be obtained by interested companies," the DT reports.
oo
For about two years, Cuban companies, engineers, and geologists have quietly done oil exploration work on-and-offshore in the DR.
Of late, the Cubans have a good reputation in petroleum circles for the quality of the seimic studies.
Cuba and DR are similarly situated on the oil question, except Cuba's aggressive exploration and production projects during the last 20 years have raised domestic oil output from virtually zero to about 75,000 barrels per day, which is half of Cuba's 150,000 barrels daily oil consumption.
Both countries consume about 150,000 barrels a day. Both are members of Petrocaribe.
The DR evidently wants to attract additional companies to do exploration work, suggesting that the results of the Cuban studies have been at least promising although no deposits have been confirmed.
Written by: Belial, 26 Apr 2008 11:33 AM
From: United States, Texas
Even some reactionaries in the Dominican bourgeoisie seem uncharacteristically openminded and pragmatic about cooperation projects with socialist (Cuba) and socialisl-oriented (Venezuela) countries in the petroleum sphere.
One wonders however whether Vargas, if he won, would scrap the Petrocaribe deal and then pay US imperialist oil companies three times as much money for the oil the DR now gets on preferential terms from Venezuela.
This will delight and please the US imperialists to no end.
Written by: Belial, 26 Apr 2008 11:47 AM
From: United States, Texas
Plus, if the DR would only get around to cleaning up its chickens ... some of which have come down with the flu ... and eggs, the DR could pay for 40% of the oil it gets from Venezuela with chickens and eggs, in which Venezuela has expressed an keen interest.
Under Petrocaribe, the buyer pays cash upfront for 60% of of the oil price and finances the remaining 40% at 1% interest over 25 years. The financed 40% can be paid for alternatively with bartered commodities like chickens and eggs.
If Santo Domingo doesn't grovel and bow to the overbearing US imperialists, especially the IMF and World Bank, the DR should be able to ride out the storm or economic crisis quite nicely.
Written by: rym87, 26 Apr 2008 12:02 PM
From: United States, Ithaca, NY
This will be time and money wasted. Whatever oil can be found in the DR will take years to begin extracting. By that time, we can be producing all the fuel we need through ethanol, biodiesel, energy efficiency, and public transportation. At some point the DR has to stop and think that it can't copy what the rest of the world wants to do and that it has to do its own thing with what it has. We have so much sugar cane land currently not being used for anything; it's basically just sitting there because we don't have enough mills to process sugar cane. Well, why don't we intensify those fields and start producing more ethanol than what is planned to be produced. A simple modification to engines (costing $ to the government, of course) would allow for the switch to be made. We do that and we don't have to give a crap about what happens to oil prices in the long-term. But we also have to emphasize that the biggest gains can be made through efficiency and public transportation.
Written by: Escott, 26 Apr 2008 12:04 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera and Sosua a few days a month
You twist everything to always put the US in a bad light no matter what the subject matter. You are like a mad dog with advanced rabies who just can't stop the drivel from shooting out of your mouth.. Must be tough being you 24/7/365, man what a horrible job you have whiddled for yourself.
Written by: ny4life, 26 Apr 2008 1:05 PM
From: United States, New York, NY
Escott, I know you are an American and so am I. However, when you look at the U.S. foreign policy it seems like the U.S. is looking to mostly benefit themselves rather than countries they are involved with. In part, the U.S. gets too involved with the outside world and doesn't really concentrate on the problems affecting the U.S. Right now, the economy here is in shambles. Jobs are not easily found, oil prices are skyrocketing, food prices are rising, inflation, wages are not being increased at high rates to combat the inflation, lack of healthcare, and illegal immigration among others. If the U.S. would spend more time here and solve these pressing issues it would be better suited for all rather than focusing on abroad especiall with those two wars going on
Written by: Belial, 26 Apr 2008 3:01 PM
From: United States, Texas
"Whatever oil can be found in the DR will take years to begin extracting."
oooo
Like you say, there may not be any oil in the DR in the first place. But sugar-based gasoline is already a concrete possibility, not an iffy.
But Leonel most likely felt he couldn't overlook the possibility that there MAY be oil somewhere in the DR, hiding from him and waiting for him to come and get it. So, he did something clever.
He went to them Cubans and asked "How much would you guys charge to look for oil in the DR?"
They said "About one fifth of what the imperialists would charge?"
