The Keystone Pipeline

[TUMe]

Let's think about the crude in Canada. If the pipeline isn't built three things can happen. First, Canada could say let's just forget the whole thing. I believe they have said that they are not going to do that. It is a huge source of energy and revenue for them.

Shipments could continue in rail cars. That is more expensive than by pipeline, but worse it is more dangerous. Pipelines can avoid cities in the planning stage. Rail cars go where railroads are. Cities and towns are along railroads. There is also a glut of rail traffic from this. Farmers in the Northern Tier complain of difficulty in shipping crops. Planes fly pipelines and watch for problems. There isn't a plane following zillions of rail cars.

Finally, someone else could buy this stuff. The most likely one is China. So we get it out of here right? Well the latest in the series of reasons for not taking this crude is Global Warming. "Global" is also includes China, Easter Island, India and Arkansas. Any of those third world areas could refine it. The CO2 emitted would go into the same atmosphere whether it is burned in Hong Kong or Little Rock.

Now, Noble and I have both seen a few crude oils. They all have sulfur in them and other stuff, but let's pick on sulfur for now. This is heavy stuff. And usually the heavier the crude the more sulfur. Our government made us take the sulfur out of our fuels because well Hydrogen Sulfide can ruin your day and future days, Sulfur dioxide is an irritant and toxic, and just about all oxidation products of sulfur are acids and make acid rain. Folks downwind don't like their trees being killed. Downwind as far as Canada.

If videos from Chinese cities mean anything, their government lacks the ability to control pollution as well as this country does. So do you really want China refining this crude and acid rain moving into Japan, Vietnam and other countries and killing rice and coral? In this country it is removed and turned into acid for car batteries and as a chemical precursor.

This crude will be used. it makes sense to use it here where it can be best managed. It also helps move towards the day when we are no longer dependent on unstable foreign sources of energy [or as a bridge to cold fusion.] Canada is pretty stable, eh?

 

[BanditBacker]

I hate to ask a Dumb Question.... Is Cold Fusion just another name for Nuclear Energy?

 

[lawpoke87]

I would prefer to use Canada's resources and save ours for a rainy day......... or global crises. Probably makes to much sense though.

 

[TUMe]

Originally posted by BanditBacker:
I hate to ask a Dumb Question.... Is Cold Fusion just another name for Nuclear Energy?

The nuclear energy we have is fission. The splitting of atoms [either uranium or plutonium]. Fusion like the hydrogen bomb is combining hydrogen atoms to form helium. This is what the Sun does. The problem is that it is so powerful that it is difficult to control. There has been some progress with controlled fusion. When/if successful the power would be almost unlimited.

Right now it is still controversial as to whether it can be done.

 

[noble cane]

Originally posted by TUMe:

Originally posted by BanditBacker:
I hate to ask a Dumb Question.... Is Cold Fusion just another name for Nuclear Energy?

The nuclear energy we have is fission. The splitting of atoms [either uranium or plutonium]. Fusion like the hydrogen bomb is combining hydrogen atoms to form helium. This is what the Sun does. The problem is that it is so powerful that it is difficult to control. There has been some progress with controlled fusion. When/if successful the power would be almost unlimited.

Right now it is still controversial as to whether it can be done.

It will most likely be done but not for another 100+ years... and as soon as its done the enviro whacks will find a way of shutting it down.

But the country that discovers it will rule the world.

 

[WATU2]

Port Arthur is a town within Jefferson County, Texas, home to numerous huge refineries that process 900,000 barrels of crude oil a day, and the proposed end destination for the Keystone XL pipeline, that would carry bitumen from Canada's tar sand pits to the Gulf coast refineries. In a recent article, Ted Genoways, visited the residents of Port Arthur and reported that they are mostly sick and dying, calling it an 'American Sacrifice Zone'.
The largely low-income, African-American population is trying to relocate after decades of living in the shadow of one of the world's largest refinery complexes. Due to the occasional flare-off of toxic gases, numerous chimneys belching columns of black smoke into the atmosphere, and the rare accident or leak, Genoways found that residents local to Port Arthur had extremely high rates of disease and death.
Data compiled by the Texas Cancer Registry showed that cancer rates amongst the African-American community living in Jefferson County were 15% higher than in the rest of Texas, and that the mortality rate for those who had cancer was a massive 40% higher than the average Texan.
Related Article: US Refineries Respond to Latin American Shortfall
A separate study by the University of Texas Medical Branch found that residents of Port Arthur were four times more likely than people who lived 100 miles away, to suffer from heart and respiratory problems, nervous system and skin disorders, headaches and muscle aches, and ear, nose, and throat problems.
On his visit Genoway commented that many of the residents were forced to use respirators or other medical assistance to breathe.
If the Keystone XL pipeline is approved then things are likely to get even worse in Port Arthur. The pipe would deliver an additional 830,000 barrels of crude oil each day, which the refineries would then work to convert into diesel and petroleum coke. Whilst not much is known about the effects of coke, earlier in the year a dark cloud of petroleum coke appeared over Detroit, with a high content of vanadium, a cancer causing metal.

