My Las Vegas

METHANE: AMERICA'S ENERGY FUTURE?

StarNet-TV Commentary by J.L. Rayfield
OIL, OIL, OIL~~~~!

That's all we're hearing about on the news lately. Are all the news journalists brain-dead?

This story isn't about 'crude oil.' It's about 'high gasoline prices. ( 1000’s of products are produced from crude oi, not only gasoline. )

Are there no real investigative journalists left anymore? Where are they now? Why does the News only pass on the latest line of leftist driven political drivel?

The real story here is about a few American companies monopolizing control of gasoline refinery volume/supply/production and final retail pricing at the pump.

And, it’s about an automotive manufacturing industry that produces vehicles that only run on these same monopolized oil company products. Perhaps the automotive industry has unwittingly helped create our crisis; as when in the early 1950's General Motors lobbied for replacement of electric powered street cars in favor of gasoline powered buses. (which they would of course produce)

Government and politicians love the current status quo because it makes it simple to collect their taxes. The service stations do it for them. How will they ever come together on a new way to tax our driving when we have a variety of fuel choices to power our cars?

Now, the Saudis claim speculators drive up the price of oil.

They ARE< the speculators!If ever there has been a war worth fighting, this is it: T he battle for America’s energy self-sufficiency.

Our National Security and the American way of life demands that we win the Energy War here at home.

Every corporation I know of calculates its supply and demand projections well into the future. Don't most businesses contract with their suppliers and negotiate prices in advance? Though I'm not privy to the facts of their agreements, wouldn't this especially hold true, if an oil company was providing the geological surveys to find the oil, the drilling equipment, technology, equipment maintenance expertise, and much of the skilled labor to keep the rigs going in the supplying countries? If such was the case, and you were Exxon/Mobile, would you then agree to pay some manipulated open-market price for your supply? My premise here is strictly hypothetical. I don't claim to know the actual U.S. companies who assisted the various OPEC member counties in the development of their oil resources. Does it , but does it even matter?

What America needs most, right now, is a proliferation of new automobiles that do not run on gasoline or diesel fuel, but utilize a variety of alternative energy sources and technologies that can’t be monopolized by a few major companies. Keep in mind that with development of new compression technology, high-tech diesel driven vehicles could run on methane, NG, or LPG. No gasoline needed at all.

The more futuristic alternatives can be placed on hold for a while.

Ultimately our goal should focus on the elimination of gasoline as a vehicle fuel, except for older models.

Right now however, in order to protect our present day economy, we urgently need to drill within our own borders, and we need to start immediately. Quick fixes and Partial Solutions are the first positive steps forward we can make within the oil sector here at home. We need to stand on our own, and stop pouring billions of America's dollars monthly into the Swiss bank accounts of OPEC's leaders.

If the oil companies aren’t using their leases, they should lose them, and perhaps we should nationalize our energy resources and create a, wholly, taxpayer owned, national public utility corporation. A percentage of your taxes could be allocated toward the purchase of 1 share of stock.. We could then create our own energy infrastructure and sell the product to corporate distributors/retailers.

Repeatedly, I have seen oil and gas, referred to together as fossil fuels, but natural gas is nothing other than refined methane gas, and methane is really much more than that.

Methane gas isn’t simply a byproduct of drilling for crude oil. NO! Methane is also an easily produced bio-fuel. In fact, methane is produced naturally whenever and wherever organic matter decays. The eco-Nazis claim that raw methane is a dirty fuel that must be cleaned to meet EPA standards for general use, but is unutilized methane, escaping naturally into to atmosphere, any less damaging? If burning raw methane released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, would that be so horrible for the short term? Doesn’t all plant life on Earth depend on carbon dioxide for survival; especially the Liberal Greeniac’s beloved rain forests?

How is it that this leftist group of political activist has been so successful in turning upside down the general population’s perception of the natural order?

They have coined the term: “Greenhouse Gases,” in order to vilify whichever gas they choose. Even oxygen is a greenhouse gas. Without our gaseous atmosphere and its natural greenhouse effect on the planet, life as we know it could not have developed here.

They just don’t seem able to grasp the fact that the Earth’s climate will under go changes forever, whether humans live here or not.