Then Leonel says "OK, I can do that, go ahead ... look for oil."
If the results were bad, he wouldn't today invite others into the action.
In any case, he's not dishing out that much money, see. And even if he didn't spend the money looking for oil, somebody would come along and most likely steal the money.
From: United States, Brooklyn
I have been hearing this since i was a kid...
Written by: santanar, 26 Apr 2008 10:42 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Ramon Santana, La Romana
welcome to the 21st century and with the barrel of oil in the 100 dollars mark, every country that in the past had a sly chances is know trying their luck, and I hope they succeed for the best of all, the OPEC has hijack the world economy and only small nations that are not part of that union can the help.
Written by: muchacho, 26 Apr 2008 10:49 PM
From: United States, New York City
Any sane government should keep all options on the table when it comes to energy resources. The only two things that worry me are the lack of a formal bidding process (smacks of sweetheart deals in smoke-filled back rooms) and the lack of environmental studies to assess the impact on wildlife and human populations.
Written by: muchacho, 27 Apr 2008 1:15 AM
From: United States, New York City
Belial...
Why do I get the distinct impression that you are praying for the utter collapse of Dominican society so you can wag an accusatory "I told you so" Marxist finger?
From: United States, Washington, D.C.
Why are we looking at the solutions of the 20th century, when these have not brought much relieve to societies (e.g. Venezuela) and have ravaged the environment (e.g. Ecuador & climate change)? Were that similar vehemence given to alternative energy.
We should consider all options, but not neglect the problems that some of these options have caused and are causing - Ethanol is a good option, but look what's happening to food prices. My point here is that before anything happens, a thourough analysis of the consequences needs to occur. Just b/c something is a fad, doesn't make it the right choice. Moreover, doing things right takes longer, but there is less of a chance for major errors to occur. After conducting all the studies and debating something to death, there may still be mistakes, but these would be less than when one man (the president) simply imposes his will on the people.
From: United States
relief from oil is on evrybody's mind. prices nowadays are going through the roof. no one gives nothing for nothing. no one is anti-american, but experience has shown that altruism per se is not an american virtue. generous people indeed ! land of opportunity ! .no one can contest that. however, Leonel did the right move by looking for other sources, though exploiting oil, if there is any in the region, is not for tomorrow. concentrating on ethanol, biodiesel seem to me a more rapid solution.
the second paragraph of baldoria's comment should be taken into consideration.
Written by: Trujillo, 27 Apr 2008 9:11 AM
From: Dominican Republic
We all know there's oil, just not in "commercial quantities"...yet. Also, I believe that the brazilian Petrobras was interest in exploring in our waters not too long ago, so it MIGHTt be one of those companies interested that they don't to name yet.
I think that they've never explored for oil in dominican territorial waters yet, and one good place to start would be to the north of Puerto Plata which England wants the DR to just give that area to them (lol). Something has to be there.
Written by: Trujillo, 27 Apr 2008 9:18 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Belial, WHAT THE F*CK are you talking about?! "imperialist" this "bourgeoisie" that...Dude, you talk of Miguel Vargas as if he is a right winger, guess what buddy, Vargas is the presidential candidate of the Partido Revolutionario Dominicano (PRD), a socialist/leftist party.
Written by: Belial, 27 Apr 2008 12:32 PM
From: United States, Texas
"Vargas is the presidential candidate of the Partido Revolutionario Dominicano (PRD), a socialist/leftist party."
oooo
If you say so.
But the socialist vs capitalist question is how to cut up the economic surplus that remains of the annual economic product after deducting the what is necessary to keep the mass of the population alive at a minimum level of subsistence.
The socialists of various specie generally say spread the surplus out over the whole population or, at least, over broad sectors of the population.
The capitalists of various specie generally say concentrate the surplus only within the privileged bourgeoisie, perhaps, 1% of the population or, more liberally, concentrate the surplus in BOTH the bourgeois class and the middle class.
I'm delighted ... but somewhat surprised ... to learn that the PRD wants to "spread the surplus out over the whole population."
That's wonderful.
Written by: Trujillo, 27 Apr 2008 12:40 PM
From: Dominican Republic
...
Written by: Trujillo, 27 Apr 2008 12:40 PM
From: Dominican Republic
what the ....?! are you in another dimension or something.
