They were talking about this on the news today and it was like, US and Canadian oil sources are in trouble if it crosses 50$/barrel, and the Saudi's could drop it down to 10$/barrel and still be making money. Iran and Russia need it in the 100's otherwise their economies are severely undermined. There's also thousands of jobs at stake if oil and gas projects (eg fracking) start being loss-leaders. How ironic, the Saudi's may solve global warmingclimate change by making all the dirtiest oil projects have to shut down.
On the other hand. The US has yet to scratch the surface of geothermal energy to replace dirty generation sources. So a faster uptake of hybrids and electric-only vehicles should be expected. If anything we'll have a short reprieve just before carbon taxes get lopped back on to make up the difference in taxes so people don't get too comfortable with lower fuel costs too long.
If the Russians can no longer afford the iPhone because of crashing oil prices, that's squarely on the Russian Government (eg Putin.) I watched a documentary the other day about a business that setup in Russia, only to realize that absolutely everyone was "a middle man" in stealing taxes from the government. He tried to make a difference, only to have his friends and coworkers murdered.
It's not as bad as that. Oil won't drop much further. There isn't all that much geothermal energy to tap, that's a myth. If there was, we'd have been tapping a lot more of it, as the technoloy's well understood. But solar and wind are becoming financially equitable.
Shale oil production: more expensive than traditional drilling.
Messing with Putin's economy: priceless.
Reducing dependence on Mideast oil: priceless (in lives and money).
And I think OPEC is reducing their pricing to compete against US *exports* of shale oil.
Not to make their oil cheaper for us to buy in the US.
If anything, lower OPEC prices might be hurting Russia far more than the US.
Sorry for my typo's.
Yes, Russia is suffering much more than we might. Also the huge deal Russia made with China several months ago for a ten year supply of oil (I believe it was for 400 million barrels over that time, or per year, I forget) was already considered to be very low. If that price ends up higher than the price of oil, then the Chinese might decide to renegotiate.
…the Saudi’s could drop it down to 10$/barrel and still be making money.
Seems to me that if this was the case there would have been a war or two to fix it.
Originally Posted by melgross
There isn't all that much geothermal energy to tap, that's a myth.
Could you clarify this point, melgross? Do you mean to say that while it’s nigh omnipresent, it’s not very powerful, and thus not viable in most uses? Because there’s certainly “enough” in terms of availability, but…
Yes, Russia is suffering much more than we might. Also the huge deal Russia made with China several months ago for a ten year supply of oil (I believe it was for 400 million barrels over that time, or per year, I forget) was already considered to be very low. If that price ends up higher than the price of oil, then the Chinese might decide to renegotiate.
No prob with the typos. And yes, the Chinese deal might need to be re-negotiated. But I'm sure there's a clause in the contract that is triggered if oil prices drop below the deal number.
I think low global oil prices (in part due to reduced US demand for foreign oil) may also hurt countries like Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Venezuela, et al. They're among the top oil-exporting countries, so their economies must depend fairly heavily on their own oil exports.
Seems to me that if this was the case there would have been a war or two to fix it.
Could you clarify this point, melgross? Do you mean to say that while it’s nigh omnipresent, it’s not very powerful, and thus not viable in most uses? Because there’s certainly “enough” in terms of availability, but…
The areas of significant geothermal energy have been mapped. It isn't that much, compared to the total energy use in this country. Even if they multiplied the use by ten times, it would only be a few percent.
There is a different form of geothermal energy that you might be thinking of. That with drilling down a ways, we do get get hotter rock formations, and there is equipment to use that energy to heat a home, at least partially. A friend of mine on Long Island does that. But it's VERY expensive, and only provides a fraction of his overall energy needs. So that's not really useful. Unfortunately, when people enthusiastic about this mention geothermal, they often include this.
No prob with the typos. And yes, the Chinese deal might need to be re-negotiated. But <span style="line-height:1.4em;">I'm sure there's a clause in the contract that is triggered if oil prices drop below the deal number.</span>
I think low global oil prices (in part due to reduced US demand for foreign oil) may also hurt countries like Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Venezuela, et al. They're among the top oil-exporting countries, so their economies must depend fairly heavily on their own oil exports.
