Shale Gas: the Promise and the Peril by Vikram Rao
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Oil Shale and Tar Sands
Fundamentals of Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Editors David S. Ginley and David Cahen Oil shale and tar sands James W. Bunger 11 JWBA, Inc., Energy Technology and Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT, USA 11.1 Focus 11.2 Synopsis Tar sands and oil shale are “uncon- Oil shale and tar sands occur in dozens of countries around the world. With in-place ventional” oil resources. Unconven- resources totaling at least 4 trillion barrels (bbl), they exceed the world's remaining tional oil resources are characterized petroleum reserves, which are probably less than 2 trillion bbl. As petroleum becomes by their solid, or near-solid, state harder to produce, oil shale and tar sands are finding economic and thermodynamic under reservoir conditions, which parity with petroleum. Thermodynamic parity, e.g., similarity in the energy cost requires new, and sometimes of producing energy, is a key indicator of economic competitiveness. unproven, technology for their Oil is being produced on a large commercial scale by Canada from tar sands, recovery. For tar sands the hydrocar- and to a lesser extent by Venezuela. The USA now imports well over 2 million barrels bon is a highly viscous bitumen; for of oil per day from Canada, the majority of which is produced from tar sands. oil shale, it is a solid hydrocarbon Production of oil from oil shale is occurring in Estonia, China, and Brazil albeit on called “kerogen.” Unconventional smaller scales. Importantly, the USA is the largest holder of oil-shale resources. oil resources are found in greater For that reason alone, and because of the growing need for imports in the USA, quantities than conventional petrol- oil shale will receive greater development attention as petroleum supplies dwindle. -
Economics of Competition in the U.S. Livestock Industry Clement E. Ward
Economics of Competition in the U.S. Livestock Industry Clement E. Ward, Professor Emeritus Department of Agricultural Economics Oklahoma State University January 2010 Paper Background and Objectives Questions of market structure changes, their causes, and impacts for pricing and competition have been focus areas for the author over his entire 35-year career (1974-2009). Pricing and competition are highly emotional issues to many and focusing on factual, objective economic analyses is critical. This paper is the author’s contribution to that effort. The objectives of this paper are to: (1) put meatpacking competition issues in historical perspective, (2) highlight market structure changes in meatpacking, (3) note some key lawsuits and court rulings that contribute to the historical perspective and regulatory environment, and (4) summarize the body of research related to concentration and competition issues. These were the same objectives I stated in a presentation made at a conference in December 2009, The Economics of Structural Change and Competition in the Food System, sponsored by the Farm Foundation and other professional agricultural economics organizations. The basis for my conference presentation and this paper is an article I published, “A Review of Causes for and Consequences of Economic Concentration in the U.S. Meatpacking Industry,” in an online journal, Current Agriculture, Food & Resource Issues in 2002, http://caes.usask.ca/cafri/search/archive/2002-ward3-1.pdf. This paper is an updated, modified version of the review article though the author cannot claim it is an exhaustive, comprehensive review of the relevant literature. Issue Background Nearly 20 years ago, the author ran across a statement which provides a perspective for the issues of concentration, consolidation, pricing, and competition in meatpacking. -
Economic Energy Efficiency of Food Production Systems
energies Article Economic Energy Efficiency of Food Production Systems Bartłomiej Bajan * , Aldona Mrówczy ´nska-Kami´nska and Walenty Poczta Department of Economics and Economic Policy in Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Pozna´n,Poland; [email protected] (A.M.-K.); [email protected] (W.P.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +48-61-846-6379 Received: 19 September 2020; Accepted: 6 November 2020; Published: 8 November 2020 Abstract: The current global population growth forecast carries with it a global increase in demand for food. In order to meet this demand, it is necessary to increase production, which requires an increase in energy consumption. However, forecasted energy production growth is insufficient and traditional sources of energy are limited; hence, it is necessary to strive for greater energy efficiency in food production systems. The study aimed to compare the economic energy efficiency of food production systems in selected countries and identify the sources of diversification in this field. As a measure of energy efficiency, the indicators of the energy intensity of food production were used in this study. To calculate these indicators, a method based on input-output life-cycle assessment assumptions was used, which enables researchers to obtain fully comparable results between countries. The study showed that despite an increase in energy consumption in the food production systems of the analyzed countries by an average of 27%, from 19.3 EJ to 24.5 EJ, from 2000 to 2014, their energy intensity decreased, on average, by more than 18%, from 8.5 MJ/USD to 6.9 MJ/USD. -
New Federal Law Addresses Excise Tax on LNG, LPG, And
Multistate Tax EXTERNAL ALERT New federal law addresses excise tax on LNG, LPG, and CNG August 13, 2015 Overview President Obama recently signed into law the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 (H.R. 3236).1 Effective January 1, 2016, the new law equalizes the federal excise tax treatment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and provides further guidance applicable to the taxation of compressed natural gas (CNG). This Tax Alert summarizes these federal excise tax law changes. The federal excise tax on alternative fuels Currently, under Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) §4041, the federal excise tax on “alternative fuels” is imposed when such fuels are sold for use or used as a fuel in a motor vehicle or motorboat.2 The term “alternative fuels” includes, but is not limited to, LNG, CNG, and LPG.3 LNG is currently subject to tax at the federal diesel fuel tax rate of 24.3 cents per gallon.4 However, LNG contains a lower energy content than diesel. According to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, LNG has an energy content of 74,700 Btu per gallon (lower heating value), while diesel has an energy content of 128,450 Btu per gallon (lower heating value).5 Therefore, one gallon of LNG has the energy equivalency of 58 percent of one gallon of diesel fuel, although LNG is currently taxed as having the energy equivalency of 100 percent of one gallon of diesel fuel.6 Similarly, LPG is currently subject to tax at the federal gasoline tax rate of 18.3 cents per gallon.7 However, LPG contains a lower energy content than gasoline. -
