Chris : My presentation about coal in December skirted the shale / tar sands issue. I still don't know all that much about it ( coal isn't oil ), but it seems that Canada is now America's second greatest source for petroleum, if it isn't already in first place. About which, as Chris pointed out, the US West is rich in hydrocarbons, and let's not forget Colorado. For that matter, Alaska, much more than has been recovered so far from the North Slope. There's also NW Alaska, with gigantic coal reserves -plus decent reserves of oil. Looks like "peak oil" won't be happening any time soon. They were saying 10 years hence just a couple of years ago. Looks more like 25 years hence now. But both India and China may end up with as many cars and trucks as the USA by then, and that changes the calculus --otherwise all the new fuel deposits might take us 50 years into the future. Billy ========================================== In a message dated 2/26/2010 6:33:02 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
I have known about the rich oil shale and oil sand deposits in ND, MT, and contiguous Canadian provinces since the early 70's when I got my degree in geology. The problem has always been... how can these resources be extracted at a profit? They are going full speed with oil sand production further north in Alberta even though it is environmentally messy. The WSJ article shows the economic viability of oil shale thanks to new drilling techniques, and in my current state of Montana (as well as Wyoming), there are vast and accessible coal deposits (without taking the tops off of mountains Billy). This all adds up to a LOT of hydrocarbon energy in ND, MT, WY, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. The trick has always been to be able to extract the energy sources in a profitable and environmentally conscionable manner. It looks like technology and market prices are converging favorably. I recall the "energy shortage" days of the Carter administration. I always knew that the idea of an energy shortage was nonsense. There is unlimited energy out there if the price is right. If the price goes up enough we will even be able to afford clean renewable sources. Chris -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dr. Ernie Prabhakar Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 2:01 PM To: Radical Centrist discussion list Subject: [RC] Oil Industry Booms-in North Dakota - WSJ.com Wow, the oil shale revolution has finally begun. Quick, buy stock in Canada - and short Saudi Arabia? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703795004575087623756596514.ht ml?mod=rss_whats_news_us&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign= Feed%3A+wsj%2Fxml%2Frss%2F3_7011+%28WSJ.com%3A+What%27s+News+US%29 Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ Centroids mailing list: [email protected] http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com Archives at http://radicalcentrism.org/pipermail/centroids_radicalcentrism.com/ _______________________________________________ Centroids mailing list: [email protected] http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com Archives at http://radicalcentri sm.org/pipermail/centroids_radicalcentrism.com/
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