Love this Northern Lights photo from Norway (V. Belov)
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Winter solstice 2022 in the Northern Hemisphere is today at 4:47 PM US ET
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Northern Lights, Norway, Winter solstice on December 21, 2022| 1 Comment »
Crushed by the passing of Franco Harris
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Franco Harris, Penn State on December 21, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I met him when he was a freshman at Penn State (1968). He was wise beyond his years. The rest is history. RIP Franco.
Perhaps most fitting is that the indelible image of him reaching down to make that catch, to save the day, is symbolic of a big man reaching down to lift others he could help.
Sue Paterno
White Christmas in the Gulf of Mexico? 😀
Posted in climate, Gulf of Mexico, Offshore Energy - General, Uncategorized, tagged Gulf of Mexico, snow, White Christmas on December 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »
HSBC will no longer finance new oil and gas field projects
Posted in climate, energy policy, UK, Uncategorized, tagged finance, HSBC, oil and gas on December 14, 2022| Leave a Comment »
This rather arrogant and condescending policy makes neither good business sense nor good social sense (unless you support energy poverty), but I’m sure the executive team is proud. That said, they do seem to have left themselves with a fair amount of wiggle room.
In line with the policy, we will no longer provide new lending or capital markets finance for the specific purpose of projects pertaining to new oil and gas fields and related infrastructure when the primary use is in conjunction with new fields.
We will continue to provide finance or advisory services to energy sector clients at the corporate level, where clients’ transition plans are consistent with our 2030 portfolio-level targets and net zero by 2050 commitment.
HSBC
Ultradeep geothermal – It’s all about the drilling
Posted in drilling, energy, Uncategorized, tagged gyrotron, Oak Ridge Lab, Quaise Energy, ultradeep geothermal on December 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The hype for ultradeep geothermal is building, as it should be given the intermittency and energy density issues that limit the potential of other renewable energy options. However, the ability to drill 20 km into the earth’s surface with millimeter, rock-melting waves has yet to be demonstrated.
Conventional drilling technology gets you through sedimentary formations to the hard basement rock that lies below. That is where gyrotrons will be expected to vaporize rock to depths needed to tap into unlimited 900+ deg F geothermal energy. But questions regarding gyrotron reliability, hole stability, and material removal. Quaise Energy is working with DOE’s Oak Ridge lab to resolve these issues. Field tests are expected over the next few years with initial energy production in 2026. This is all very exciting, but even conventional drilling is seldom routine, so complications should be expected.
Here’s a very good video:
I thought this tweet about the Mauna Loa volcano was satire, but apparently the author is serious
Posted in climate, Uncategorized, tagged CO2, fracking, Mauna Loa on December 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Iran 0 USA 1
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Iran, Tyler Adams, USA, World Cup on November 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Can we dedicate the victory to the Iranian “journalist” who aggressively questioned Tyler Adams yesterday (see clip below)? Great response from Tyler who is nothing but class on and off the field. A great captain.
More White House briefing humor
Posted in energy policy, Uncategorized, tagged 9000 permits, undrilled leases, venezuela, White House on November 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Q Does the President think there’s some benefit to the climate to drill oil in Venezuela and not here?
MR. KIRBY: No, it has nothing to do with a benefit to the climate, Peter. Again, there are 9,000 unused permits here in the United States on federal land that oil and gas companies can and should take advantage of. Nine thousand. And we’re talking about one there in Venezuela.
Oh no, not the 9000 permits response yet again!
Can someone please help the White House staff understand the difference between leases and permits, and the process that is followed in exploring for and producing oil and gas? Perhaps this will help.
Wisdom
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Richard Feynman, wisdom on November 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »
On Thanksgiving …
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Thanksgiving on November 24, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Grateful for my family and friends, and the many outstanding energy professionals I have had the privilege of working with!
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 