Written by: Belial, 27 Apr 2008 12:54 PM
From: United States, Texas
"no one is anti-american"
oooo
Well, not quite. But I understand your point.
If anyone is patriot ... whether of the USA or of a foreign country ... then he's anti-American.
Take the USA, the election-stealing and law-breaking dictator George W. Bush says "The Constitution is nothing but a Goddamn piece of paper."
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/ar....ublish/printer_article_7779.shtmlAll US patriots believe that USA is the US people under the US Constitution, not the US people under a election-stealing and law-breaking dictator.
Thus, in the eyes of the GOP scum, the conservative trash, and that rightwing slime who fanatically follow Bush in his contempt for the US Constitution, a US patriot, one who respects, upholds, and defends the Constitution, is anti-American or a liberal traitor.
To the joy of the conservative GOP filth, Bush has shown his contempt for the rule of law ... e.g., Alberto Gonzales ... in the USA in both deeds as well as in words.
Written by: Belial, 27 Apr 2008 1:10 PM
From: United States, Texas
"Why do I get the distinct impression that you are praying for the utter collapse of Dominican society so you can wag an accusatory "I told you so" Marxist finger?"
0000
Because you are a peculiar person.
I pray for revolution, not collapse.
If you read my post on April 26 at 11:47 AM, you'll discover this:
"the DR should be able to ride out the storm or economic crisis quite nicely"
Since you are so peculiar, you twist my comment into a "collapse," whatever that is.
Remember Marvin Gay "Ain't that Peculiar?"
I do not equate or identify a collapse with a revolution. There have been a lot of collapses that have not turned into revolutions and some revolutions did not result from collapses.
You should listen to Marvin Gay since you're so peculiar.
Written by: Belial, 27 Apr 2008 1:26 PM
From: United States, Texas
"We should consider all options, but not neglect the problems that some of these options have caused and are causing ..."
0000
Exactly, most forms of energy are toxic.
But the state has to dig deep into the pocket of the central bank to get some of the toxic stuff if the bourgeoisie privately can't get its hands on the stuff.
It's really sounds nice and ecological to say "Don't you import no mo oil."
But its hard to abstrain from oil consumption in the DR at this time. The DR drinks up about 150,000 barrels of the toxic stuff everyday. Thirsty.
And it costs a fortune. So, if you want the state to do things, the state has to find some way to chop the oil bill before cheap alternative forms of energy that are healthy become available (if they ever become available).
Written by: muchacho, 27 Apr 2008 2:15 PM
From: United States, New York City
Belial...
What I find peculiar is your living in the 1960s. Marvin Gaye???!!!!
It's the 21st Century. Get off the psychedelics and check your calendar already.
Written by: Belial, 27 Apr 2008 7:01 PM
From: United States, Texas
Ignorant philistine.
From: United States, Washington, D.C.
Hi Belial,
I just think you need to explain your points a little better. You're on the right path, as you and I know, but you need to present it in a way to highlight the benefits of your point, the flaws of the status quo, without resorting to insults as some people.
Also, no one philosophy has a monopoly on Truth (with a capital "T"). Need to engage in a process of dialectical analysis. Maybe, by some fluke, the reactionary forces may have a point we can leverage. Just need to be willing to engage their views, present yours, and hope to reach an understanding that may incorporate points from both.
Keep up the good posting Belial! and gente, don't be scared away just b/c someone uses marxist theories or lexicon. God knows that Marx, Lenin, and Gramsci were right on on many many things- but their views just need to be actualize so that we can relate them to our current reality.
Written by: Belial, 27 Apr 2008 10:17 PM
From: United States, Texas
We should probably draw a difference between oil deposits and oil reserves because they ain't the same things.
A deposit is any old doggone oil on your territory whether you get it or not and whether you can sell it or not if you can get it.
Now, reserve is something all together different.
A reserve is the estimated quantity of crude oil that analysis of geologic and engineering data demonstrates with reasonable certainty (40% or more odds) are recoverable under existing economic ($30 a barrel or more) and operating conditions (slave regime in power).
In other words, you got to be able to get it and sell it.
Imperialism often reclassifies imperialist-discoverd reserve in a less developed country as a deposit as long as the government in power, in the less developed country, defends sovereignty over its resources. But as soon as servile and slave regime comes to power, imperialism reclassifies the deposit as a reserve.
