Do These 5 Locations Hold the Keys to American Energy Independence?

5 Areas Where Oil and

Gas Drilling Is Off Limits

Photo credit: ConocoPhillips

Looking at the numbers

In 2011, total U.S. proven oil reserves grew by 15% to 29 billion barrels of oil.

Looking at the numbers

Meanwhile, 2011 U.S. proven natural gas reserves grew by 9.8% to 348.8 trillion cubic feet.

Looking at the numbersBeyond that, there are billions of barrels of oil and

trillions of cubic feet of natural gas that are unproven but could one day be discovered and produced.

Photo credit: ConocoPhillips

Looking at the numbers

Some of those potential reserves are currently off limits, for a variety of reasons.

Photo credit: Flickr/Damian Gadal

Looking at the numbers

In fact, 175 billion barrels of oil equivalent exist on federal lands. However, 30% is currently off limits.

Source: CBO

What follows are …

… the five spots where oil and gas drilling is

currently off limits.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

• What’s at stake: Up to 10 billion barrels of recoverable oil

• What’s the holdup: Congressional approval

Photo credit: Madhav Pai

Atlantic Coast

• What’s at stake: 3.3 billion barrels of oil and 31.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas

• What’s the holdup: Drilling currently banned through 2017

Photo credit: Flickr/dok1

Pacific Coast

• What’s at stake: 12 billion barrels of oil equivalent reserves

• What’s the holdup: Long-term ban on leasing new acreage

Photo credit: Jim Sneddon

Eastern Gulf of Mexico

• What’s at stake: 8 billion barrels of oil equivalent reserves

• What’s the holdup: Long-standing federal and state restrictions

Photo credit: Flickr/colros

New York Marcellus Shale

• What’s at stake: Several trillion cubic feet of natural gas

• What’s the holdup: 5-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing

Photo credit: Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli

Drill, baby, drill?

At current estimates, ANWR presents the best

hope for a major oil discovery.

Drill, baby, drill?

Up to 1.35 million barrels of oil per day could be

produced.

Drill, baby, drill?

That’s almost as much as the Bakken and Eagle Ford

combined.

Drill, baby, drill?

Opening up these five areas could allow the U.S. to become OPEC’s worst

nightmare.