[Culturechat] What does Jim Kunstler know?
Kk5qq@aol.com
Kk5qq@aol.com
Wed, 29 Dec 2004 22:56:33 EST
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In a message dated 12/29/2004 7:25:38 PM Central Standard Time,
jclancy@billtrak.com writes:
> But at some point desalinization and pumping begins to make economic sense,
> as it does today in parts of the Middle East.
The desalination plants in the KSA are fueled by the cheap and abundant
natural gas that was a byproduct of crude oil production. (Most oil reservoirs
also produce some amount of natural gas that had been "dissolved" into the crude
oil under downhole temperatures and pressures but is released as the oil is
brought to the surface -- sort of like the bubbles of CO2 that appear in a
carbonated soft drink bottle only after the cap is popped to release the pressure.)
In fact that gas may not be so cheap now that LNG capabilities are being
installed to deliver and sell it to energy-starved parts of the world.
Personally I favor nuclear power both to desalinize sea water and to make the
hydrogen (by dissociation of water) that may fuel the motor cars of the
future. And to make electricity. Let's save our dwindling hydrocarbons for
petrochemicals.
And yes, fresh water shortages may grow to rival crude oil shortages in
impeding progress of civilization in future decades.
Irv
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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=3D3 PTSIZE=3D12 FAMILY=
=3D"SCRIPT" FACE=3D"Comic Sans MS" LANG=3D"0">In a message dated 12/29/2004=20=
7:25:38 PM Central Standard Time, jclancy@billtrak.com writes:<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=3DCITE style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT=
: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"></FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000"=
BACK=3D"#ffffff" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D2 PTSIZE=3D10 F=
AMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0">But at some point desalinizati=
on and pumping begins to make economic sense, as it does today in parts of t=
he Middle East.</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" BACK=3D"#ffffff" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR:=20=
#ffffff" SIZE=3D3 PTSIZE=3D12 FAMILY=3D"SCRIPT" FACE=3D"Comic Sans MS" LANG=
=3D"0"><BR>
The desalination plants in the KSA are fueled by the cheap and abundant natu=
ral gas that was a byproduct of crude oil production. (Most oil reserv=
oirs also produce some amount of natural gas that had been "dissolved" into=20=
the crude oil under downhole temperatures and pressures but is released as t=
he oil is brought to the surface -- sort of like the bubbles of CO2 that app=
ear in a carbonated soft drink bottle only after the cap is popped to releas=
e the pressure.) In fact that gas may not be so cheap now that LNG cap=
abilities are being installed to deliver and sell it to energy-starved parts=
of the world.<BR>
<BR>
Personally I favor nuclear power both to desalinize sea water and to make th=
e hydrogen (by dissociation of water) that may fuel the motor cars of the fu=
ture. And to make electricity. Let's save our dwindling hydrocar=
bons for petrochemicals.<BR>
<BR>
And yes, fresh water shortages may grow to rival crude oil shortages in impe=
ding progress of civilization in future decades.<BR>
<BR>
Irv</FONT></HTML>
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