New API poll finds Virginians are in support of offshore drilling for energy resources

A significant 67% of voters in Virginia support offshore drilling for domestic oil and natural gas resources, according to a new poll conducted by Harris Interactive for the American Petroleum Institute (API)’s “What America is Thinking on Energy Issues” series. This support bridged across party lines, with clear majorities of Republicans (81%), Democrats (52%) and Independents (71%) all in favor of offshore drilling.

“Virginia has an opportunity to expand its energy portfolio both on and offshore,” said Mike Ward, Executive Director of the Virginia Petroleum Council. “We could bring good-paying jobs to the Old Dominion and diversify our economy simply by allowing more oil and natural gas production to occur in our state and off our shores.”

In Virginia, 88% of voters also say producing more oil and natural gas here at home is important. Again, there was broad agreement between Republicans (92%), Democrats (81%) and Independents (91%).

The Obama administration will soon begin work on its next five-year offshore leasing plan, in which areas of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from Delaware to northern Florida could be made available for oil and natural gas leasing. Early next year, the administration is also expected to decide whether to permit seismic surveys in this area for the first time in 30 years.

Seismic surveys: an accurate method to prospect for oil and natural gas reserves offshore
Seismic surveys, which have been used safely around the world without injury to marine mammals, are the most accurate method available to prospect for oil and natural gas reserves offshore apart from drilling. More accurate survey data makes offshore energy production safer and more efficient by reducing its environmental footprint. Technological advances and data collection improvements since seismic surveys were last conducted in the US Atlantic OCS have rendered old resource estimates obsolete.

Methodology
The telephone study was conducted on the 24 - 29th September 2013 by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute (API) among 616 registered voters in Virginia, with a sampling error of ± 4%. Harris Interactive is one of the world’s leading custom market research firms, known widely for the Harris Poll.

Adapted from press release by Cecilia Rehn

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/16102013/new_api_poll_finds_virginians_are_in_support_of_offshore_drilling_for_energy_resources/