Category Archives: Energy

the posts in this category used to be in “Energy in A Nutshell” at my former web site.

The electric grid, critical interdependencies, vulnerabilities: U.S. House hearing 2003

Preface.  Of course, this website explains why the grid can’t stay up without fossil fuels, so by 2050 the grid will only be up in a few places, perhaps China, the Middle East, and Russia if war hasn’t brought on … Continue reading

Posted in Blackouts, Cascading Failure, Congressional Record U.S., CyberAttacks, Interdependencies | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The electric grid, critical interdependencies, vulnerabilities: U.S. House hearing 2003

Biofuel distribution wastes valuable diesel fuel

Biofuels can’t use the existing refined petroleum distribution pipeline system, by far the cheapest way to move fuel — 17.5 times cheaper than truck, 5 times less than rail, 2.25 times less than barge, on average (Curley), so delivery of … Continue reading

Posted in Biofuels | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Biofuel distribution wastes valuable diesel fuel

Oil Infrastructure – pipelines, refineries, terminals

Sider, A. and Friedman, N. November 2, 2016. More than half of U.S. Pipelines are at least 46 years old. Building new systems has become harder amid opposition from landowners and environmental groups. Wall Street Journal. More than 60% of … Continue reading

Posted in Oil, Oil & Gas, Pipeline | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Oil Infrastructure – pipelines, refineries, terminals

The difference between depletion and decline rate in oil fields

Notes from 26 page: Höök, M., Davidsson, S., Johansson, S., Tang, X. 2014. Decline and depletion rates of oil production: a comprehensive investigation. Philosophical Transactions. Series A: Mathematical, physical, and engineering science, 372 Depletion rate is the rate that the … Continue reading

Posted in Flow Rate, Oil, Peak Oil | Comments Off on The difference between depletion and decline rate in oil fields

Energy generation water consumption

[ Notice how much water biofuels use, especially soybeans for biodiesel Alice Friedemann   www.energyskeptic.com  author of “When Trucks Stop Running: Energy and the Future of Transportation”, 2015, Springer] Notes from “Working Document of the NPC Future Transportation Fuels Study. Topic … Continue reading

Posted in Biofuels, Energy Production | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Energy generation water consumption

Hirsch, R.L. Mitigation of maximum world oil production: shortage scenarios

Notes from: Hirsch, R.L., 2008. Mitigation of maximum world oil production: Shortage scenarios. Energy Policy, 36(2): 881–889.  World GDP Growth & World Oil Production Growth Have Tracked For Decades:   A 1% change in current world oil production equates to … Continue reading

Posted in Peak Oil, Robert Hirsch | Comments Off on Hirsch, R.L. Mitigation of maximum world oil production: shortage scenarios

Coal-to-liquids (CTL) can not compensate for declining oil & natural gas production

Notes from 23 page: Höök, M. & Aleklett, K. 2010. A review on coal-to-liquid fuels & its coal consumption. International journal of energy research Vol. 34 10:848-864 Annual decline in existing crude oil production is around 4-8%, equivalent to an … Continue reading

Posted in Coal to Liquids (CTL), Flow Rate | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Coal-to-liquids (CTL) can not compensate for declining oil & natural gas production

Critique of LCA & EROI Wind research

[This paper criticizes  LCA and EROI wind studies] Notes from 22 page: Davidsson, S., Höök, M., Wall, G. 2012. A review of life cycle assessments on wind energy systems. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment.         … Continue reading

Posted in EROEI Energy Returned on Energy Invested, Wind | Comments Off on Critique of LCA & EROI Wind research

How different nations have coped with oil shortages

Preface. In this article, Friedrichs shows how differently Cuba, North Korea, and Japan coped after a sudden loss of most of their oil.  I first became aware of how essential oil was for nations when I read Daniel Yergin’s 1991 … Continue reading

Posted in Cuba, North Korea, Oil shock collapse, Peak Oil | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How different nations have coped with oil shortages

Hydrocarbon liquids, drop-in fuels, oil refining, oil distribution, GTL, CTL

Notes from 41 page: National Petroleum Council. 2012. Chapter 11: Hydrocarbon Liquids.                        Hydrocarbon liquids have properties that make them high-quality transportation fuels and allow the supply chain to operate … Continue reading

Posted in Coal to Liquids (CTL), GTL Gas-To-Liquids, Oil | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Hydrocarbon liquids, drop-in fuels, oil refining, oil distribution, GTL, CTL