Comments by Robert Rapier Subscribe

On Final Thoughts on Methanol

Hi Ed,

I just lost another, so am having the same issues. Never had a problem before today. I usually do copy and paste my comments, but didn't on that earlier one.

RR

On Final Thoughts on Methanol

Now I seem to have had a reply disappear. I responded to Geoff's request for additional information on methanol metabolism in the environment. I will wait to see if it shows up before rewriting it.

RR

On Final Thoughts on Methanol

Rick,

I see a reply above from you referencing an EPA link. Was there another from you that has vanished?

Thanks, RR

On Final Thoughts on Methanol

I think DME is a good fuel with tremendous potential. It can serve as a replacement for gasoline, diesel, or lpg. It is easily produced from methanol.

RR

On Final Thoughts on Methanol

Biggest difference in MTBE and methanol is that methanol is very short lived out in the environment. Microbes consume it very quickly, so methanol in groundwater isn't something to worry about.

RR

On The BP Oil Rig Disaster

Geoff, I think eventually the momentum will build again, but precious time is going to be lost. The next time momentum builds to this level will be when gasoline prices are even higher than they are now, and as you know they can't just go out and turn on the taps and have the fuel show up at the service station. So I think the issue will die for now, to be resurrected later when it is too late to come online when we really need it.

On Will Solar Prices Fall into Grid Parity?

All, just to be clear, this essay was not written by me. I post guest essays from time to time, and it should not be implied that I endorse all aspects of all guest posts. In fact, sometimes I post guest posts that I disagree with in all aspects. Not the case here, as I am very supportive of solar PV, but I want to make the authorship clear as I am getting a lot of "Why do you think this?" types of questions.

On Looks Like I Struck a Nerve

Hi Margaret,

I agree with your comments, and have written about some of those issues previously. I wanted to avoid opening up to big of a can of worms here, though, and just focus on the single issue. The ethanol lobby is good enough at dissembling that if you throw too many issues on the table, they will succeed in thoroughly confusing people with their responses. Here, with a single issue, it becomes more problematic for them.

On Algal Oil for $2 a Gallon?

Thanks for those informative comments, Durwood. I intend to extract them and post them on my blog as they add a lot of light to the claims.

Cheers, Robert

On Events in Venezuela

Actually, that is exactly what you asked: "Out of curiosity, when where those contracts torn up, Robert?"

Production of C+C is down a couple hundred thousand barrels in the past 4 years, despite the fact that their stated goal is to raise production. They have the reserves, but they haven't invested enough to develop them.

There have also been a number of stories about foreign investment drying up in Venezuela:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1224939/foreign_investment_in_v...

On Events in Venezuela

They were torn up in 2007 after many years of ConocoPhillips investing in the country and creating jobs. Chavez saw oil prices go up, and decided that while COP took the risk, he wanted the reward.

The companies that signed contracts did so with the hope conditions change. You can't do business in a country where the leader can just jack up your tax rate to 90% when you start to make money. And of course the ones that stayed have had their tax rates raised yet again:

http://i-r-squared.blogspot.com/2008/03/newsflash-chavez-to-increase-oil...

This explains why Venezuela's oil industry is in such steep decline.

On Events in Venezuela

No David, I have lived through Chavez's actions. I worked for ConocoPhillips when he tore up the contracts. We had invested hundreds on millions of dollars to upgrade the heavy oil there. It is a very expensive and capital intensive process. We created numerous jobs there related to our activities there, and we were responsible operators. When oil prices went up, Chavez tore up the contracts and tried to make everyone sign new contracts that jacked up the tax rates. We refused, and he seized all of our assets. So I am certainly anti-Chavez, but it has nothing to do with urban legends.

Second, of course PVDSA has underinvested. That's because their revenues are being diverted. You can't operate an oil company that way; it is too capital intensive. This is Chavez running the industry into the ground.