NEWS
Back to main page04.07.2010: Dependence on oil, natural gas and coal and uranium alters geologic formations aged million years
Mining and drilling for energy sources destabilises geologic formation which were stable for million of years. Empty caverns are left behind and new caverns are leached out to provide stowage space for oil and natural gas. Some accidents with sink holes are just a small example of how far energy economy is interfering with primary structures of our earth.
Salt domes and leached caverns [1]
A salt dome is a type of structural dome formed when a thick bed of evaporite minerals (mainly salt, or halite) found at depth intrudes vertically into surrounding rock strata, forming a diapir.
The salt that forms these domes was deposited within restricted marine basins, exposed to evaporation. Over time, the salt is covered with sediment and becomes buried. Since the density of salt is generally less than that of surrounding material, it has a tendency to move upward toward the surface, forming large bulbous domes and other structures as it rises.
Caverns are more expensive than depleted oil field but easier to handle [2]
Most existing gas storage in the United States is in depleted natural gas or oil fields that are close to consumption centres.
The large majority of salt cavern storage facilities have been developed in salt dome formations located in the Gulf Coast states. Salt caverns have also been leached from bedded salt formations in Northeastern, Midwestern, and Southwestern states. Cavern construction is more costly than depleted field conversions when measured on the basis of dollars per thousand cubic feet of working gas capacity, but the ability to perform several withdrawal and injection cycles each year reduces the per-unit cost of each thousand cubic feet of gas injected and withdrawn.
Cheap Strategic Petroleum Reserve in artificial salt caverns with management in New Orleans [3]
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) management office is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The reserve is stored at four sites on the Gulf of Mexico, each located near a major center of petrochemical refining and processing. Each site contains a number of artificial caverns created in salt domes below the surface.
Individual caverns within a site can be up to 1000 m below the surface, average dimensions are 60 m wide and 600 m deep, and capacity ranges from 6 to 37 million barrels (1 to 4.3 million m³). Almost $4 billion was spent on the facilities. The decision to store in caverns was taken to reduce costs; the Department of Energy claims it is roughly 10 times cheaper to store oil below surface with the added advantages of no leaks and a constant natural churn of the oil due to a temperature gradient in the caverns. The caverns were created by drilling down and then dissolving the salt with water.
Salt dome caverns in Germany [4]
4.2 billion cubic metres of gas are held in the WINGAS natural gas storage facility in Rehden which the largest of its kind in Western Europe which can store 20 per cent of Germany's natural gas.
Germany's most important gas exploration area - the Entenschnabel (or "Duck's Bill"). It was developed by the four partners of the German North Sea Consortium - BEB Erdgas und Erdöl GmbH, EWE AG, RWE Dea AG and Wintershall AG as operator. It is situated 300 kilometres offshore of the Continental Shelf in the German sector of the North Sea
Crude oil reservoir in Germany: 2,000,000 tonnes of oil were produced in 2002 by the Mittelplate consortium that consists of operator RWE Dea AG and Wintershall AG (50 per cent stake each). Mittelplate is undoubtedly Germany's largest crude oil reservoir in the Tidal Flats offshore the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein. Total production already amounts to more than 10 million tonnes of oil.
Formation of the salt dome of Etzel/Germany [5]
260 million years before our era the earth climate gave origin to desert conditions in the northern hemisphere. A great part of the continental shelf sunk and was flooded by seawater. Evaporation leaded to salt deposition of limestone, sulphates (gypsum), rock salt, potassium mineral salts and carnallite (a hydrated potassium magnesium chloride), which was covered with heavy material by tectonic movement of the earth surface. These salt formations were pressed upwards from a depth of 5000 metres forming salt domes.- See map of salt formations in East Frisia. See loccation of Etzel and salt domes
Formation of salt dome caverns in East Frisia: Holes are drilled to reach the salt formation. Ocean water from the Jade are then pumped down dissolving the salts. Cigar-like cavers with maximal 35 metres diameter and 400 to 650 metres depth are formed. The resulting brine of concentrated salts are returned to the sea at the Jade delta. Natural gas or crude oil can now be stored in such caverns. To use the stored oil, water is pumped in. The oil swims on top of the water and can thus be pressed out.
The caverns of Rüstringen have a capacity of 7 million cubic metres, and Etzel may store 500 million cubic metres of natural gas of the Norvegian company Statoil delivered by the sea pipeline Europipe. All activities of storing and recovery are managed electronically by Statoil headquarter in Bygness. Temperature, composition, pressure and quantity of the Etzel caverns are controlled by Statoil using satellite connection.
