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Yes, there is an oil boom in North Dakota causing short-term accommodation, manpower and availability of women problems. This is not from a new oilfield discovery, but from new technology focusing on enhanced recovery methods using directional drilling and fractionation.
The latter involves actually fracturing the oil-bearing formation using chemicals, but more recently steam and just plain water. I am informed that fractionation tends to separate and lift up rock formations, such as shale, and thereby allow trapped fossil fuel to flow. Directional drilling allows lateral fractionation along the producing zone and thereby eliminates the need for multiple vertical holes.
The latter involves actually fracturing the oil-bearing formation using chemicals, but more recently steam and just plain water. I am informed that fractionation tends to separate and lift up rock formations, such as shale, and thereby allow trapped fossil fuel to flow. Directional drilling allows lateral fractionation along the producing zone and thereby eliminates the need for multiple vertical holes.
As for weaning ourselves from oil, I am of the opinion that O is attempting to do just that. He has refused permission to drill deep wells offshore and has not budged on the prospect of opening up new Alaskan fields; much to the annoyance of our political right and oil patch executives.
I am not in possession of any inside information on this subject, but the facts would support the theory that O is attempting to dramatically reduce our dependence on oil in general, and foreign oil in particular. He is promoting investment in alternative energy through spending programs and tax incentives for investors. We see almost weekly convoys of 18 wheelers under escort each carrying a single propeller blade to wind farms in West Texas. New and improved energy transfer infrastructure is under development.
I am not in possession of any inside information on this subject, but the facts would support the theory that O is attempting to dramatically reduce our dependence on oil in general, and foreign oil in particular. He is promoting investment in alternative energy through spending programs and tax incentives for investors. We see almost weekly convoys of 18 wheelers under escort each carrying a single propeller blade to wind farms in West Texas. New and improved energy transfer infrastructure is under development.
If I am correct and O's efforts are motivated to better prepare America for oil scarcity, to conserve what we do have for protracted and more narrowly targeted future use and at the same time to relieve us of the growing economic burden of procuring foreign oil, then I am delighted with him. Somebody needs to do this anyway and the task becomes more difficult with each passing year.
Never mind the environmental benefits, but consider the implications of this move on US foreign policy in the Middle East.
Let the kings and emirs sell their oil to China and India and let these two countries struggle with balance of power politics and decisions of which corrupt dictator to regale and support. What we all desperately need are technical innovations, preferably in the direction of electrical energy storage and in alternative energy production cost savings.
Improved capture of solar and water and wave energy would also help. We could reduce our overall oil demand by an enormous amount tomorrow if we were to establish and enforce a 55 mph speed limit. All this and more needs to be assessed, screened and actuated in the face of screaming political oppositions.
Never mind the environmental benefits, but consider the implications of this move on US foreign policy in the Middle East.
Let the kings and emirs sell their oil to China and India and let these two countries struggle with balance of power politics and decisions of which corrupt dictator to regale and support. What we all desperately need are technical innovations, preferably in the direction of electrical energy storage and in alternative energy production cost savings.
Improved capture of solar and water and wave energy would also help. We could reduce our overall oil demand by an enormous amount tomorrow if we were to establish and enforce a 55 mph speed limit. All this and more needs to be assessed, screened and actuated in the face of screaming political oppositions.
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