USGS Finds ~20,000,000,000 Barrels Worth of Oil Under Texas
97 replies, posted
[QUOTE]
This is the largest estimate of continuous oil that USGS has ever assessed in the United States.
The Wolfcamp shale in the Midland Basin portion of Texas’ Permian Basin province contains an estimated mean of 20 billion barrels of oil, 16 trillion cubic feet of associated natural gas, and 1.6 billion barrels of natural gas liquids, according to an assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey. This estimate is for [URL="http://energy.usgs.gov/GeneralInfo/HelpfulResources/EnergyGlossary.aspx#c"]continuous (unconventional) oil[/URL], and consists of [URL="http://energy.usgs.gov/GeneralInfo/HelpfulResources/EnergyGlossary.aspx#uvwxyz"]undiscovered[/URL], [URL="http://energy.usgs.gov/GeneralInfo/HelpfulResources/EnergyGlossary.aspx#t"]technically recoverable[/URL] resources.
The estimate of continuous oil in the Midland Basin Wolfcamp shale assessment is nearly three times larger than that of the 2013 USGS Bakken-Three Forks resource assessment, making this the largest estimated continuous oil accumulation that USGS has assessed in the United States to date.
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[URL]https://www.usgs.gov/news/usgs-estimates-20-billion-barrels-oil-texas-wolfcamp-shale-formation[/URL]
Note that just because we know its there it doesn't mean we will immediately tap into it, due to economics. This is what the unconventional/technical recoverable terms refer to. Of course if drilling techniques improve we will probably tap into it.
What does it matter? We aren't running out and it won't drop the cost of fuel especially now with fears of the awful Carbon Tax.
Please no, we need to move on from oil, not drill up more of it to poison the atmosphere.
I live in the Permian Basin (Odessa/Midland) and while the increased economic growth is good and everything, these periodic oil booms in the local area bring a massive influx of roughnecks and crime. Odessa is one of the most dangerous cities for its size and area apparently.
[QUOTE=BlackMageMari;51382025]Please no, we need to move on from oil, not drill up more of it to poison the atmosphere.[/QUOTE]
While I agree, until we actually have a cleaner, alternative source, we have to keep doing it. A necessary evil, if you will.
[QUOTE=Spetsnaz95;51382037]While I agree, until we actually have a cleaner, alternative source, we have to keep doing it. A necessary evil, if you will.[/QUOTE]
but thats the thing, it feels like we're not even attempting to find new ways :(
[QUOTE=Spetsnaz95;51382037]While I agree, until we actually have a cleaner, alternative source, we have to keep doing it. A necessary evil, if you will.[/QUOTE]
But we have those sources. Electric cars are the future. Nuclear power plants backed up by solar and wind are the future. Oil companies are losing billions everyday. If we abandon oil, we no longer have to prop up corrupt countries like Saudi Arabia anymore.
Our planet is literally dying, and I think we should stop using oil now while we have the chance.
[QUOTE=BlackMageMari;51382048]But we have those sources. Electric cars are the future. Nuclear power plants backed up by solar and wind are the future. Oil companies are losing billions everyday. If we abandon oil, we no longer have to prop up corrupt countries like Saudi Arabia anymore.
Our planet is literally dying, and I think we should stop using oil now while we have the chance.[/QUOTE]
You're not going to convince anybody in Texas, especially West Texas, to abandon oil until there's literally none left. If oil stops being a valuable commodity, you're looking at hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers with no training in other fields suddenly popping up. I'm not defending the use of oil or its effect on the environment, but you must understand that a large amount of people base their entire lives upon it.
[QUOTE=Spetsnaz95;51382037]While I agree, until we actually have a cleaner, alternative source, we have to keep doing it. A necessary evil, if you will.[/QUOTE]
Nuclear.
[QUOTE=New Cidem;51382066]You're not going to convince anybody in Texas, especially West Texas, to abandon oil until there's literally none left. If oil stops being a valuable commodity, you're looking at hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers with no training in other fields suddenly popping up. I'm not defending the use of oil or its effect on the environment, but you must understand that a large amount of people base their entire lives upon it.[/QUOTE]
This is a very sad realization. People care more about their immediate economic status than the literal life and death of the planet they are even barely allowed to exist on.
Humans are very self centered.
