Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
The purported benefits of energy independence are simple: an improved economy due to the reduced outflow of dollars, improved national security, and more flexibility on foreign policy, particularly with regards to the Middle East and now Russia. Those objectives are substantial, if they can be achieved.
A drilling foreman once told me, "Don’t believe ANY reserve number unless it’s linked to a price." And, that is just what petroleum geologist and consultant Arthur Berman and his colleague Lyndon Pittinger have done in a new report on the viability of shale gas in New York state.
•Marcellus shale legacy wells showing increasing depletion rates •Is the U.S. Shale Boom Going Bust? •Pollution Fears Crush Home Prices Near Fracking Wells •France’s Total calls time on Polish shale license •EPA drastically underestimates methane released at drilling sites •Fracking Boom •Does fracking cause quakes? California needs to know.
A review of Snake Oil: How Fracking’s False Promise of Plenty Imperils Our Future by Richard Heinberg.
•Why US fracking companies are licking their lips over Ukraine •Putin tells Europe Ukraine gas debt ‘critical’, transit threatened •Cheniere cheif plays down US gas claims •The Absurdity of US Natural Gas Exports •Everyone’s getting excited about US oil independence. Not so fast. •Russia’s South Stream pipeline in deep freeze as EU tightens sanctions noose
Scientists, engineers, and government regulators are increasingly turning their attention to solving one of the chief environmental problems associated with fracking for natural gas and oil – significant leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
•Will the Monterey Shale be an energy and economic boon for California? •Recognition in US of impact and cost of climate change •EIA: Tight-oil production pushes up US supply •After shale gas, now for tight oil •Financial questions seen for US shale gas, tight-oil plays •Gas industry rejects US expert warning on fugitive emissions
Anyone who thinks the crisis now unsettling Ukraine is purely about a people’s quest for democracy and "the madness" of Vladimir Putin would be mistaken.
•Is shale running short on ‘PowerBars’? •Here’s where all the US shale oil and gas wells are – map •Oil and gas majors now cutting back in U.S. shale gas fields •Are we fit to frack? •Fracking: the surprising new proving ground for water technologies •Why Your Next Plastic Bottle Will Be Made From Shale Gas •US energy boom demands $641B in infrastructure, study finds •Checkmate for cheap unconventional gas •Oil well safety warning for fracking
For those who thought the ‘fracking’ issue was just about water pollution and earthquakes, Richard Heinberg’s Snake Oilmight be a little perplexing.
Thus far the debate around unconventional gas/fracking has focussed on pollution, flammable water, earthquakes, noise, toxic fumes, climate change, etc. As a result people mainly focus on the "what?", or at a local level the "where?", of the issue. My research leads me toward one single question… "why?".
Oil companies are increasing California’s earthquake risk by injecting billions of gallons of oil and gas wastewater a year into hundreds of disposal wells near active faults around Los Angeles, Bakersfield and other major cities, according to a new report from Earthworks, the Center for Biological Diversity and Clean Water Action.