Many deposits, but reserves have peaked
Written by: Belial, 27 Apr 2008 10:52 PM
From: United States, Texas
So, MAYBE, the Cubans have discovered "estimated quantity of crude" in the DR or, in other words, a doggone deposit.
But Leonel is being coy about it, because Leonel got something up his sleeve. Leonel is slick.
"All we have now are potential areas," Melaneo Aquino, Leonel spokesman, told the press recently. "We have not discovered deposits."
If you ain't got anything, why invite others to share it?
Leonel knows he still needs "geologic and engineering data demonstrates with reasonable certainty are recoverable under existing economic and operating conditions."
So, he asking other companies with more experience in development and production to come in and supply the geologic and engineering data, so he gets a reserve. But he's doing it in a way that suggests he really doesn't want them to come in.
Why is Leonel so sly? What does he have up his sleeve?
Written by: muchacho, 28 Apr 2008 3:04 PM
From: United States, New York City
For once, Belial, you make a worthy point....
EXACTLY what is Leonel hiding? In order to have "potential areas" some preliminary results must have been positive to move ahead.
How much is there? What are the "potential" estimates? These things need disclosure.
From: Dominican Republic
Since i moved to DR, i have always heard "Rumors" about possible oil in DR. Supposedly it has been known since back in the Trujillo days.
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For about two years, Cuban companies, engineers, and geologists have quietly done oil exploration work on-and-offshore in the DR.
Of late, the Cubans have a good reputation in petroleum circles for the quality of the seimic studies.
Cuba and DR are similarly situated on the oil question, except Cuba's aggressive exploration and production projects during the last 20 years have raised domestic oil output from virtually zero to about 75,000 barrels per day, which is half of Cuba's 150,000 barrels daily oil consumption.
Both countries consume about 150,000 barrels a day. Both are members of Petrocaribe.
The DR evidently wants to attract additional companies to do exploration work, suggesting that the results of the Cuban studies have been at least promising although no deposits have been confirmed.
One wonders however whether Vargas, if he won, would scrap the Petrocaribe deal and then pay US imperialist oil companies three times as much money for the oil the DR now gets on preferential terms from Venezuela.
This will delight and please the US imperialists to no end.
Under Petrocaribe, the buyer pays cash upfront for 60% of of the oil price and finances the remaining 40% at 1% interest over 25 years. The financed 40% can be paid for alternatively with bartered commodities like chickens and eggs.
If Santo Domingo doesn't grovel and bow to the overbearing US imperialists, especially the IMF and World Bank, the DR should be able to ride out the storm or economic crisis quite nicely.
oooo
Like you say, there may not be any oil in the DR in the first place. But sugar-based gasoline is already a concrete possibility, not an iffy.
But Leonel most likely felt he couldn't overlook the possibility that there MAY be oil somewhere in the DR, hiding from him and waiting for him to come and get it. So, he did something clever.
He went to them Cubans and asked "How much would you guys charge to look for oil in the DR?"
They said "About one fifth of what the imperialists would charge?"
Then Leonel says "OK, I can do that, go ahead ... look for oil."
If the results were bad, he wouldn't today invite others into the action.
In any case, he's not dishing out that much money, see. And even if he didn't spend the money looking for oil, somebody would come along and most likely steal the money.
Why do I get the distinct impression that you are praying for the utter collapse of Dominican society so you can wag an accusatory "I told you so" Marxist finger?
We should consider all options, but not neglect the problems that some of these options have caused and are causing - Ethanol is a good option, but look what's happening to food prices. My point here is that before anything happens, a thourough analysis of the consequences needs to occur. Just b/c something is a fad, doesn't make it the right choice. Moreover, doing things right takes longer, but there is less of a chance for major errors to occur. After conducting all the studies and debating something to death, there may still be mistakes, but these would be less than when one man (the president) simply imposes his will on the people.
the second paragraph of baldoria's comment should be taken into consideration.
oooo
If you say so.
But the socialist vs capitalist question is how to cut up the economic surplus that remains of the annual economic product after deducting the what is necessary to keep the mass of the population alive at a minimum level of subsistence.
The socialists of various specie generally say spread the surplus out over the whole population or, at least, over broad sectors of the population.
The capitalists of various specie generally say concentrate the surplus only within the privileged bourgeoisie, perhaps, 1% of the population or, more liberally, concentrate the surplus in BOTH the bourgeois class and the middle class.