[QUOTE=New Cidem;51382066]You're not going to convince anybody in Texas, especially West Texas, to abandon oil until there's literally none left. If oil stops being a valuable commodity, you're looking at hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers with no training in other fields suddenly popping up. I'm not defending the use of oil or its effect on the environment, but you must understand that a large amount of people base their entire lives upon it.[/QUOTE]
I'm aware of that. But they are going to lose their jobs at some point. How hard would it be now to move them into the clean energy business compared to twenty, thirty years later? What will be the environmental effects that will happen to them?
The next generation is going to [I]hate us.[/I]
[QUOTE=Spetsnaz95;51382037]While I agree, until we actually have a cleaner, alternative source, we have to keep doing it. A necessary evil, if you will.[/QUOTE]
Can we link "oh boy here we go" please somebody
Can we just run out of this shit already please
[QUOTE=New Cidem;51382066]You're not going to convince anybody in Texas, especially West Texas, to abandon oil until there's literally none left. If oil stops being a valuable commodity, you're looking at hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers with no training in other fields suddenly popping up. I'm not defending the use of oil or its effect on the environment, but you must understand that a large amount of people base their entire lives upon it.[/QUOTE]
We also shouldn't invent welding robots because so many people rely on welding in factories as jobs. Their entire lives are based on it...
Oil is the factory welding of the 21st century. We still need welders because robots can't do it all, but we don't need SO MANY welders anymore. We need oil for plenty of things, but we can defo cut that wayy down. You know what happens when we start running out of oil? Everything is pretty fucked, plastics become super expensive, coach class on a plane is now first class, everyone else rides 1700's slave ship style. So instead of drill baby drill, we should be taking care and using it responsibly.
[QUOTE=BlackMageMari;51382048]But we have those sources. Electric cars are the future. Nuclear power plants backed up by solar and wind are the future. Oil companies are losing billions everyday. If we abandon oil, we no longer have to prop up corrupt countries like Saudi Arabia anymore.
Our planet is literally dying, and I think we should stop using oil now while we have the chance.[/QUOTE]
I agree, although not to that degree, power generation is complex and needs to be able to respond to changes in load, which nuclear isn't the best at, and solar and wind aren't reliably predictable.
Also, we shouldn't fully abandon oil, there are plenty of oil based products that aren't in a position to be replaced, airplane fuel, plastics, etc. Reducing our reliance on it would certainly be a plus though.
[QUOTE=Da Big Man;51382101]Can we link "oh boy here we go" please somebody[/QUOTE]
[url=https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1336387&p=43252922&highlight=#post43252922]here you go bub[/url]
dear spetsnaz95 please read this ok bye
[QUOTE=Da Big Man;51382101]Can we link "oh boy here we go" please somebody[/QUOTE]
[B][I][url=https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?p=43252922#post43252922]haha oh boy here we go again[/url][/I][/B]
[editline]17th November 2016[/editline]
shit
Dear mods delete my post and put daigennki's up
the italics and bold are way better than mine
[QUOTE=New Cidem;51382066]You're not going to convince anybody in Texas, especially West Texas, to abandon oil until there's literally none left. If oil stops being a valuable commodity, you're looking at hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers with no training in other fields suddenly popping up. I'm not defending the use of oil or its effect on the environment, but you must understand that a large amount of people base their entire lives upon it.[/QUOTE]
I suppose it comes down to whether Texan jobs or the cities of Tampa and Miami are more important...
Not a big thing, but I'd like to point out the number in the thread title is actually 20 million, when it should be 20 billion. Might wanna fix that. :smile:
Well anyhow, in addition to nuclear (fission) power plants for now, I think the development of nuclear fusion plants needs to be accelerated. They are very expensive, but in the end it will probably be worth it with the dramatically increased efficiency, and if fission was ever unsafe, even safer too. But unfortunately oil companies and such will probably never go away until oil truly runs out.
[QUOTE=Teddypimm;51382115]I agree, although not to that degree, power generation is complex and needs to be able to respond to changes in load, which nuclear isn't the best at, and solar and wind aren't reliably predictable.
Also, we shouldn't fully abandon oil, there are plenty of oil based products that aren't in a position to be replaced, airplane fuel, plastics, etc. Reducing our reliance on it would certainly be a plus though.[/QUOTE]
Throw some money at battery development and problem solved. Over the next few decades I'm sure we will see major advancements in electrification of both planes and ships. Plastics is an extremely minor part of oil consumption compared to heating and transport.