A lowering of the surface of 1,5 metres is expected within 35 years. Residents are concerned about their buildings by these activities. [6]
According to Kreutzburg, founder of “Citizens Initiative for Quality of Life Horsten-Etzel-Marx” , the villages of Etzel and Marx are completely undermined by leached cavers. [7]
Residents are afraid their buildings will be damaged by geologic instability caused by the artificial formation of the cavern. It we need compromise the geologic stability of a region it is important to resettle residents, so they can live without fear that their house disappears in a sinkhole. The oil, natural gas and coal companies, however choose the cheap way and take risks. They are not willing to pay for resettlements and present safety expertises of all kinds.
What can go wrong? [8]
Sinkholes: The sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by circulating ground water. As the rock dissolves, spaces and caverns develop underground. These sinkholes can be dramatic because the surface land usually stays intact until there is not enough support. Then, a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur.
Sinkholes can be human-induced and new sinkholes have been correlated to land-use practices, especially, from ground-water pumping, construction, and development practices. They can also form when natural water-drainage patterns are changed and new water-diversion systems are developed. Some sinkholes form when the land surface is changed, such as when industrial and runoff-storage ponds are created; the substantial weight of the new material can trigger an underground collapse of supporting material, thus, causing a sinkhole.
Examples of such sinkholes are: See pictures at:
Landslide at Concordie Sea, Germany: [9] An enormous landslide was caused by mining activities. Two residents disapeared during this disaster.
Guatemala 24.02.2007: Sinkhole in the city of Guatemala. [10]
Guatemala 01.06.2010: [11] Giant sinkhole swallowed up a space larger than the area of a street intersection, a three-story building and a house fell into the hole.
Texas: [12] A big sinkhole swallowed a truck in Texas. According to Hugh Bishop, of Liberty County Sheriffs Department the hole might have been caused by a salt dome that collapsed.
The hydrogen technology is the answer to a rotten energy politic of USA.
[1] Wikipedia: Salt dome.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_dome
[2] The Basics of Underground Natural Gas Storage. EIA August 2004.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/analysis_publications/storagebasics/storagebasics.html
[3] Wikipedia: Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Petroleum_Reserve
[4] Wintershall: Facts and Figures.
http://www.wintershall.com/343.html?&L=11
[5] Nordwest Reisemagazin: Die Entstehung des Etzeler Salzstockes
http://www.nordwestreisemagazin.de/etzel/salzstock.htm
[6] Anzeige für Harlingerland: Manfred Wohlers: “In den Kavernen kommen nur Wassersoffe” 21.06.2010.
[7] Hannoversche Allgemeine: In Ostfriesland entstehen riesige Gasspeicher. 26.05.2010
http://www.haz.de/Nachrichten/Politik/Niedersachsen/In-Ostfriesland-entstehen-riesige-Gasspeicher
[8] msnbc: Third body pulled from giant sinkhole. 24.02.2007.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17303991/
[9] Spiegel Online: Sachsen-Anhalt: Erdrutsch reißt zwei Häuser mit. 12.2.2010
http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-44499.html
[10] National Geographic News: Giant sinkhole swallows Guatemala homes. 26.02.2007.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070226-sinkhole-photo.html
[11] CNN: Huge hole in Guatemala city.01.06.2010
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/05/31/honduras.storm.emergency/index.html
[12] BBC: Huge hole swallows truck in Texas. 08.05.2008.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7391071.stm
21.06.2010: The German Deepwater Horizon rig catastrophe [1]
Energy systems bear hidden dangers. The sinking of the Horizon rig got headlines and the interest of the entire world because of pictures of oily birds. However, what BP has done is a small incident compared with the dying of the humanity initiated in Germany.
The German Horizon catastrophe takes place at the nuclear repository at the salt mine Asse 2 near the cities of Wolfenbüttel and Braunschweig.
Between 1967 and 1978, 125,787 drums and waste packages containing low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste were emplaced in Asse II (124,494 drums with low-level and 1,293 drums with intermediate-level radioactive waste).
The by far largest part of the circa 45,000 cubic metres of radioactive waste originates from the facilities of today’s nuclear power plant operators Eon, Vattenfall Europe, RWE, and EnBW. At the beginning of 2008 the total activity amounted to approximately 2,700,000 gigabecquerel (1 gigabecquerel equals 1 billion becquerel).
These drum are corroding. Radioactive salt brine is leaking in the repository and walls are collapsing. Some 12.000 litres/day of radioactive brine must be transferred to another repository and is stored there.