The total amount of existing methane deposits on Earth, (not to mention the entire Universe) and the massive energy potential it represents is beyond the comprehension of the average mind. Would it be possible to construct massive power plants on or near the Arctic tundra that could utilize the millions of cubic feet of raw methane now being released by the thawing permafrost? Where is that gas currently going? Does it innocently float up through the hole in the ozone layer? How about using in power plants equipped with steam engine powered electric generators? Then the plants could be hooked into the North American Power Grid? (SEE MORE BELOW)

In Russia, the world's largest gas drilling and processing project is currently underway off the eastern coast. The 10 billion dollar project's offshore drilling derrick will stand 21 stories high alone, and contain 26 drills capable of following a curving path, not simply drilling a straight line. Project technology will scrub the methane of pollutants, then compress and liquefy it down to -160 degrees. 21 million gallon tanks are being constructed for storage. Each will be filled with nitrogen in order to remove oxygen and prevent explosion from accidental ignition; no fuel can ignite without oxygen. A 500-mile pipeline will be constructed for distribution. (See links for more details)
http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/sakhalin2/sakhalin23.htm...

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Has anyone read the book reviewed below?
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Review by Robert BuskoSanity at last...., March 24, 2008 Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians and Misguided Policies that Hurt the Poor by Roy Spencer is a breath of fresh wind. Written by a highly qualified NASA scientist, Climate Confusion examines the current evidence about global warming and the debate surrounding it. Well written for a mass audience and expertly researched and documented.All sides of the climate debate should read Climate Confusion. One thing that everyone should note is that there is no unified agreement among the scientific community about global warming. Spencer's book is but one voice among many that cries out that we are all being fed a bill of goods by the doom and gloom crowd. He is to be congratulated on work well done. Peace to all. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exxon Sets Profit Record: $40.6 Billion Last YearBy JAD MOUAWAD
Like most oil companies, Exxon benefited from a near doubling of oil prices, as well as higher demand for gasoline last year.February 2, 2008BusinessNews
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INFORMATION RESOURCES
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DISCOVERY MAGAZINE
If Life Gives You Methane, Make Methane Energy
The global warming risk is also a great opportunity
by Jeremy Jacquot
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More than a trillion tons of methane lie trapped in permafrost and under frozen lakes in the Arctic. As the region thaws, the gas—a huge potential source of alternative energy—is bubbling out, simultaneously attracting venture capitalists and worrying climatologists.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that methane locked in ice (known as hydrates) could contain more organic carbon than all the world’s coal, oil, and non-hydrate natural gas combined. But that isn’t the only reason to keep track of methane release. Because of the way methane absorbs warmth radiating from Earth, it is as much as 21 times more heat-trapping—and thus climate-warming—than carbon dioxide. Yet current models of climate change do not take into consideration the potential impact of methane.Katey Walter, a researcher at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, has spent the past few years mapping and measuring hot spots of methane emission in the rapidly melting regions of Alaska and Siberia. In a recent study, Walter and her team predict that if these methane reservoirs melt over the next 100 years, the gas released could re-create climate conditions that prevailed during a 2,500-year warming spell that began 14,000 years ago.

Walter mapped likely methane deposits across the region; quantified how much methane, formed when permafrost melts, is bubbling out of current lakes; and compared that with the amount emitted from methane-laden sediments taken from ancient frozen lakes. She determined that 11,000 years ago methane released from thawing lakes contributed 33 to 87 percent of atmospheric methane. After that, melting slowed for the next 9,000 years and the lakes refroze. But now due to global warming over the past 100 years, methane release in the Arctic seems to be accelerating, Walter says, and left unchecked, it will continue to rise well above the levels found 10,000 years ago.A 386,000-square-mile tract of permafrost in Siberia contains as much as 55 billion tons of potential methane,

Walter says —10 times the amount currently in the atmosphere. Several companies, including BMW, have expressed interest in methane-to-energy technologies for large-scale operations. Walter sees the benefits of using methane as an energy source as twofold: “Not only does it prevent a potent greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere by converting it to weaker greenhouse gases—water vapor and carbon dioxide—but using it on-site would also reduce the demand for other fossil-fuel sources.”EPAMethane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that remains in the atmosphere for approximately 9-15 years. Methane is over 20 times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100-year period and is emitted from a variety of natural and human-influenced sources.

Human-influenced sources include landfills, natural gas and petroleum systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial process. Methane is also a primary constituent of natural gas and an important energy source. As a result, efforts to prevent or utilize methane emissions can provide significant energy, economic and environmental benefits. In the United States, many companies are working with EPA in voluntary efforts to reduce emissions by implementing cost-effective management methods and technologies.