In the short run, it will, and has already been hurting all of them. In the long run, who knows? But a number of the countries you mentioned, the oil companies are owned by the state, and have been run into the ground, producing less oil now, then several years ago, at higher costs. So they are being hurt the most. We can guess as to which are in the boat.
And yes, in those countries, oil is a major, if not the biggest, portion of income, so they are suffering terribly. It's one reason Cuba was so willing to agree to terms just the other day, after negotiating for almost two years. They're afraid the free 200,000 barrels of oil they're getting from Venezuela will stop. It's about time too that both happens.
Unfortunately, when people enthusiastic about this mention geothermal, they often include this.
My favorite renewable source is those big solar arrays that operate on reflection and heat rather than photovoltaics.
Because they’ve been discovered to be FRYING ENTIRE FLOCKS OF BIRDS IN MIDAIR. Thanks, environmentalists! " src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
My favorite renewable source is those big solar arrays that operate on reflection and heat rather than photovoltaics.
Because they’ve been discovered to be FRYING ENTIRE FLOCKS OF BIRDS IN MIDAIR. Thanks, environmentalists! " src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
But they provide a nice daily variety of roasted fowl for the locals.
But they provide a nice daily variety of roasted fowl for the locals.
Just open up a drive through barbecue joint at the base of the tower. Big ol’ hyperbolic net on the roof with a hole in the middle to catch the day’s menu.
<span style="line-height:1.4em;">But they provide a nice daily variety of roasted fowl for the locals.</span>
Just open up a drive through barbecue joint at the base of the tower. Big ol’ hyperbolic net on the roof with a hole in the middle to catch the day’s menu.
Wish they'd come to London. We've got about a million too many pigeons. I'd like to see them all zapped in one fell swoop.
Seems to me that if this was the case there would have been a war or two to fix it.
Could you clarify this point, melgross? Do you mean to say that while it’s nigh omnipresent, it’s not very powerful, and thus not viable in most uses? Because there’s certainly “enough” in terms of availability, but…
The areas of significant geothermal energy have been mapped. It isn't that much, compared to the total energy use in this country. Even if they multiplied the use by ten times, it would only be a few percent.
There is a different form of geothermal energy that you might be thinking of. That with drilling down a ways, we do get get hotter rock formations, and there is equipment to use that energy to heat a home, at least partially. A friend of mine on Long Island does that. But it's VERY expensive, and only provides a fraction of his overall energy needs. So that's not really useful. Unfortunately, when people enthusiastic about this mention geothermal, they often include this.
The most viable way to use geothermal energy is switch from a regular heat pump to a geothermal heat pump. the difference between the two is where the heat exchanger is located.
I switched to a geothermal heat pump about 30 years ago and have been saving like crazy ever since. The value come in that a GHP saves me money to both heat and cool my home. Thirty years ago the efficiencies were very practical, but the current equipment is at least twice as efficient as back then. The greatest saving comes with air conditioning which can be around 6 times as efficient as using a regular heat pump. For heating efficiencies it is less so, but since the GHP runs highly efficient 100% of the season, and regular heat pumps cut out at around 30°F, the latter is only marginally efficient when it begins to get cold, and no more efficient then a toaster when you need it the most.
besides using far less energy, I keep my carbon footprint low, AND the effects of changing energy prices impact me more lightly. The actual cost 30 years ago to convert was $2900. No idea what that would be today, but I'm sure it may be quite a bit more. At the time I remember saying, "I don't get a warm feeling by paying high energy bills."
The most viable way to use geothermal energy is switch from a regular heat pump to a geothermal heat pump. the difference between the two is where the heat exchanger is located.