Asse 2 is the an example on how dangerous technologies are handled without any safety provisions regarding mining, processing and storing uranium and its waste. USA chooses the cheapest way. It leaves drum unprotected in the environment at common disposal sites. See Picture. [2]
At some nuclear reactors across the country, spent fuel is kept on site, above ground in containers or under water at the power plant facilities. See picture [3]
The Review Plan for a repository of Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Wastes in a Proposed Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada dates from 1002 of George W. Bush government. The Review Plan was revived by the Secretary of Energy Steven Chu for storage of high-level radioactive waste. [4]
If ever built, the Yucca Mountain repository will be the Horizon of Nevada, a nightmare for coming generations, a copy of the German Asse 2 catastrophe. [5]
[1] Radioactive waste in Asse II. Where the Radioactive Waste in Asse II Comes from.
http://www.endlager-asse.de/cln_104/EN/2_WhatIs/D_RadioactiveWaste/_node.html
[2] ASSE II: Atommülllager des Vorarlberger Stromlastverteiler EnBW
Link picture
[3] NRC: Typical Dry Cask Storage System
http://www.nrc.gov/waste/spent-fuel-storage/diagram-typical-dry-cask-system.html
[4] Yucca Mountain Review Plan (NUREG-1804, Revision 2)
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1804/#pubinfo
[5] United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. NRC. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel.
http://www.nrc.gov/waste.html
17.06.2010: Obama's deal with BP 2010 revives the gas tragedy of Bhopal in 1984. [1]
BP agreed on June 17 2010 to President Barack Obama's demand to place about $20 billion in a special fund to pay damage claims from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill [2]. It seems to be a PR exit strategy of Obama an BP as well.
It is unclear how BP will pay for the escrow account, a first sum of two billion are expected. Residents complain that the claims process is too long and complicated and that BP is paying out too little money. Kenneth Feinberg will administer the BP escrow fund. He also oversaw a compensation fund for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attack . Many relatives of the victims, in special the members of the NY fire department, were discontent.
Deals of a government with enterprises always result in protecting the industry. The most prominent case was the methyl isocyanate gas tragedy of Bhopal/India when Union Carbide/Dow Chemicals was found liable for the disaster, but has denied responsibility. Dow says the legal case was resolved in 1989 claiming that Union Carbide paid $470 million as settlement. Most of deaths and disabilities were not compensated. Today poisonous chemicals released by Union Carbide/Dow Chemicals still threatens the whole region. The gulf oil spill will also poison the whole region for decades contaminating marine life and seafood.
Reasonable claims ?: The British Prime Minister David Cameron is backing BP saying the company was eager to face claims arising from the spill but it should not have to pay any that are too far removed from the disaster. Questions will arise about how damage on people an on the environment will ever be compensated under such requirements.
Meanwhile the oil spill is expected to go on until August, when a relief drilling is expected to halt up more than 60,000 barrels per day of crude oil flowing from the well. The water of the Gulf of Mexico will be poisoned for half a century. The hydrogen alternative to oil can be installed within three month. However neither President Obama, his Energy Ministry Steven Chu, nor the Congress of the United States have the guts to change the "Bhopal misery of the Gulf of Mexico".
The US government is nothing more than a plaything of the almighty lobby of the energy giants which will use the claim fund to play down the water poisoning and maintain the status quo.
[1] Bhopal: A long road: the 26 year timeline of the criminal case.
http://bhopal.net/2010dharna/blog/
[2] BP Establishes $20 Billion Claims Fund for Deepwater Horizon Spill and Outlines Dividend Decisions. BP 16 June 20101.
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7062966
05.06.2010: Solar power may reduce pollution in Kuwait, says professor Lamia Jawhar [1]
Benefit from the use of alternative energy in Kuwait were elucidated by the professor of vital chemistry at Kuwait University, Lamia Jawhar, and Ahmad Al-Jassar, the Ministry's Undersecretary at a workshop held at the Ministry of Electricity and Water.
Ahmad Al-Jassar stressed that the ministry is interested in alternative energy and solar energy as a promising source of energy in the future to decrease the influence of pollution on human health
According to Dr Lamia Jawhar the emissions of power plants using oil as fuel contaminate the food, water and air with cancer causing materials. This contamination has increased since the Iraqi Invasion of 1990. She recommends to move towards renewable energy instead of depending solely on oil generated energy. Oil resources are destroying Kuwait's only source of food, the ocean and polluting Kuwait shores.
Cooling water of power plants kills all sea life up to two kilometres
Dr. Jawhar reports that no signs of biological presence can be detected in sea waters in the proximity of power plants up to two kilometres into the sea, due to the high temperature of waters dumped into the sea, reaching 44 degrees, while the maximum limit is 28 degrees.
Jawhar did not call for the closing of the current power stations but presented examples of environmentally friendly ways to generate electricity used in the United Arab Emirates..
Environmental pollution may cause miscarriages amongst pregnant women, cause sterility, brain cancer and several other diseases, said Dr. Jawhar .
[1] Solar power to decrease the influence of pollution on human health: Scientist. Kuwait Times. June 05, 2010.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTA5NzE0MTQyMA==
04.06.2010: Weak regulations of the US Government caused the oil spill of the Horizon [1]
Environmental protection regulations in Canada demand explicitly a parallel relieve drilling in deep sea drilling to avoid events such as those who leaded to the explosion of the Horizon.