Renewables, nuclear, and batteries are the best way to a carbon free future with decent energy security that I can see.
[QUOTE=F.X Clampazzo;51382111]We also shouldn't invent welding robots because so many people rely on welding in factories as jobs. Their entire lives are based on it...[/QUOTE]
I never said we shouldn't do it. You can twist what I posted around all you want, it doesn't change anything. People will push back when you try to take their livelihood away, because for better or for worse they decided to enter an industry that turned out to be relatively short-lived and poor for the environment. The great majority of oil field workers do not believe in global warming or any kind of climate change because they're essentially in denial or so brain-washed by the companies they work for. To acknowledge the reality of it is to acknowledge that their lives are essentially over. I don't see there being a smooth transition from oil to clean energy. It's going to be a very clunky and unfortunate process. Again, not defending them, the oil industry, the use of oil, or anything like that. So don't try to put words in my mouth.
[editline]16th November 2016[/editline]
[QUOTE=froztshock;51382136]I suppose it comes down to whether Texan jobs or the cities of Tampa and Miami are more important...[/QUOTE]
To roughnecks, being able to blow large sums of money whenever they please is infinitely more important. They're mostly fresh high school graduates with no career ambitions looking to make easy money and willing to travel to do it.
[QUOTE=New Cidem;51382157]I never said we shouldn't do it. You can twist what I posted around all you want, it doesn't change anything. People will push back when you try to take their livelihood away, because for better or for worse they decided to enter an industry that turned out to be relatively short-lived and poor for the environment. The great majority of oil field workers do not believe in global warming or any kind of climate change because they're essentially in denial or so brain-washed by the companies they work for. To acknowledge the reality of it is to acknowledge that their lives are essentially over. I don't see there being a smooth transition from oil to clean energy. It's going to be a very clunky and unfortunate process. Again, not defending them, the oil industry, the use of oil, or anything like that. So don't try to put words in my mouth.
[editline]16th November 2016[/editline]
To roughnecks, being able to blow large sums of money whenever they please is infinitely more important. They're mostly fresh high school graduates with no career ambitions looking to make easy money and willing to travel to do it.[/QUOTE]
If you back rooftop solar hard then you can repurpose a lot of unskilled labourers for installing panels on people's roofs without that much training.
[QUOTE]The US solar industry now employs more workers than oil and gas, a new report from the Solar Foundation claims, with most of the jobs in power panel installation.
Last year, the US solar industry grew by 20% for a third year in a row, according to the foundation’s National Solar Job Census 2015. By the end of 2015, it employed nearly 209,000 solar workers, more than those employed in oil and gas extraction.
[/QUOTE]
[url]https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/12/us-solar-industry-employees-grows-oil-gas[/url]
[QUOTE=DiBBs27;51382091]This is a very sad realization. People care more about their immediate economic status than the literal life and death of the planet they are even barely allowed to exist on.
Humans are very self centered.[/QUOTE]
Immediate economic status being "I don't want to die"
Texas continuing to be the best state.
[QUOTE=J!NX;51382110]Can we just run out of this shit already please[/QUOTE]
we need oil for a lot more than just petrol buddy
I just filled up at $1.80 a gallon here in Indiana. If you adjust for inflation, that's nearly the cheapest that gas has ever cost in the United States. In 1931, at 17 cents a gallon, adjusted for inflation, today would cost $1.75. Gas costs us half of what it cost in the 'good o'l days' of the 1960 per gallon. That's just crazy to me.
[QUOTE=Ajacks;51382240]I just filled up at $1.80 a gallon here in Indiana. If you adjust for inflation, that's nearly the cheapest that gas has ever cost in the United States. In 1931, at 17 cents a gallon, adjusted for inflation, today would cost $1.75. Gas costs us half of what it cost in the 'good o'l days' of the 1960 per gallon. That's just crazy to me.[/QUOTE]
If you remember last year when prices got super duper low for those couple of weeks, when I lived in Lubbock I saw gas for 1.23$, that was the lowest I've ever seen it in my life.
[QUOTE=BlackMageMari;51382095]I'm aware of that. But they are going to lose their jobs at some point. How hard would it be now to move them into the clean energy business compared to twenty, thirty years later? What will be the environmental effects that will happen to them?
The next generation is going to [I]hate us.[/I][/QUOTE]
they dont give a shit about the future, they don't want to starve or have to live on foodstamps after losing their jobs now
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