Foreign Oil and why we need it now!!!!
10-21-2010, 04:00 AM
#11
Retired
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: whale wrangler
Posts: 3,527
Hi.
Unfortunately, US oil production peaked in approximately 1972. We used to import 0 oil, as we had plenty to meet demand. Never again will that be possible, until we stop using oil as a transportation fuel. As my brother said, it is stupid to waste oil in transportation, when it has so many more practical uses.
ANWAR gets us 1? or 2? years worth of oil. It basically all goes to Japan, and we import that amount from somewhere else, due to transportation costs and the global oil market.
Some tout the offshore oil we have. I believe the Gulf oil well spill was around 1800'-2800' down. This "big offshore" finds we have found are something like 25,000' down, and not technologically possible right now. If/when they become possible, how much per barrel of oil will it cost to extract? $100+?
We have NOWHERE NEAR 500 years of coal. I think we are closer to 50 years if we look at the vastly increasing use of electricity we will be using, and if we used coal exclusively for the new electricity. And, to extract all the coal we have, what will be left of our country? We already have people complaining of benign wind turbines. I GUARANTEE that you would NOT want a coal mine located anywhere near where you live.
We need nuclear NOW, to help us bridge over to renewable energy, which is THE ONLY long-term solution.
It will not take much internet research to discover that the idea that the US has vast quantities of oil and coal that can be extracted and burned for our energy needs at a practical cost is false.
The main benefit to our importing so much oil, is that finally people are realizing that it, by itself, is a very bad idea, and that we need to change our energy resources.
cliff
MIA
PS-Mexico's largest oil field, where we get much of imported oil from, is RAPIDLY in decline. I believe that Mexico will have to import oil (and will stop foreign exports) in about 15 years, maybe less.
Unfortunately, US oil production peaked in approximately 1972. We used to import 0 oil, as we had plenty to meet demand. Never again will that be possible, until we stop using oil as a transportation fuel. As my brother said, it is stupid to waste oil in transportation, when it has so many more practical uses.
ANWAR gets us 1? or 2? years worth of oil. It basically all goes to Japan, and we import that amount from somewhere else, due to transportation costs and the global oil market.
Some tout the offshore oil we have. I believe the Gulf oil well spill was around 1800'-2800' down. This "big offshore" finds we have found are something like 25,000' down, and not technologically possible right now. If/when they become possible, how much per barrel of oil will it cost to extract? $100+?
We have NOWHERE NEAR 500 years of coal. I think we are closer to 50 years if we look at the vastly increasing use of electricity we will be using, and if we used coal exclusively for the new electricity. And, to extract all the coal we have, what will be left of our country? We already have people complaining of benign wind turbines. I GUARANTEE that you would NOT want a coal mine located anywhere near where you live.
We need nuclear NOW, to help us bridge over to renewable energy, which is THE ONLY long-term solution.
It will not take much internet research to discover that the idea that the US has vast quantities of oil and coal that can be extracted and burned for our energy needs at a practical cost is false.
The main benefit to our importing so much oil, is that finally people are realizing that it, by itself, is a very bad idea, and that we need to change our energy resources.
cliff
MIA
PS-Mexico's largest oil field, where we get much of imported oil from, is RAPIDLY in decline. I believe that Mexico will have to import oil (and will stop foreign exports) in about 15 years, maybe less.
As far as deep water drilling is concerned ,not much of a choice when you consider the restrictions placed on shallow water drilling.
Homosapiens can be their own worst enemies at times.
10-21-2010, 06:23 PM
#13
Retired
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: whale wrangler
Posts: 3,527
10-22-2010, 03:10 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
I will be getting my new Nissan Leaf electric car and solar charging in a few months.
No oil. No emissions. No potential nuke radiation issues. No oil spills. No middle east wars. No US dollars going to people that want to kill us.
No oil. No emissions. No potential nuke radiation issues. No oil spills. No middle east wars. No US dollars going to people that want to kill us.
10-22-2010, 03:37 PM
#16
With The Resistance
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Burning the Agitprop of the Apparat
Posts: 6,191
ANWR is an unknown quantity:
The DOE reports there is uncertainty about the underlying resource base in ANWR. “The USGS oil resource estimates are based largely on the oil productivity of geologic formations that exist in the neighboring State lands and which continue into ANWR. Consequently, there is considerable uncertainty regarding both the size and quality of the oil resources that exist in ANWR. Thus, the potential ultimate oil recovery and potential yearly production are highly uncertain.” wiki and others
You can be quite certain that permission to drill is not based on fluff-it represents a large investment not likely made without good cause.
Test drill results are both proprietary and secret, but you can easily guess they don't waste their time on the useless. Unlike some of man's endeavors.
10-22-2010, 03:48 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
Nuke is zero emissions, too. But, a few other major issues (I'm not against nculear to bridge to next-gen renewable power).
Wind is out there, too. Ocean waves are coming. Solar should be on every roof.
10-22-2010, 03:52 PM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
Here's my car that's beginning it's build today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/egmcart...n/photostream/
http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/10/22...-oppama-japan/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/egmcart...n/photostream/
http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/10/22...-oppama-japan/
10-22-2010, 05:25 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,244
As far as the solar power, I'm really surprised the Chevy Volt, Prius, etc didn't incorporate solar cells in the roof. Even a small trickle charge would be beneficial when parked in the sun for 12 hours. Even the Mazda 626 and 929 had them in the sunroof 15 years ago to run a cooling fan for the interior.
10-22-2010, 06:23 PM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
Good luck with that, everything I've read is that car is going to fall on it's face and be a huge embarrassment for Nissan. Personally for me, I wouldn't drive one if it had a 454 in it just based on looks.
As far as the solar power, I'm really surprised the Chevy Volt, Prius, etc didn't incorporate solar cells in the roof. Even a small trickle charge would be beneficial when parked in the sun for 12 hours. Even the Mazda 626 and 929 had them in the sunroof 15 years ago to run a cooling fan for the interior.
As far as the solar power, I'm really surprised the Chevy Volt, Prius, etc didn't incorporate solar cells in the roof. Even a small trickle charge would be beneficial when parked in the sun for 12 hours. Even the Mazda 626 and 929 had them in the sunroof 15 years ago to run a cooling fan for the interior.
The solar trickle charge is really a gimmick. It can't possibly supply any meaningful amount of electrical power. I guess better than nothing. I don't know... it comes on my Nissan Leaf to charge the 12 volt "car" battery for accessories like horn, lights, cabin fan motor, etc.
Not sure why you think it'll be an embarrassment for Nissan. What specifically would you think is "bad" ?
I'll venture to say that too many grossly ignorant buyers will buy them and try and drive it just like their 454 tank. That's not what it is. It's an urban car for driving within 100 miles a day. Pure and simple.
Nothing particularly amazing about the car itself. Mostly a standard 4.5 pax car with a hatchback and 4 doors. Electric motors are non-exciting or revolutionary.
The battery pack could be costly, but it comes with an 8 year / 100k mile warranty.
So, why do you think it'll fail ? By the way, Nissan built it's first electric car in 1947, and has built some version of an electric car regularly since. They aren't new to this concept.
They've put a good deal of effort into the obvious infrastructure changes that are required. I get a free $2000 "fast" charger (8 hour overnight) for being an early adopter.
Yes, if these things start blowing up like Ford Pintos, yes the car will fail. Nissan has more electric cars coming. It's not a one horse show.
