Researchers Mix Power Plant + Frack Wastewater, Get Clean Water!
We love how innovative our industry, and indeed academic researchers, are. Who would ever think to combine wastewater coming from electric power generating plants with wastewater from oil and gas wells? Both industries, the power industry and the O&G industry, produce a LOT of wastewater. Researchers at West Virginia University have combined both wastewater streams to produce “water that is clean enough to reuse.” How cool is that?!
Read More “Researchers Mix Power Plant + Frack Wastewater, Get Clean Water!”
Here’s a major scientific study that’s being suppressed and ignored by mainstream “news” (i.e. propaganda) outlets: A recently published study by Finnish researchers finds that human activity, specifically burning fossil fuels for energy, doesn’t even move the needle on global average temperatures. They point out a major flaw in climate modeling used by “mainstream” alarmists–in how they use a computer model that overestimates warming by a factor of 10.
In the coming month, the U.S.’s seven major shale plays will produce a cumulative 82 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas, a new record! All but one of those seven shale plays will increase its shale gas output. The Marcellus/Utica region, the “beast in the east” is about to roar in the next month, increasing natgas production *another* 396 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d), to a new high of 33 Bcf/d. This is the fourth month in a row the M-U will have increased production by at least one-third of a Bcf.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has just published its 2018 Oil and Gas Annual Report. This is the third year in a row the DEP has published the report in an interactive, electronic (i.e.online) format ONLY. What does the 2018 report show?
This business of “we must dump the use of fossil fuels and migrate to renewables asap” is not only impractical, it’s lunatic. Yet many adults have bought in to this notion because, we dunno, because they were maleducated in their youth. Radicalized in college. Lied to by the Democrat Party. Take your pick. Just how lunatic is this notion? For the past 100 years the United States has used fossil fuels for 80% *or more* of the energy we use. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. That statistic, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (which tracks these things) says that in 2018 fossil fuel consumption went UP! Not down. We need fossil fuels now more than ever for our energy supplies.
The legal beagles of top energy law firm Babst Calland recently released their ninth annual energy industry report called, “The 2019 Babst Calland Report – The U.S. Oil and Gas Industry: Federal, State and Local Challenges & Opportunities; Legal and Regulatory Perspective for Producers and Midstream Operators.” This latest annual review provides perspective on issues, challenges, opportunities and recent developments in the oil and gas industry that are relevant to producers and midstream operators. In an MDN exclusive, we have the first seven pages of the 92-page report (see below), along with details on how you can request a full copy. Worth the read! Here’s an overview…
It’s no secret that the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) had a hand in the original research that resulted in the shale revolution. It was George Mitchell who pioneered the first shale wells–but he did so based on research performed by the federal government. The DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy remains active to this day in researching new and better ways to extract and use fossil fuels, much to the dismay of global warming fundamentalists. One of the ways Fossil Energy accomplishes its mission is to fund research projects by academic institutions–and even private companies. Fossil Energy has just announced a new round of $44.5 million in grants aimed at improving fracking (yes! fracking) technology, and improving our understanding of shale plays.
The Manhattan Institute, a leading free-market think tank based in the Big Apple, has just published a new report (full copy below) that shows by blocking new natural gas pipeline projects, NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo is actually causing MORE harm to the environment. How? Blocking natural gas means building owners and power producers will continue to rely on oil, which emits 27% more carbon dioxide than natural gas. The report also shows lack of pipelines is forcing energy prices in the northeast to rocket skyward, which in some cases already exceed the national average by more than 90%.
A group of antis at the University of Toledo thought they’d slip in a new “study” that attempts to tie the proximity of Utica Shale wells to radon. It’s a total sham. From the authors of the study: “The data in the study are from self-reported devices and not distributed equally throughout Ohio.” So first, they base their “study” on self-reported numbers without a even a random scientific sampling. Second, the “study” reports that Athens County, OH has the most Utica fracked wells–108 of them to be precise. One little problem: There are ZERO shale wells in Athens County. Translation: This is junk science. Or more properly, political science.
In the coming month, the U.S.’s seven major shale plays will produce a cumulative 81.4 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas, the first time U.S. shale production has surpassed 81 Bcf/d. Yesterday our favorite government agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, issued our favorite monthly report, the Drilling Productivity Report. The DPR is a forecast of oil and gas production in the country’s major shale plays for the coming month, made by the expert number crunchers at EIA. The Marcellus/Utica is forecast to increase production an amazing 1/3 Bcf in the next 30 days, for a THIRD month in a row. Just incredible.
It’s time to smoke out irrational fossil fuel haters and use their own science against them. National Grid has just released a study (full copy below) commissioned with researchers from M.J. Bradley & Associates that shows there are FEWER so-called greenhouse gas emissions from using the proposed Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline to New York City than by using alternatives being pushed by New York State–alternatives like heat pumps. You read that right. LESS emissions by using a pipeline than the so-called “green” alternatives. If that doesn’t beat all.
Oil and gas giant BP recently released its annual Statistical Review of World Energy–the 68th edition (full copy below). Among the interesting findings in BP’s analysis of global energy last year: wind and solar energy, while growing, only provide a minuscule 3% of the world’s energy supply. Meanwhile fossil fuels–coal, natural gas and oil–accounted for 85% of global energy consumption in 2018. Hey, tell us again how renewables are taking over the world–as we pick ourselves up off the floor from laughing so hard.
The Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) issued first quarter 2019 numbers for Utica shale oil and gas production last Friday. Both natural gas and oil production increased over last year’s 1Q. Natgas production was up 14.5% over the same period last year, to 609.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf). However, 1Q19 production is down from Ohio’s all-time high of 663.5 Bcf in 4Q18. Oil production was 5.1 million barrels, up 29% over last year’s 1Q, but down from 4Q18’s 5.8 million barrels. So, 1Q19 numbers are up from last year’s 1Q, but down from the previous quarter (4Q18). A mixed bag.
The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) yesterday released its 2019 Summer Outlook for Natural Gas report (summary below). It’s not much different than the Winter Outlook was (see