I'm delighted ... but somewhat surprised ... to learn that the PRD wants to "spread the surplus out over the whole population."
That's wonderful.
oooo
Well, not quite. But I understand your point.
If anyone is patriot ... whether of the USA or of a foreign country ... then he's anti-American.
Take the USA, the election-stealing and law-breaking dictator George W. Bush says "The Constitution is nothing but a Goddamn piece of paper."
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/ar....ublish/printer_article_7779.shtml
All US patriots believe that USA is the US people under the US Constitution, not the US people under a election-stealing and law-breaking dictator.
Thus, in the eyes of the GOP scum, the conservative trash, and that rightwing slime who fanatically follow Bush in his contempt for the US Constitution, a US patriot, one who respects, upholds, and defends the Constitution, is anti-American or a liberal traitor.
To the joy of the conservative GOP filth, Bush has shown his contempt for the rule of law ... e.g., Alberto Gonzales ... in the USA in both deeds as well as in words.
0000
Because you are a peculiar person.
I pray for revolution, not collapse.
If you read my post on April 26 at 11:47 AM, you'll discover this:
"the DR should be able to ride out the storm or economic crisis quite nicely"
Since you are so peculiar, you twist my comment into a "collapse," whatever that is.
Remember Marvin Gay "Ain't that Peculiar?"
I do not equate or identify a collapse with a revolution. There have been a lot of collapses that have not turned into revolutions and some revolutions did not result from collapses.
You should listen to Marvin Gay since you're so peculiar.
0000
Exactly, most forms of energy are toxic.
But the state has to dig deep into the pocket of the central bank to get some of the toxic stuff if the bourgeoisie privately can't get its hands on the stuff.
It's really sounds nice and ecological to say "Don't you import no mo oil."
But its hard to abstrain from oil consumption in the DR at this time. The DR drinks up about 150,000 barrels of the toxic stuff everyday. Thirsty.
And it costs a fortune. So, if you want the state to do things, the state has to find some way to chop the oil bill before cheap alternative forms of energy that are healthy become available (if they ever become available).
What I find peculiar is your living in the 1960s. Marvin Gaye???!!!!
It's the 21st Century. Get off the psychedelics and check your calendar already.
I just think you need to explain your points a little better. You're on the right path, as you and I know, but you need to present it in a way to highlight the benefits of your point, the flaws of the status quo, without resorting to insults as some people.
Also, no one philosophy has a monopoly on Truth (with a capital "T"). Need to engage in a process of dialectical analysis. Maybe, by some fluke, the reactionary forces may have a point we can leverage. Just need to be willing to engage their views, present yours, and hope to reach an understanding that may incorporate points from both.
Keep up the good posting Belial! and gente, don't be scared away just b/c someone uses marxist theories or lexicon. God knows that Marx, Lenin, and Gramsci were right on on many many things- but their views just need to be actualize so that we can relate them to our current reality.
A deposit is any old doggone oil on your territory whether you get it or not and whether you can sell it or not if you can get it.
Now, reserve is something all together different.
A reserve is the estimated quantity of crude oil that analysis of geologic and engineering data demonstrates with reasonable certainty (40% or more odds) are recoverable under existing economic ($30 a barrel or more) and operating conditions (slave regime in power).
In other words, you got to be able to get it and sell it.
Imperialism often reclassifies imperialist-discoverd reserve in a less developed country as a deposit as long as the government in power, in the less developed country, defends sovereignty over its resources. But as soon as servile and slave regime comes to power, imperialism reclassifies the deposit as a reserve.
Many deposits, but reserves have peaked
But Leonel is being coy about it, because Leonel got something up his sleeve. Leonel is slick.
"All we have now are potential areas," Melaneo Aquino, Leonel spokesman, told the press recently. "We have not discovered deposits."
If you ain't got anything, why invite others to share it?
Leonel knows he still needs "geologic and engineering data demonstrates with reasonable certainty are recoverable under existing economic and operating conditions."
So, he asking other companies with more experience in development and production to come in and supply the geologic and engineering data, so he gets a reserve. But he's doing it in a way that suggests he really doesn't want them to come in.
Why is Leonel so sly? What does he have up his sleeve?
EXACTLY what is Leonel hiding? In order to have "potential areas" some preliminary results must have been positive to move ahead.
How much is there? What are the "potential" estimates? These things need disclosure.