Wringing out the last drop

Occidental Petroleum is building a $1.1-billion plant to produce carbon dioxide to be pumped into the Permian Basin. (“Occidental deal to lift oil output,” July 1.)

The goal is to produce an additional 50,000 barrels of crude everyday. Whoopee! Who is kidding whom?

I don’t know how much oil is coming out of the Permian Basin now, but it was pumped dry near the end of World War II. We finished up the war with Venezuelan oil. Possibly a little more oil can be wrung out of the basin at huge expense, but is it worth it and how long will it last?

Tom Freeman

Pinon Hills