Rocky, I think you have done a good job on your research and I see no reason to dispute your claims. I have also read a lot of the information on those sights.
My best guess is financial and civil penalties for those involved are the most likely scenario.
I have also stated several times I don't think it is in the best interest of the US to not be involved in this area. We need oil, and we want oil from areas outside the Middle East as much as possible for fear of being cut off. This exposure is great. However, with large US oil companies also exposed, it seems possible that they could influence the US govt to get them portions of ERHE rights if they were obtained illegally, in exchange for ERHE being allowed to continue business and as a financial penalty to the company. All preliminary thoughts and guesses on my part, but seems possible. I simply have a lot of respect towards the power of the large oil companies lobby efforts.
Thank you for your knowledge rocky. I will start to visit the ERHE board more regularly instead of just this one. Seemed to be so many more non-ERHE posts on that board, though. Even more than the off topic replies to my posts I see here.
Cheers,
