F-buds, I'm 55 years old. And I'll bet that, like me, your school teachers taught you that all our oil and natural gas (i.e., methane) was the result of a whole lotta dinosaurs conveniently dying in more or less the same place just so the evolutionary descendents of a bunch of insignificant rodents could ride around in cars.
And since there ain't no more dinosaurs, we're soon (woe is us!) just gonna hafta start using our feet again and progress into the 18th Century.
Know what? It's not true.
For those who have followed it, Jay and I have been having a discussion more or less on this topic.
I have pointed out that according to the Department of Energy, America has -- right now, today -- 270 years-worth of oil available to us in oil shale deposits. All we need do is to start using them. The price wasn't right 25 years ago, but it is today.
Well but, even so, we have to conserve it, right? I mean, no more dinosaurs.
Fact is, most of our available hydrocarbon fuel didn't come from plants or animals.
How do I know this?
The four largest planets in our solar system (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) have atmospheres comprised largely of methane. Have there ever been dinosaurs on those planets? Not a chance.
It would seem, then, that methane, at least, does not require a biological source. Where did it come from? I don't know, but I do know that it did not come from decaying velociraptors.
Well, so what? How does that help us?
Take a look at this article from the Department of Energy. Let me quote it:
"Worldwide, estimates of the natural gas potential of methane hydrate approach 400 million trillion cubic feet -- a staggering figure compared to the 5,500 trillion cubic feet that make up the world's currently proven gas reserves."
If you're keeping score, that's 72 thousand times current reserves, a virtually inexhaustible supply.
It is there for the taking.
Anybody feel better now?
And since there ain't no more dinosaurs, we're soon (woe is us!) just gonna hafta start using our feet again and progress into the 18th Century.
Know what? It's not true.
For those who have followed it, Jay and I have been having a discussion more or less on this topic.
I have pointed out that according to the Department of Energy, America has -- right now, today -- 270 years-worth of oil available to us in oil shale deposits. All we need do is to start using them. The price wasn't right 25 years ago, but it is today.
Well but, even so, we have to conserve it, right? I mean, no more dinosaurs.
Fact is, most of our available hydrocarbon fuel didn't come from plants or animals.
How do I know this?
The four largest planets in our solar system (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) have atmospheres comprised largely of methane. Have there ever been dinosaurs on those planets? Not a chance.
It would seem, then, that methane, at least, does not require a biological source. Where did it come from? I don't know, but I do know that it did not come from decaying velociraptors.
Well, so what? How does that help us?
Take a look at this article from the Department of Energy. Let me quote it:
"Worldwide, estimates of the natural gas potential of methane hydrate approach 400 million trillion cubic feet -- a staggering figure compared to the 5,500 trillion cubic feet that make up the world's currently proven gas reserves."
If you're keeping score, that's 72 thousand times current reserves, a virtually inexhaustible supply.
It is there for the taking.
Anybody feel better now?
Even though we could be in and out w/out a trace.
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