The following provides more information on methane and EPA's related activities:·
Science:
Find out more about methane's role as a greenhouse gas. ·

Sources and Emissions:
Find out more about the sources of methane and current emission levels.
Projections and Mitigation Costs:Find projections of future methane emissions and the costs associated with reducing those emissions. ·

Voluntary Programs:
Learn more about EPA's voluntary programs to reduce methane emissions.
Other Non-CO2 Gases:The Methane to Markets Partnership is an international initiative that advances cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. The goal of the Partnership is to reduce global methane emissions in order to enhance economic growth, strengthen energy security, improve air quality, improve industrial safety, and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. • Basic Information: Why is methane important and expected results.• Partnership: Overview, participation, sectors, and related EPA voluntary programs.• Accomplishments: Methane to Markets activities supported by the U.S. government.• Newsroom: Partnership and voluntary program newsletters, press releases, and events.• Frequent Questions: answers about methane, its role in climate change, and the Methane to Markets Partnership.The primary focus of this Web site is the U.S. role in the Methane to Markets Partnership and how the individual partner programs; AgSTAR, CMOP, GasSTAR, and LMOP; support the partnership. The International Methane to Markets Partnership Web site contains the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on Partnership activities.Mongolia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand join the Methane to Markets Partnership Press Release (EPA) >>European Commission signs Methane to Markets Terms of Reference Europa Press Release
>>EU Press Release >> Methane to Markets Partnership Expo Advances 91 New Projects Press Release (EPA)
>>Natural Gas from Coal (NGC) production during the past two decades has introduced a new source of domestic natural gas. Although considered an unconventional gas resource, the exploration, drilling, and production techniques used in NGC development are similar to those used for developing conventional natural gas resources.A first step to successful NGC well completion is to understand the geological setting, including coal distribution, number and thickness of coal seams, distance between seams and water zones, and knowledge of the rock types and properties. Once the project opportunity is identified, pilot wells are drilled using conventional oilfield drilling methods coupled with well completion and coal bed stimulation techniques specific to NGC wells. After a period of dewatering the coal seams and assessing the economic potential, the pilot project is typically followed by full field development, including producing NGC wells, water disposal wells, and pipeline and production facilities
http://www.methaneenergy.com/s/ExplorationTechnology.asp

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EXXON/MOBILE CHEMICAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICE

Chemicals

Aliphatic Fluids Exxsol dearomatized fluids, Isopar isoparaffinic fluids, Norpar normal paraffinic fluids, Varsol aliphatic / naphtha fluids

Aromatic Fluids Solvesso heavy aromatic fluids, naphthalene depleted fluids, toluene, xylene

Higher Olefins Nonene, Tetramer, Pentamer and other higher olefins

Synthetic Fluids and Lubricants SpectraSyn, SpectraSyn Plus and SpectraSyn Ultra polyalphaolefins (PAO), Esterex esters, Synesstic alkylated naphthalene

Higher Alcohols Exxal higher boiling primary alcohols, Vammar aliphatic alcohol / ether

Plasticizers Jayflex plasticizers

Oxygenated Fluids Methyl ethyl ketones (MEK), isopropyl alcohol (IPA), secondary butyl alcohol (SBA)

Neo Acids Neo pentanoic acid, neo decanoic acid, other neo acids

Polymer modifiers Elevast polymer modifiers

Technology & Initiatives

Licensing Technologies for aromatics production, Selective Cracking Optimum Recovery (SCORE) ethylene process, high pressure autoclave and tubular LDPE technology licensing, catalyst technology

Product Safety ExxonMobil’s Product Safety Policy is a part of its Corporate Standards of Business Conduct

Global Product Strategy The Global Product Strategy (GPS) is an integrated strategy for product stewardship throughout the chemical industry's value chain

Polymers

Butyl Polymers Butyls, bromobutyls, chlorobutyls, star-branched butyls and halobutyls, Exxpro elastomers, Advanced inner liner

EPDM Rubber Vistalon ethylene propylene rubber copolymers and ethylene propylene diene rubber terpolymers

Specialty Elastomers Vistamaxx specialty elastomers have a unique compatibility with other polymers resulting in very soft, flexible elastic films and fabrics

Santoprene TPEs Santoprene TPEs provide functional performance and properties similar to conventional thermoset rubber products, but can be processed with the speed, efficiency and economy of thermoplastics.

Polyethylene ExxonMobil and Paxon high density (HDPE), ExxonMobil low density (LDPE) and linear low density (LLDPE), Exceed and Enable metallocene PE, Escorene Ultra EVA, Escor, Optema and Iotek specialty copolymers, Nexxstar resin formulations

Polypropylene ExxonMobil homopolymers, random copolymers (RCP), Exxpol Enhance impact copolymers (ICP), Achieve metallocene polymers

Plastomers Exact butene, hexene and octene copolymers

Hydrocarbon Tackifier Resins Escorez hydrocarbon tackifier resins for adhesives

Styrenic Block Copolymers Dexco Vector SBS and SIS block copolymers

Functionalized Polymers Exxelor maleic anhydride functionalized elastomeric ethylene copolymers and maleic anhydride functionalized polypropylenes

Polymer Films

OPP Films Oriented polypropylene (OPP) and oriented high density polyethylene (OHD) films for flexible packaging and labeling