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cy esp

02/16/04 4:36 PM

#205521 RE: Zeev Hed #205519

>>Canada to develop its shales deposits<<

Correct concept, but I think you mean Canadian tar sands. Oil from shale is basicly liberating kerogen (a precursor of oil) from impermeable rock by mining and crushing then converted to oil by heating. The best oil shales are in Colorado and Utah. Tar sands are very permeable formations but the tar is too viscous to move. It must be either mined or heated to lower its viscosity to flow to a well, and further processed to be used for fuel. There are many tar sands around the world, but Canada has the best.

Cy
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TheProphet

02/16/04 5:09 PM

#205533 RE: Zeev Hed #205519

Agreed re oil prices. Looking to buy commodity puts if oil exceeds 40 again. Think we can get oil down to mid-teens by next year?

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laza

02/16/04 6:11 PM

#205552 RE: Zeev Hed #205519

Are OIL SANDS a good alternative ?
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tantal

02/16/04 10:56 PM

#205619 RE: Zeev Hed #205519

Zeev, no offense, but I wonder if you realize how energy intensive it is to turn sand into elemental silicon, or silicones, which still contain oxygen? Silica is a really wonderful thermodynamic sink. As long as you are putting more energy into the construction of the cell than it can provide over it's lifetime, why not just burn the damn gas directly - you'll waste less of it's energy.

Definately agree that efficient solar cells belong on all roofs. Not until they can "pay" for themselves, however.

On the Greenhouse effect vs. the energy independence, my understanding is that the CO2 problem is larger than is currently appreciated, and we have about 20 years to solve it, or this planet is going to warm up signficantly, and the oceans will rise.

The issue is not even that it is a certainty these things will happen, but just the chance that they will happen in my opinion is enough to demand action. Why take a chance on destruction of our planet?

Oh, yea, I forgot, that quarterly earnings report is coming up, and we don't have time to worry about the future. Not to mention that election coming up . . . .