Letter | Drilling off the coast of Myrtle Beach offers many possibilities

Offshore drilling offers many possibilities

Re June 26 letter, “Don’t allow national or South Carolina politicians fool you about offshore drilling,” by Terry Munson.

Terry Munson’s letter misses the boat with respect to jobs and the economic impact of offshore drilling.

Munson is correct that during the drilling phase rig personnel will largely come with the floating drilling platform. However, the shore-based facilities required to support drilling operations and the later (hopefully) production operations will occupy a huge footprint for docks to accommodate the 200-foot supply and rig service vessels, helicopter base, warehouses, welding, machine shops, catering services, offices and housing.

The demand for personnel will create a powerful effect that will be felt throughout the economy of South Carolina. These will be good, high-paying jobs that will displace workers from food service and other industries.

With regard to economic impact, current legislation stipulates states to receive 27.5 percent to 37.5 percent of revenues, with a cap of $500 million.

BP's Deepwater Horizon “accident,” which was the direct result of a criminally incompetent design, forever silenced proponents of offshore development. However, there are hundreds of successful deepwater drilling and production operations, not just in the Gulf of Mexico but off Brazil's beautiful beaches, the Mediterranean, New Zealand's North Island, Australia, China's “Typhoon Alley” and Newfoundland.

Do we want an industry that has the potential for such enormous positive (or negative) effects on our state and its economy?

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 11:40 AM with the headline "Letter | Drilling off the coast of Myrtle Beach offers many possibilities."