Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Most climate activists believe that talking about limitations on fossil fuel supplies hurts their argument for swift, decisive action on climate change. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Hopes of a shale bonanza to replace dwindling conventional resources took a battering this week.
The great Monterey Shale oil myth got its start back in July 2011 when the EIA stapled a cover on a contractor-produced “study” that it paid for entitled Review of Emerging Resources: U.S. Shale Gas and Oil Plays.
When considering shale economic viability, hype was the only aspect that actually existed.
It turns out that the oil industry has been pulling our collective leg. The pending 96 percent reduction in estimated deep shale oil resources in California calls into question the premise of a decades-long revival in U.S. oil production and predictions of American energy independence.
We spoke with Chris Nelder in Extraenvironmentalist episde #76. This is the first part of a transcript prepared by EE listener Scott.
In these interviews, we look at peak oil theory with Richard Heinberg and James Hamilton.
•Marcellus shale legacy wells showing increasing depletion rates •Is the U.S. Shale Boom Going Bust? •Pollution Fears Crush Home Prices Near Fracking Wells •France’s Total calls time on Polish shale license •EPA drastically underestimates methane released at drilling sites •Fracking Boom •Does fracking cause quakes? California needs to know.
A review of Snake Oil: How Fracking’s False Promise of Plenty Imperils Our Future by Richard Heinberg.
•Why US fracking companies are licking their lips over Ukraine •Putin tells Europe Ukraine gas debt ‘critical’, transit threatened •Cheniere cheif plays down US gas claims •The Absurdity of US Natural Gas Exports •Everyone’s getting excited about US oil independence. Not so fast. •Russia’s South Stream pipeline in deep freeze as EU tightens sanctions noose
•Will the Monterey Shale be an energy and economic boon for California? •Recognition in US of impact and cost of climate change •EIA: Tight-oil production pushes up US supply •After shale gas, now for tight oil •Financial questions seen for US shale gas, tight-oil plays •Gas industry rejects US expert warning on fugitive emissions
For those who thought the ‘fracking’ issue was just about water pollution and earthquakes, Richard Heinberg’s Snake Oilmight be a little perplexing.