May 23, 2019 Dear Food Industry, Food Waste Is a Major Concern In
May 23, 2019 Dear Food Industry, Food waste is a major concern in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service estimates that 30 percent of food is lost or wasted at the retail and consumer level.1 This means Americans are throwing out approximately 133 billion pounds of food worth $161 billion each year.2 Manufacturers of packaged foods voluntarily use a wide variety of introductory phrases on product date labels, such as “Best If Used By,” “Use By,” and “Sell By,” to describe quality dates to indicate when a food may be at its best quality. In a 2007 survey of U.S. consumers conducted on knowledge and use of open dates (i.e. calendar dates) used on product date labels for common packaged foods, less than half were able to distinguish between the meanings of three different introductory phrases that often appear before the calendar date on the product label: “Sell By”, “Use By”, and “Best If Used By”.3 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) has found that food waste by consumers may often result from fears about food safety caused by misunderstanding what the introductory phrases on product date labels mean, along with uncertainty about storage of perishable foods.4 It has been estimated that confusion over date labeling accounts for approximately 20 percent of consumer food waste.5 Industry, government, and non-profit organizations have been working to reduce consumer confusion regarding product date labels. Consumer research has found that the “Best If Used By” introductory phrase communicates to consumers the date by with the product will be of optimal quality.1 FDA has engaged in consumer education to raise awareness of food waste, reduce confusion regarding voluntary quality-based date labeling, and provide advice on food storage best practices to reduce waste. -
Food & Beverage Processing Industry Operating Costs
COMPARATIVE FOOD & BEVERAGE PROCESSING INDUSTRY OPERATING COSTS The Boyd Company, Inc. Location Consultants Princeton, NJ A COMPARATIVE OPERATING FOOD & BEVERAGE PROCESSING COST ANALYSIS INDUSTRY SITE SELECTION TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPARATIVE OPERATING COST ANALYSIS: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND NOTES ...................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 COMPARATIVE REGIONAL LOCATIONS ........................................................................... 1 LABOR COSTS ..................................................................................................................... 2 COMPARATIVE ELECTRIC POWER AND NATURAL GAS COSTS .................................. 2 COMPARATIVE LAND ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS ............................. 3 COMPARATIVE AD VALOREM AND SALES TAX COSTS ................................................. 3 TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING COST RANKINGS .............................................................. 3 ABOUT BOYD ....................................................................................................................... 4 COMPARATIVE OPERATING COST ANALYSIS : ........................................................................ 5 EXHIBIT I: A COMPARATIVE ANNUAL OPERATING COST SIMULATION SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 6-7 EXHIBIT -
Weaving Genres, and Roughing up Beats: New Album Review
Weaving Genres, And Roughing Up Beats: New Album Review Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world Is it just me, or was Record Store Day 2017 a tiny bit crap? The last time I was surrounded by that amount of middle-aged, balding men, reeking of sweat, I had walked into a strip-club by mistake. So, rather than relive the horrors of that day, I will dispense with the waffle and dive straight into the reviews. By JOHN BITTLES The electronic musings of Darren Jordan Cunningham’s Actress project have long been a favourite of those who enjoy a bit of cerebral resonance with their beats. While 2014’s Ghettoville disappointed, there was more than enough goodwill left over from the dusty grooves of his R.I.P. album and his excellent DJ Kicks mix to ensure that expectations for a new LP were suitably high Thankfully the futuristic funk and controlled passion of AZD doesn’t let us down! Out now on the always reliable Ninja Tune label the album is a dense listening experience which makes the ideal soundtrack for lonely dance floors and fevered heads. After the short intro of Nimbus, Untitled 7 gets us off to a stunning start with its deep, steady groove. From here Fantasynth’s shuffling beats and solitary melody line recall the twisted genius of Howie B and Dancing In The Smoke deconstructs the ghost of Chicago house and takes it to a gloriously darkened place. Meanwhile Faure In Chrome and There’s An Angel In The Shower’s disquieting ambiance are so good you could wallow in them for days. -
Secure Fuels from Domestic Resources ______Profiles of Companies Engaged in Domestic Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resource and Technology Development
