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Oil: $20 a Barrel? Or $200?

"The chemical that is pumped down the well is carbon dioxide."

Bzzz, wrong! The proppants used to frac the wells are highly proprietary and specific to each shale formation, ie. Barnett proppants are different than Marcellus. There are some 200+ chemicals that can/are used in solution.

Now in terms of oil recovery, the Saudi's pump water into their wells (oil floats), and CO2 is more of an enhanced recovery technique after the water quits working (see the Ghawar field).

Property Values Set to Fall 43% from Current Depressed Levels

Funny how you don't mention that more than 50% of the housing market loans were ALWAYS government-sponsored. Its been that way for years.

The Trouble with Clean Coal

Also, where is IGCC? Much less carbon, still use coal.

The Trouble with Clean Coal

Mountaineer is doing CSS right now, just started last month, 1300MW unit.

Natural Gas Extraction May Be More Expensive Than It Seems

Read it from the major skeptic's mouth directly, rather than filtered through 9 other people. Dr. Berman is the one making the big arguments (like at PIRA this year). Read it and decide yourself: petroleumtruthreport.b.../

Shale Gas: Promises, Promises, Promises

"I have a question about nat. gas. I have very little knowledge about its components, but most homes on the west coast have a nat. gas pipe line service into their home. Would it be possible to have a pump at your house and you could fill you car at home with nat. gas, or is the gas that is pumped into your house not compatible as auto fuel? Wouldn"

It can and does work, but its not an ideal solution (its slow). For real CNG filling at home, you need a bigger pipe to the house.

The Larger Energy Implications of Hydrogen Autos

"Mother Earth News showed by actually doing it (or reporting on others work in powering small properties) in quite a few places over 30 years ago that using sun and wind together smoothed out the production of electricity and did a better job overall than either one did separately."

This is exactly right. There will soon be a study published that will show that renewables can meet a massive proportion of the US energy demand, particularly because solar and wind resources are non-coincident. After all, wind is really solar energy from the night (imbalances of pressure).

The Larger Energy Implications of Hydrogen Autos

Wow, massive issues here. First off, h2 production can be done better using NG as a feedstock, way better than using h2o. Second the specific energy of h2 is low compared to any petrol fuel. Third h2 is hard to contain without leakage (not dangerous, just an issue). And of course fourth, there is no good infrastructure. Better to use straight up NG as a fuel or EV. H2 cars are not likely to penetrate the consumer market, probably not even the fleet markets in any size. Even NG faces challenges to penetrate the consumer market, namely distribution. But an EV? Everyone has an outlet in their garage....

Will the New DBC and DBA Be More Volatile?

Where will DBC put its NG exposure? In the front month, or across the strip?

Out of (Natural) Gas

"Could you state why NG can't be flicked on in an existing well that has been capped? I'd think it would be better as the gas would have moved into areas closer to the well that had been depleted by earlier pumping, so more available rather than less."

Capping shale wells for a prolonged period of time damages the frac'ing geology in the well.

Natural Gas Production Declines Are Becoming More Evident

How many drilled but uncompleted wells in TX do you think are hiding "behind the pipe?"

The Case for Precious Metals Is Only Getting Stronger

"You must be assuming we go back to caveman status and remain there."

So why take physical delivery? If its an "investment" then why not remain financial? Unless you believe the financial system will collapse, which would probably be akin to "caveman status".

The Case for Precious Metals Is Only Getting Stronger

What the heck are you going to do with physical gold? Ultimately you'll have to take it to a retailer and lose premium on it. Now if you think all the banks are going to collapse and so is the USD, you should put your money in a bunker and stockpile food and water rather than gold. If the apocalypse happens, I don't think anyone will care about your gold coins when they are hungry, thirsty, and need petrol. Or at least have some smelting equipment so you can make new denominations.

Electricity Is Not an Energy Source

"all energy is ultimately sourced from the sun. '

Very true, except the nukes.

Fuel Substitution: Power Plants Currently Switching to Natural Gas

"i have not seen a power plant that had both combustion modes in one plant. they are totally different. "

Generally true, gas-fired boilers can use fuel oil, but that's OTM right now. But what is happening is marginal coal units are being displaced by combined cycles (not NG-fired boilers) with their superior heat rates.

BUT, the recent run-up in prompt gas has put some CC's OTM as well, along with negative sparks in the winter on the CC's; not good. That means something has to change, probably a narrowing of the front-end contango.