Missteps Hamper Iraq Oil Recovery ($1.3B spent, possible permanent damage)

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Missteps Hamper Iraqi Oil Recovery
Efforts to fix facilities founder. Hundreds of millions of dollars are lost as fields deteriorate.
By T. Christian Miller, Times Staff Writer


QARMAT ALI, Iraq — The failure to rebuild key components of Iraq's petroleum industry has impeded oil production and may have permanently damaged the largest of the country's vast oil fields, American and Iraqi experts say.

The deficiencies have deprived Iraq of hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue needed for national rebuilding efforts and kept millions of barrels of oil off the world market at a time of growing demand.

Engineering mistakes, poor leadership and shifting priorities have delayed or led to the cancellation of several projects critical to restoring Iraq's oil industry, according to interviews with more than two dozen current and former U.S. and Iraqi officials and industry experts.

The troubles have been compounded in some cases by security issues, poor maintenance and disputes between the U.S. and its main contractor, Houston-based KBR, a subsidiary of Halliburton Corp., according to the interviews and documents.

Despite the United States' spending more than $1.3 billion, oil production remains below the estimated prewar level of 2.5 million barrels per day and well below a December 2004 goal of up to 3 million barrels per day....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-oil26sep26,0,4211827.story?coll=la-tot-promo&track=morenews

[Nickster]

1. Gee, more cronies with no experience running things.

"Current and former Iraqi oil officials expressed disappointment, frustration and anger at the U.S. performance.

They said that rather than tapping Iraqi state oil company officials, the U.S. program was overseen by American officials with little experience in the oil industry. In an interview, one senior U.S. official managing part of the restoration effort jokingly described his knowledge level as "Oil for Dummies." "

[DrZeeLit]

2. Wait a minute! Wait a minute. Shut up... O'Reilly says it's 100% GREAT...

check on Media Matters. They've got his quotes on how the oil is flowing 100% capacity from Iraq so it's going to pay for the whole thing.

What a moran.

[rodeodance]

4. This cronism should be plasted all over the news!

......the U.S. program was overseen by American officials with little experience in the oil industry. In an interview, one senior U.S. official managing part of the restoration effort jokingly described his knowledge level as "Oil for Dummies." "

[FloridaPat]

3. There was an article right after the war that the fields in Iraq had been

not well maintained. There is something that has to be done to them to keep them going and it was not done during the 12 years of isolation. They said if it wasn't done soon, they would loose all the oil for all time. Sorry I can't remember the details.

But it would be something if * invaded this country for it's oil and managed to loose it forever for everyone. How could they screw this part up? This was the main reason for the invasions!

[rodeodance]

5. yes, I recall articles about the poor shape of the fields--but this crony-

ism compounded its effects no doubt!

[rodeodance]

6. Lets all media blast this and demand that reporters follow up on this cron

yism-and lack of experience in vital jobs!!

[rodeodance]

7. kick

[Bob3]

8. Gee what a surprise I'm utterly shocked that the people in charge

can't get the job done - it's so unlike all of our great leader's other endeavors.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. There are those that claim, that this war was not really about oil

.
.
.

not in the sense that the USA was after Iraq's oil as the main goal

BUT

to install military bases in the Middle East -

so they could control ALL the oil in the ME

and those military bases -

aren't they being constructed at a furious pace?

while the Iraqi people starve and die -

spreading "democracy" my ass - -

wunder why the flowers and cookies aren't flowing?

how do we stop this USA madness??

there must be a way - we stopped Hitler didn't we?

and no

I got no reservations comparing Bush to Hitler -

he's just sneakier about it -

Got lessons from Grampa Prescott methinks

(sigh)

[madrchsod]

10. right before the war it was estimated that it will take

anywhere from 75 to 100 billion dollars. the entire oil industry in iraq needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. for all the assertions that cheney`s buddies will make huge profits in rebuilding these fields the consensus is that they will be lucky to break even.
bush the lessor decided not to fire saddam butgeorge puppetmasters decided to fire him...bad mistake guys

[Javaman]

11. This was reported early on in the war...

It was as little as 6 months after the invasion that various experts were saying that the oil in Iraq maybe completely unusable, due to the substandard equipment the Iraqi's were using during the embargo. As a result, they "muddied" the oil. It stated that out of the 100% of oil in the ground in Iraq, only about 15-20% may actually be good enough for use.

More and more, each and everyday, the stupidity of this jackasses* administration is held up for public display.

colossal racist failure*.

[sarcasmo]

12. Freepers this means buy more SUV's and Hummers.

[VegasWolf]

13. Hell, the Majority of FReepers can't get their Arms past their Stomach

to type on the keyboards. They NEED SUVs to carry them to McDonalds and WalMart!!!

[slay]

14. We could have had health care for all Americans - instead wasted our money

on BULLSHIT in Iraq which just happened to make Bush and Cheney's pals rich as hell. Congratulations America - you've been Punk'd! :(

[DeepModem Mom]

15. OMG, what a way to think about this abomination --

we could have had health care. You're right, slay.

[slay]

18. Sad but true

As is the case with most everything Bush and his criminal pals get involved in unfortunately. :(

[slay]

17. Sad but true

As is the case with most everything Bush and his criminal pals get involved in. :(

edit: woops. meant this as a responce to post #15.

[bemildred]

16. "Missteps?" How about incompetent bungling and avarice. nt