5th Edition Secure Fuels from Domestic Resources ______________________________________________________________________________ Profiles of Companies Engaged in Domestic Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resource and Technology Development Prepared by INTEK, Inc. For the U.S. Department of Energy • Office of Petroleum Reserves Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves Fifth Edition: September 2011 Note to Readers Regarding the Revised Edition (September 2011) This report was originally prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy in June 2007. The report and its contents have since been revised and updated to reflect changes and progress that have occurred in the domestic oil shale and tar sands industries since the first release and to include profiles of additional companies engaged in oil shale and tar sands resource and technology development. Each of the companies profiled in the original report has been extended the opportunity to update its profile to reflect progress, current activities and future plans. Acknowledgements This report was prepared by INTEK, Inc. for the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Petroleum Reserves, Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves (DOE/NPOSR) as a part of the AOC Petroleum Support Services, LLC (AOC- PSS) Contract Number DE-FE0000175 (Task 30). Mr. Khosrow Biglarbigi of INTEK, Inc. served as the Project Manager. AOC-PSS and INTEK, Inc. wish to acknowledge the efforts of representatives of the companies that provided information, drafted revised or reviewed company profiles, or addressed technical issues associated with their companies, technologies, and project efforts. Special recognition is also due to those who directly performed the work on this report. Mr. Peter M. Crawford, Director at INTEK, Inc., served as the principal author of the report. -
Final Report Study on the Potential of Increased Use of LPG for Cooking in Developing Countries
Final Report Study on the Potential of Increased Use of LPG for Cooking in Developing Countries September 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Preface .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 General ................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 1.2 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................... 8 2 Purpose and Scope of the Study ............................................................................................................................................ 9 2.1 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................................................................... -
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Demand, Supply and Future Perspectives for Sudan Synthesis report of a workshop held in Khartoum, 12-13 December 2010 The workshop was funded by UKaid from the Department for International Development Cover image: © UNAMID / Albert Gonzalez Farran This report is available online at: www.unep.org/sudan Disclaimer The material in this report does not necessarily represent the views of any of the organisations involved in the preparation and hosting of the workshop. It must be noted that some time has passed between the workshop and the dissemination of this report, during which some important changes have taken place, not least of which is the independence of South Sudan, a fact which greatly affects the national energy context. Critically, following the independence, the rate of deforestation in the Republic of Sudan has risen from 0.7% per year to 2.2% per year, making many of the discussions within this document all the more relevant. Whilst not directly affecting the production of LPG, which is largely derived from oil supplies north of the border with South Sudan, the wider context of the economics of the energy sector, and the economy as a whole, have changed. These changes are not reflected in this document. This being said, it is strongly asserted that this document still represents a useful contribution to the energy sector, particularly given its contribution to charting the breadth of perspectives on LPG in the Republic of Sudan. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Demand, Supply and Future Perspectives for Sudan Synthesis report of a workshop held in Khartoum, 12-13 December 2010 A joint publication by: Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Physical Development – Sudan, Ministry of Petroleum – Sudan, United Kingdom Department for International Development, United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Environment Programme Table of contents Acronyms and abbreviations . -
Natural Gas in the US Economy
Natural Gas in the U.S. Economy: Opportunities for Growth Robert Pirog Specialist in Energy Economics Michael Ratner Specialist in Energy Policy November 6, 2012 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R42814 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Natural Gas in the U.S. Economy: Opportunities for Growth Summary Due to the growth in natural gas production, primarily from shale gas, the United States is benefitting from some of the lowest prices for natural gas in the world and faces the question of how to best use this resource. Different segments of the U.S. economy have different perspectives on the role natural gas can play. Suppliers, which have become the victims of their own production success, are facing low prices that are forecast to remain low. Some companies that have traditionally produced only natural gas have even turned their attention to oil in order to improve their financial situation. Smaller companies are having a difficult time continuing operations and larger companies, including international companies, have bought into many shale gas assets. Prices have remained low even as consumption has increased, in part, because producers have raised production to meet the demand and because companies have improved efficiency and extraction techniques. Some companies, many with large production operations, have applied for permits to export natural gas. This has raised concerns from consumers of natural gas that domestic prices will rise. The debate regarding exports is ongoing. Industries that consume natural gas have seen input costs drop, and some have heralded low natural gas prices as the impetus for a manufacturing revolution in the United States. -
OPEC in a Shale Oil World
OPEC in a Shale Oil World Mohamed Ramady • Wael Mahdi OPEC in a Shale Oil World Where to Next? Mohamed Ramady Wael Mahdi Department of Finance and Economics Regus, Building 12, Level 4 Trust Tower Visiting Associate Professor OPEC & Middle East Energy King Fahd University of Petroleum Correspondent Bloomberg News and Minerals Manama , Bahrain Dhahran , Saudi Arabia ISBN 978-3-319-22370-4 ISBN 978-3-319-22371-1 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-22371-1 Library of Congress Control Number: 2015946616 Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifi c statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made.