Just one of the refineries in Port Arthur. (NY Times)[/I]
When the media reports on fossil fuels, it is generally the long-term effects on the climate that are discussed, but the sad thing is that many other people suffer far more, on a personal level, and it is never reported.

This post was edited on 11/20 10:42 AM by WATU2

 

[TUMe]

Well, first congratulations on the way this is displayed. It makes for very easy reading.

I was surprised by the line "Whilst not much is known about the effects of coke." That is odd since it has been around as long as refining has. It is used in the manufacture of steel. It must be really bad since we don't know. Probably anyone trying to study it immediately died from it.

I lived a few years just across the Neches River from Port Arthur in Bridge City, TX. Epidemiology is not my strong suit but I can report that nothing in the air in the Port Arthur-Beaumont-Orange metropolitan area is the least bit toxic to mosquitoes.


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This post was edited on 11/20 8:21 AM by TUMe

 

[rabidTU]

Originally posted by TUMe:

Well, first congratulations on the way this is displayed. It makes for very easy reading.

I was surprised by the line "Whilst not much is known about the effects of coke." That is odd since it has been around as long as refining has. It is used in the manufacture of steel. It must be really bad since we don't know. Probably anyone trying to study it immediately died from it.

I lived a few years just across the Neches River from Port Arthur in Bridge City, TX. Epidemiology is not my strong suit but I can report that nothing in the air in the Port Arthur-Beaumont-Orange metropolitan area is the least bit toxic to mosquitoes.


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This post was edited on 11/20 8:21 AM by TUMe

I could read that if my eyes were configured in a vertical rather than horizontal position on my forehead.

 

[WATU2]

My apologies for the way my last post appeared. Corrected now.

 

[lawpoke87]

As far as the Keystone Pipeline and Port Arthur isn't this just a matter of which refinery will produce the diesel and coke and where the base petroleum originates. We aren't increasing our usage of these products due to the Keystone. Therefore, the refineries at Port Arthur will either get their excess crude from overseas or the petroleum will be refined at another location presumable with similar effects as the refining process and equipment are identical wherever the refinery might be located. Aren't we simply either changing the source of the petroleum or shifting the location of refinement? I don't see a net effect either way.

 

[old_goat_23]

We can fix the fossil fuel issue. Just need all liberals to stop using any energy that is produced by same. That should cut our needs by about 40%. Bicycles and sweaters, windmills in the back yards ...... would be perfect. Leave the oil and gas to us evil conservatives.

Cold fusion. TUME is pretty much on track. Three known types of nuclear energy:

1. Fission. Splitting atoms (nuclei) to release potential energy. This is done by high speed collisions that break the atoms apart. Modern reactors and gen 1 nuclear weapons use this method.

2. Fusion. Compressing/combining atoms to release potential energy. This is done my high speed collisions that force the atoms to form new atoms (lighter atoms combine to form heavier atoms). Energy comes from the left over bits and pieces. Modern nuclear weapons use this method. Basically you compress atoms.

Both #1 and #2 produce a ton of heat (hence the term "thermonuclear reaction"). The heat makes this kind of energy dangerous for use in the civilian world.

3. Cold fusion. This is a method for creating fusion energy without the associate heat. Currently the Holy Grail of energy research (outside of anti-matter and zero point which would take a loooong time to discuss).

As of now, we have yet to create a "sustainable fusion reaction" at a commercial level let alone "cold fusion". A sustainable or self sustaining fusion reaction means that the reaction produces more energy than is required to keep it going. In 2013 the geeks at NIF/Livermore Labs managed to produce a fusion reaction by heating a pellet of hydrogen fuel with lasers until a fusion reaction took place (NIF = National Ignition Facility). Energy produced was in excess of the laser energy required to start the reaction. A good step but still a long way to go. I've also seen some tidbits from LockMart that say they feel confident that they will have a fusion power plant that is commercially viable within 10 years. You can read their October press release here:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2014/october/141015ae_lockheed-martin-pursuing-compact-nuclear-fusion.html

Needless to say, many experts are skeptical of the LockMart claims and view this as a PR and potential funding stunt.

Thanks!