[Vision2020] URL Corrected: Re: megaloads

[Ted Moffett]

There was an error in the followng URL in the post below regarding
2009 CIA estimate of US daily oil consumption in barrels at 18,690,000
a day, the highest of any nation.  That US oil consumption daily is
this high seems like that figure must be an error!

This URL should work:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2174rank.html

On 5/22/11, Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com> wrote:

> The Bakken North Dakota et. al. oil you referenced, has currently
> estimated reserves of 3.65 billion barrels (
> http://www.oilshalegas.com/bakkenshale.html ), though this estimate
> may increase; but still a small fraction of the size of the Canadian
> tar sands proven reserves.
>
> Of course with oil recently over 100 dollars a barrel, 3.65 billion of
> them is not chump change.
>
> Canadian proven oil reserves, which is mostly from the tar sands, is
> currently listed as the second largest proven oil reserve in the world
> by nation (175 billion barrels), second only to Saudi Arabia (264
> billion barrels), according to 2010 estimates from the CIA:
> https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2178rank.html
>
> It is obvious that Canada represents the largest secure and close
> source of oil for the US, given global proven reserves.  Other nations
> also want Canadian tar sands oil.  The race is on!
>
> Note the US is 14th on the CIA list, with a mere 19 billion barrels of
> proven reserves.  This fact coupled with rates of US oil consumption
> (2009 CIA estimate US daily oil consumption at number one in the world
> among nations: 18,690,000 barrels:
> https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world
> factbook/rankorder/2174rank.html ) indicates the US cannot "drill baby
> drill" its way to oil independence, at least not with current proven
> US reserves and our fantastic rate of consumption.
>
> The ANWR Alaskan oil reserves are potentially 10 billion barrels (
> http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/analysis_publications/arctic_national_wildlife_refuge/html/execsummary.html
> ), small compared to Canadian tar sands reserves.  There is
> potentially undiscovered recoverable outer continental shelf oil, some
> of which is in Canadian waters (
> http://www.boemre.gov/revaldiv/RedNatAssessment.htm ), of an average
> estimate of 85.9 billion barrels, which is still well below Canadian
> tar sands reserves.
>
> But the US has oil shale deposits in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, the
> Green River formation et. al., that if shown to be commercially
> recoverable, could place the US as having the largest oil reserves in
> the world by nation.  It is seriously debated that this US resource
> will ever be commercially developed on a large scale, for a number of
> reasons.
>
> But if the US does not kick the oil addiction, with new technology
> possibly rendering development of this massive deposit more feasable,
> I wonder?  This resource might push the peak-oil crisis a bit further
> into the future for the US.  But given global oil consumption will
> increase significantly in coming decades (
> http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/04/oil_quench.html ), the
> days of cheap oil are probably over, even with developing all possible
> sources, given current energy consumption patterns.
>
> Coal gasification or to liquids and natural gas are other fossil fuel
> options to oil, with the US possessing the world's largest coal
> reserves and large natural gas reserves.  Why the US does not use more
> natural gas for cars and trucks is a good question.   The Pickens
> Plan, with natural gas, solar and wind as solutions to US oil
> dependence, is not receiving the support it requires. Pickens is a
> Texas oil billionaire republican Bush supporter who appears serious
> about the US quickly ending its dependence on oil, though it's hard to
> square his history with his energy plan (
> http://www.hcn.org/wotr/don2019t-trust-this-texas-billionaire ):
> http://www.pickensplan.com/theplan
>
> It is rather obvious that there are numerous energy/technology
> solutions both fossil fuel and alternative that are not being expanded
> at the rate required to avoid high energy costs from dependence on oil
> in a world of increasing consumption and more expensive extraction...
> And that there are those in positions of great economic and political
> power who benefit from not promoting massive expansion of energy
> alternatives to oil.
>
> Article below on the feasibility of developing the gigantic shale
> deposits in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado:
>
> "Is Oil Shale America's Answer to Peak-Oil Challenge?"
>
> http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/reserves/publications/Pubs-NPR/40010-373.pdf
>
> A quote from the article:
>
> "More than 700 billion barrels of US oil shale resource occurs in
> concentrations richer than currently produced Alberta tar sand."
> -----------------------------------------
> Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
>
> On 5/22/11, Janesta <janesta at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Why bother with Tar Sands?
>>
>> Money ~ Pink Floyd
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkhX5W7JoWI
>>
>> Janesta
>>
>>
>> On Sun, May 22, 2011 at 4:01 PM, bill bonte <bbonte at palouse.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello Visionaries,
>>>
>>> I have been sitting here for the past several months, trying to
>>> understand
>>> the megaloads question.
>>> I understand that the governor and the political establishment in Boise
>>> are
>>> all for the shipment of megaloads and more through Idaho by any route. I
>>> understand that the Port of Lewiston will make money on the deal.
>>>
>>> Beyond that, I don't understand who benefits from this deal.  It seems
>>> like
>>> an overwhelming negative, fraught with problems for just about everyone
>>> and
>>> everywhere they pass.  Who is making money on this deal?  That's what I
>>> want
>>> to know.  Why isn't there universal outrage?
>>>
>>> By the way, there is an oil boom in North Dakota.  Evidently proven
>>> reserves rival Iraq.  Why, then bother with tar sands?  Link to oil boom
>>> :
>>> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703795004575087623756596514.html
>>>
>>> Bill Bonte
>>> Moscow, ID
>>>
>>>
>