I switched to a geothermal heat pump about 30 years ago and have been saving like crazy ever since. The value come in that a GHP saves me money to both heat and cool my home. Thirty years ago the efficiencies were very practical, but the current equipment is at least twice as efficient as back then. The greatest saving comes with air conditioning which can be around 6 times as efficient as using a regular heat pump. For heating efficiencies it is less so, but since the GHP runs highly efficient 100% of the season, and regular heat pumps cut out at around 30°F, the latter is only marginally efficient when it begins to get cold, and no more efficient then a toaster when you need it the most.
besides using far less energy, I keep my carbon footprint low, AND the effects of changing energy prices impact me more lightly. The actual cost 30 years ago to convert was $2900. No idea what that would be today, but I'm sure it may be quite a bit more. At the time I remember saying, "I don't get a warm feeling by paying high energy bills."
My friend paid almost $25k for the entire system, including the drilling of two deep holes.
The most viable way to use geothermal energy is switch from a regular heat pump to a geothermal heat pump. the difference between the two is where the heat exchanger is located.
I switched to a geothermal heat pump about 30 years ago and have been saving like crazy ever since. The value come in that a GHP saves me money to both heat and cool my home. Thirty years ago the efficiencies were very practical, but the current equipment is at least twice as efficient as back then. The greatest saving comes with air conditioning which can be around 6 times as efficient as using a regular heat pump. For heating efficiencies it is less so, but since the GHP runs highly efficient 100% of the season, and regular heat pumps cut out at around 30°F, the latter is only marginally efficient when it begins to get cold, and no more efficient then a toaster when you need it the most.
besides using far less energy, I keep my carbon footprint low, AND the effects of changing energy prices impact me more lightly. The actual cost 30 years ago to convert was $2900. No idea what that would be today, but I'm sure it may be quite a bit more. At the time I remember saying, "I don't get a warm feeling by paying high energy bills."
My friend paid almost $25k for the entire system, including the drilling of two deep holes.
I paid a total almost half that, which also included the drilling of two 200 foot deep holes. My figure above represented the difference between a quote for a regular heat pump and a similar but geothermal sort. Two holes would be right for a 1.25 to 1.5 tons of air conditioning.
The unit is sized for the A/ C need, not the heating need. Thanks for the feedback!
Comments
It's not as bad as that. Oil won't drop much further. There isn't all that much geothermal energy to tap, that's a myth. If there was, we'd have been tapping a lot more of it, as the technoloy's well understood. But solar and wind are becoming financially equitable.
Sorry for my typo's.
Yes, Russia is suffering much more than we might. Also the huge deal Russia made with China several months ago for a ten year supply of oil (I believe it was for 400 million barrels over that time, or per year, I forget) was already considered to be very low. If that price ends up higher than the price of oil, then the Chinese might decide to renegotiate.
Seems to me that if this was the case there would have been a war or two to fix it.
Could you clarify this point, melgross? Do you mean to say that while it’s nigh omnipresent, it’s not very powerful, and thus not viable in most uses? Because there’s certainly “enough” in terms of availability, but…
Sadly, I've heard they've been feministised over there. You may have better luck in the Philippines if you're looking for a good woman.
The price of petrol will go down.
Sorry for my typo's.
Yes, Russia is suffering much more than we might. Also the huge deal Russia made with China several months ago for a ten year supply of oil (I believe it was for 400 million barrels over that time, or per year, I forget) was already considered to be very low. If that price ends up higher than the price of oil, then the Chinese might decide to renegotiate.
No prob with the typos. And yes, the Chinese deal might need to be re-negotiated. But I'm sure there's a clause in the contract that is triggered if oil prices drop below the deal number.
I think low global oil prices (in part due to reduced US demand for foreign oil) may also hurt countries like Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Venezuela, et al. They're among the top oil-exporting countries, so their economies must depend fairly heavily on their own oil exports.
The areas of significant geothermal energy have been mapped. It isn't that much, compared to the total energy use in this country. Even if they multiplied the use by ten times, it would only be a few percent.
There is a different form of geothermal energy that you might be thinking of. That with drilling down a ways, we do get get hotter rock formations, and there is equipment to use that energy to heat a home, at least partially. A friend of mine on Long Island does that. But it's VERY expensive, and only provides a fraction of his overall energy needs. So that's not really useful. Unfortunately, when people enthusiastic about this mention geothermal, they often include this.
