The U.S. Is Poised to Hit a New Oil Gusher

[Heracles 417]

The key is at current consumption. But nuclear power only makes up a small portion of our energy needs at this time. But we were talking about expanding nuclear power.

What if we use the nuclear power plants to charge cars or produce hydrogen. Apartment buildings for example could run off mini hydrogen power plants.

We could also follow China's route and develop coal to oil plants..

[GaryC 7]

nuclear is the most viable of all including oil. We just have tree huggers that don't like it. 2007 was the first approved nuclear plant approval since the 70's. It looks like they are realizing that nuclear is the only future.

But uranium is just as finite a resource as oil. Should we be really just switching between each finite resource until we use them all up?

I think we have enough to tide us over.

Availability of Usable Uranium

Uranium is present at an abundance 2 - 3 parts per million in the Earth's crust which is about 600 times greater than gold and about the same as tin. The amount of Uranium that is available is mostly a measure of the price that we're willing to pay for it. At present the cost of Natural Uranium ($165 per kg) is a small component in the price of electricity generated by Nuclear Power. At a price of $US110 per kg the known reserves amount to about 85 years supply at the current level of consumption with an expected further 500 years supply in additional or speculative reserves. The price of Uranium would have to increase by over a factor of 3 before it would have an impact of the cost of electricity generated from Nuclear Power. Such a price rise would stimulate a substantial increase in exploration activities with a consequent increase in the size of the resource (as has been the case with every other mineral of value). The price of Uranium rose to a peak of over 300/kg in 2007 but has since declined to $165 by early 2008.. The world reserves of Uranium have increased by around 50% since the end of 2003.

However advanced technologies are being developed which are far more efficient in their use of Uranium or which utilize Thorium which is 3 times more abundant than Uranium. If perfected these technologies can make use of both the spent fuel from current nuclear reactors and the depleted Uranium stocks used for enrichment. Taken together these provide enough fuel for many centuries of energy production. This will mitigate the demand for newly mined Uranium.

http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/WebHom...OfUsableUranium

The key is at current consumption. But nuclear power only makes up a small portion of our energy needs at this time. But we were talking about expanding nuclear power.

You missed this part. with an expected further 500 years supply in additional or speculative reserves.

In the 70's we were told we would run out of oil in 30 years. Now we have a larger estimated oil reserve than we did then. If the demand goes up so will exploration.

Edited April 4, 2008 by GaryC

[Heracles 417]

In the 70's we were told we would run out of oil in 30 years. Now we have a larger estimated oil reserve than we did then. If the demand goes up so will exploration.

Is it just me or do liberals jump on new bandwagons every few years..

Maybe we should start a new lottery system. Guess the latest BS liberal band wagon..

Edited April 4, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Ignoring the facts again, Mr? The fact is that solar cells are not a viable energy source, and won't be anytime in our life time.

Here, I'm tired of typing the same stuff. This is not a war of attrition, MrFancypants.......

refer to my posts in this thread-

MrFancypants delusional energy conspiracy

Oh really? Post some facts that back up your contention that investing in solar power is not a viable option and be sure to site your sources.

[Heracles 417]

The accompanying map depicts "The No Zone." This is the region surrounding the United States in which Democrats have blocked oil exploration.

The Democrats like to pretend that oil is a needless luxury by preventing exploration in sensible locations. But, in the mean time, Cuba is permitting foreign countries to drain the Gulf of Mexico of its oil. Cuba granted China drilling rights in the Gulf. And, in fact, China will be drilling within 50 miles of Florida.

Edited April 4, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[kaydee457 13]

Ignoring the facts again, Mr? The fact is that solar cells are not a viable energy source, and won't be anytime in our life time.

Here, I'm tired of typing the same stuff. This is not a war of attrition, MrFancypants.......

refer to my posts in this thread-

MrFancypants delusional energy conspiracy

Oh really? Post some facts that back up your contention that investing in solar power is not a viable option and be sure to site your sources.

Get yourself an education instead........My argument? If we're not mass producing it, it isn't viable.......

The accompanying map depicts "The No Zone." This is the region surrounding the United States in which Democrats have blocked oil exploration.

The Democrats like to pretend that oil is a needless luxury by preventing exploration in sensible locations. But, in the mean time, Cuba is permitting foreign countries to drain the Gulf of Mexico of its oil. Cuba granted China drilling rights in the Gulf. And, in fact, China will be drilling within 50 miles of Florida.

Ah, finally someone goes to the root of the problem! The democrats!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Ignoring the facts again, Mr? The fact is that solar cells are not a viable energy source, and won't be anytime in our life time.

Here, I'm tired of typing the same stuff. This is not a war of attrition, MrFancypants.......

refer to my posts in this thread-

MrFancypants delusional energy conspiracy

Oh really? Post some facts that back up your contention that investing in solar power is not a viable option and be sure to site your sources.

Get yourself an education instead........My argument? If we're not mass producing it, it isn't viable.......