The US has a laissez-faire attitude in relation to environmental protection. It does not foresee such relieve drilling in deep sea activities to increase the competitive advantage of the American industry. This lapse resulted in an unmeasurable damage of the environment.
Now is the time for Obama and the EPA to look after global environmental interests and abandon the destructive politics of industrial interests. Now is the time to change to solar energy, wind turbines and hydrogen economy.
[1] BP-Desaster lässt Ölpläne in Grönland wackeln. Wir Klimaretter. Info 29.05.2010.
http://www.wir-klimaretter.de/hintergruende/52-energie/5963-groenlands-oelplaene-infrage-gestellt
02.06.2010: Green energy for Kuwait by The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)
Green energy for communication in Kuwait [1]
Kuwait experiences electricity shortage resulting in power cuts during summer. The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) defined plans to improve the situation, such as the Wind Energy Program being performed at Um Amarah in collaboration with Wataniya Telecom CSR.
The wind energy project was inspired by the need to start utilizing renewable resources available as a means of power supply for telecommunication towers located in remote areas that provide them with an efficient and easy source of electricity.
According to Fuad Al-Abalani of Wataniya Telecom, the company provides five 4.2 KW wind turbines to KISR that will be installed in Um Amarah. The electricity will be used in telecommunication towers at remote areas.
Dr Naji Al-Mutairi stressed that the KISR prepared plans and maps which indicate that wind energy is available in Kuwait during the whole year in Kabd, Shuwaikh, and Um Amarah.
The Energy efficiency for buildings seminar in Kuwait [2]
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research(KISR) Environment and Urban Development Division, Building and Energy Technologies Department held a Scientific Seminar on 'Solar Control Film Buildings.' [3]
Buildings in Kuwait consume around 84% of the total energy consumption. KISR's research targets the development of 'Energy Conservation Code of Practice,' [4] use new energy efficient technologies that suit the local weather conditions, and energy auditing. The KISR's studies focus on the enhancement of thermal performance in buildings through specifying the thermal resistance of walls, roofs and windows, variables affecting the thermal build-upon windows such as location, thermal bridges and air infiltration were calculated. A study proved that using solar control films of IQue can reduce the peak power demand between 4.7 percent to 6.7 percent and saves around 9,7663 kWh annually.
The Solar Control Window Film improves the window. Solar heat in form of radiation from 0.78 millimicra to 2.5 millimicra penetrates through the glazing into indoor heating up the indoor space.
Hydrogen to store solar and wind energy [5]
Large wind farms and photovoltaic arrays are being installed. The hydrogen technology opens a new market of fuel for transportation and is suitable to stabilize the electrical grid. This new economy my become a new source of wealth for the Arabian countries, blessed by high sunshine.
[1] Plans to tap wind energy to face power shortage Kuwait Times 01.06.2010.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTAyNDAyNTk2Ng==
[2] KISR takes lead role in conservation of energy. Kuwait Times 01.06.2010.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTAzNzQ3OTcxMw==
[3] Solar Control Window Film. Emsd.
http://www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/e_download/pee/wf-pamphlet-eng.pdf
[4] The State of Energy Conservation Policies in Middle East Buildings. Carboun Middle East Sustainability and Environment.
http://www.carboun.com/sustainable-development/sustainable-design/the-state-of-energy-conservation-policies-in-middle-east-buildings/
[5] The Global Hydrogen Initiative
http://www.desertenergyproject.net/Global_Initiative.pdf
Carbon Capture and Store (CCS) [1]
To produce 1 kWh of electricity it is necessary to burn 280 g of coal. The carbon capture and storage (CCS) system rises the demand of coal up to 350 g of coal to produce 1 kWh , producing 0.8 kg CO2.
Transport of the CO2 are calculated with 50 to 60 Euro /Ton. The European Union, leading this technology aims to get it down to 20 Euro which increases the price by 1.6 Cent per one kWh.
Even in case the consumer is willing to accept the horrible high costs of CCS, one must ask where to story the CO2? A coal power plant of 700 MW consumes 1 million tonnes of coal per year. Three million tonnes of CO2 are created which must be compressed and cooled down to 20°C to be liquefied. To a volume of 4 million cubic metres. These volumes cannot be stored at the source, but pumped to a nearby cavern.
In USA 50 per cent of electricity is won by coal power plants. The CCS system is not feasible. The US government must abandon its policy of backing the fossil eneregy economy.
[1] Was bringt das „CO2-freie Kohlekraftwerk“? Novo-Magazin.de. Heft 84 Sep/Okt 2006.
http://www.novo-magazin.de/84/novo8446.htm
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