Why Natural Gas Disrupts the Energy Industry

Read the full article here. And it really is worth the read. And the comment section is interesting, too.

Opening paragraph and bullet points:

"Got an energy problem? Natural gas is the answer- unless you're in the coal, nuclear, alternative energy, or railroad industries. If you're in one of those industries, natural gas is very much the problem.

 

First the facts:

  • Widespread use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology has resulted in a lower wellhead price for natural gas in 2009 than in any year since 2002- even though annual usage was near an all-time high in 2009. It looks like 2010 usage, for which final figures are not yet available, will set a record with prices essentially flat.

  • Because of these technologies, the Department of Energy has more than doubled its estimate of shale gas technically recoverable in the U.S. The new estimate of 827 trillion cubic feet is, according to a Reuters story, "the energy equivalent to around 142 billion barrels of oil – slightly more than the proven reserves of Iran."

  • Generating electricity with natural gas instead of coal reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 50% and reduces traditional pollutants even more significantly.

  • The capital cost per eventual kilowatt hour produced for a natural gas generating plant is substantially lower than for coal, nuclear, wind, or solar and this is true at almost any scale.

  • Natural gas generating plants can be throttled up or down almost instantly to meet varying demands in a way that coal or nuclear can't be. That's why natural gas is used almost exclusively for power plants meant to meet peak demand. Natural gas plants produce much more predictable power than solar or wind.

  • Powering a light vehicle with natural gas reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 25% and virtually eliminates tr.... That's why forklifts inside buildings run on natural gas and why we can use our gas stoves inside with venting.

  • Natural gas versions of many existing cars and light trucks already exist. No new technology is required to make natural gas models of the cars we already drive – although, of course, fueling infrastructure would have to be built (not trivial).

  • Natural gas travels efficiently by pipeline. Great for reducing the energy and dollar cost of transportation once the pipelines are built (again not trivial)."

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Replies to This Discussion

StevewPermalink Reply by Stevew on January 21, 2011 at 10:34

these are great "talking points" on the advantages of NG over other fuels.  Many thanks, this is something I can use.

 

 

Permalink Reply by David on January 21, 2011 at 13:42
Glad to have been of help. It really is something we should ALL be familiar with when talking of the benefits of NG.
Permalink Reply by JeffNParis on January 23, 2011 at 18:01
I say, "disrupt away!"
Permalink Reply by Max on January 24, 2011 at 3:55

David,

Thanks for sharing this information. 

 

The education of John Q. Public on the potential possibilities of NG as an replacement to imported oil should be one of this countries battle cries to fight terrorism.  We're bringing in roughly 13 million BBLs of oil per day and sending out billions of dollars, some of which finds it's way into the hands of those waging war against the western world.

 

We do have some advocates out there promoting the use of NG national, but those promotions tend to be overshadowed by exploding pipelines and houses.  The failure and resulting fire of the High Pressure Line last year in California and two incidences in Texas made almost as much news as the entire BP accident.

 

Flip the channel over to Green TV and you can see the promotion of capturing methane gas from milk producing mega dairies and that gas is powering a small generator to subsidize the power used by that dairy.  What they don't tell you is the whole project was funded by tax payer dollars and the break even cost of that system can not be obtained.  The equipment wears out and falls apart before it can pay for itself.  I do agree that making use of a waste product is beneficial, but don't push that product unrealistically.

 

We've already subsidized the use of oil in the last decade with trillion dollar wars.  I don't want to make a political issue out of this, but that trillion dollars would have drilled a lot of wells, employed tens of thousands of U.S. citizens, and would have sent a message to OPEC.

 

In the coming years the price of oil will open the door for NG a little wider still, maybe by then more eyes will be on that gas.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Linda Whatley on January 24, 2011 at 4:01

Very good information...... thanks for sharing!

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