LOL...you are an arrogant git. Of course you won't because you can't. You've convince yourself that you are the ultimate authority on solar power and no amount of facts that contradict your position is going to convince you otherwise. What a fantastical world you must envision yourself to be in.

[Heracles 417]

LOL...you are an arrogant git. Of course you won't because you can't. You've convince yourself that you are the ultimate authority on solar power and no amount of facts that contradict your position is going to convince you otherwise. What a fantastical world you must envision yourself to be in.

Now have a look at those pictures above.

[Heracles 417]

Now for some workable solutions.

Boeing tests battery-powered plane

April 4, 2008 - 10:51AM

US aircraft maker Boeing flew a plane that was powered by a hydrogen battery at the start of 2008 for the first time in aviation history, senior company officials said in Spain on Thursday.

"For the first time in the history of aviation, Boeing has flown a manned airplane that was powered by a hydrogen battery," Boeing chief technology officer John Tracy told a news conference at the firm's research centre in the central Spanish town of Ocana.

The plane, which used propellers, flew at a speed of 100 kilometres an hour for about 20 minutes at an altitude of about 1000 metres using only the hydrogen battery for power, Boeing said in a statement.

The director of the Ocana research centre, Francisco Escarti, said the hydrogen battery "could be the main source of energy for a small plane" but would likely not become the "primary soruce of energy for big passenger planes".

"The company will continue to explore their potential as well as that of all durable sources of energy that boost environmental performance," he said.

Tracy said the development was "a historical technological success for Boeing" and was "full of promises for a greener future".

"Boeing recognizes that pollution represents a serious environmental challenge," he added.

Amid rising fuel costs and mounting concerns over climate change, airlines are keen to find ways to cut their energy bills and the pollution which they emit.

Boeing's first new model in over a decade, the Dreamliner, used high-tech composites which reduces its weight and which the company says will make it consume 20 per cent less fuel then similar-sized planes already on the market.

AFP

Maybe boeing can use solar panels kaydee457..

Edited April 4, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Oh dear God...can it be?

[Mags 112]

Oh stop the digs. I don't have enough vodka in the house to cope with them all. So stop. Please.

[Heracles 417]

Oh dear God...can it be?

Steven are you willing to be the test pilot of a solar powered commercial plane..

Edited April 4, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Steven are you willing to be the test pilot of a solar powered commercial plane..

What on God's earth are you getting at?

[Dan J 277]

nuclear is the most viable of all including oil. We just have tree huggers that don't like it. 2007 was the first approved nuclear plant approval since the 70's. It looks like they are realizing that nuclear is the only future.

But uranium is just as finite a resource as oil. Should we be really just switching between each finite resource until we use them all up?

I think we have enough to tide us over.

Availability of Usable Uranium

Uranium is present at an abundance 2 - 3 parts per million in the Earth's crust which is about 600 times greater than gold and about the same as tin. The amount of Uranium that is available is mostly a measure of the price that we're willing to pay for it. At present the cost of Natural Uranium ($165 per kg) is a small component in the price of electricity generated by Nuclear Power. At a price of $US110 per kg the known reserves amount to about 85 years supply at the current level of consumption with an expected further 500 years supply in additional or speculative reserves. The price of Uranium would have to increase by over a factor of 3 before it would have an impact of the cost of electricity generated from Nuclear Power. Such a price rise would stimulate a substantial increase in exploration activities with a consequent increase in the size of the resource (as has been the case with every other mineral of value). The price of Uranium rose to a peak of over 300/kg in 2007 but has since declined to $165 by early 2008.. The world reserves of Uranium have increased by around 50% since the end of 2003.

However advanced technologies are being developed which are far more efficient in their use of Uranium or which utilize Thorium which is 3 times more abundant than Uranium. If perfected these technologies can make use of both the spent fuel from current nuclear reactors and the depleted Uranium stocks used for enrichment. Taken together these provide enough fuel for many centuries of energy production. This will mitigate the demand for newly mined Uranium.

http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/WebHom...OfUsableUranium

The key is at current consumption. But nuclear power only makes up a small portion of our energy needs at this time. But we were talking about expanding nuclear power.

You missed this part. with an expected further 500 years supply in additional or speculative reserves.

In the 70's we were told we would run out of oil in 30 years. Now we have a larger estimated oil reserve than we did then. If the demand goes up so will exploration.

Currently about 6-7% of the worlds energy is derived from nuclear power. Double that, your 500 year supply drops to 250. Probably somewhat less as at the same time, our total energy needs will continue to increase. Its not hard to see that if we push for a huge expansion of nuclear power that we will eventually strain our resources for it.

[Dan J 277]

Oh dear God...can it be?

Steven are you willing to be the test pilot of a solar powered commercial plane..

But isnt that the point? We can replace gasoline in our cars with alternative sources much easier than we can replace its usage in airplanes. If we wait until we until we have completely strained our oil resouces before making changes, what are we going to use in planes?