In the short run, it will, and has already been hurting all of them. In the long run, who knows? But a number of the countries you mentioned, the oil companies are owned by the state, and have been run into the ground, producing less oil now, then several years ago, at higher costs. So they are being hurt the most. We can guess as to which are in the boat.
And yes, in those countries, oil is a major, if not the biggest, portion of income, so they are suffering terribly. It's one reason Cuba was so willing to agree to terms just the other day, after negotiating for almost two years. They're afraid the free 200,000 barrels of oil they're getting from Venezuela will stop. It's about time too that both happens.
My favorite renewable source is those big solar arrays that operate on reflection and heat rather than photovoltaics.
Because they’ve been discovered to be FRYING ENTIRE FLOCKS OF BIRDS IN MIDAIR. Thanks, environmentalists!
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
My favorite renewable source is those big solar arrays that operate on reflection and heat rather than photovoltaics.
Because they’ve been discovered to be FRYING ENTIRE FLOCKS OF BIRDS IN MIDAIR. Thanks, environmentalists!
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
But they provide a nice daily variety of roasted fowl for the locals.
Just open up a drive through barbecue joint at the base of the tower. Big ol’ hyperbolic net on the roof with a hole in the middle to catch the day’s menu.
Wish they'd come to London. We've got about a million too many pigeons. I'd like to see them all zapped in one fell swoop.
I suppose such a wish is pie in the sky.
Well, you guys already apparently bake blackbirds into them, so I guess flying rats wouldn’t be much different.
New York pigeons all have Brooklyn accents; do London pigeons have Cockney accents?
I think one of them does; it might even read AI.
MEMO TO PIGEONS: if you come to London, prepare to feel the tip of my umbrella.
I trust there are sufficient bird brains slinking, slurping and crawling through Apple Insider to take the message to the fowl community.
Seems to me that if this was the case there would have been a war or two to fix it.
Could you clarify this point, melgross? Do you mean to say that while it’s nigh omnipresent, it’s not very powerful, and thus not viable in most uses? Because there’s certainly “enough” in terms of availability, but…
The areas of significant geothermal energy have been mapped. It isn't that much, compared to the total energy use in this country. Even if they multiplied the use by ten times, it would only be a few percent.
There is a different form of geothermal energy that you might be thinking of. That with drilling down a ways, we do get get hotter rock formations, and there is equipment to use that energy to heat a home, at least partially. A friend of mine on Long Island does that. But it's VERY expensive, and only provides a fraction of his overall energy needs. So that's not really useful. Unfortunately, when people enthusiastic about this mention geothermal, they often include this.
The most viable way to use geothermal energy is switch from a regular heat pump to a geothermal heat pump. the difference between the two is where the heat exchanger is located.
I switched to a geothermal heat pump about 30 years ago and have been saving like crazy ever since. The value come in that a GHP saves me money to both heat and cool my home. Thirty years ago the efficiencies were very practical, but the current equipment is at least twice as efficient as back then. The greatest saving comes with air conditioning which can be around 6 times as efficient as using a regular heat pump. For heating efficiencies it is less so, but since the GHP runs highly efficient 100% of the season, and regular heat pumps cut out at around 30°F, the latter is only marginally efficient when it begins to get cold, and no more efficient then a toaster when you need it the most.
besides using far less energy, I keep my carbon footprint low, AND the effects of changing energy prices impact me more lightly. The actual cost 30 years ago to convert was $2900. No idea what that would be today, but I'm sure it may be quite a bit more. At the time I remember saying, "I don't get a warm feeling by paying high energy bills."
My friend paid almost $25k for the entire system, including the drilling of two deep holes.
I paid a total almost half that, which also included the drilling of two 200 foot deep holes. My figure above represented the difference between a quote for a regular heat pump and a similar but geothermal sort. Two holes would be right for a 1.25 to 1.5 tons of air conditioning.
The unit is sized for the A/ C need, not the heating need. Thanks for the feedback!