24 Replies to ““If you know that there are different kinds of offshore ” oil rigs ” . . .””

  2. The oil boom that spawned the industrial innovation, that led to the wealth that was unparalleled in lifting the average worker out of poverty. The same oil that is now vilified in the left’s quest to regain the poverty that was the norm in the 30’s. All in the name of some very bad science and snake oil salesmen that take advantage of the easily brainwashed simpletons that have been the fodder of every rebellion throughout history. The dumbing down in the education system has been remarkably effective.

  3. A great summary. I could have described two of the methods listed, but I would have got the names wrong. Isn’t it amazing how someone else’s area of expertise can be thought to be simple or easy because it’s out of sight?
    We’re rich as a culture because we’ve allowed the development and use of expertise like this. Because we can produce so much, there’s a lot available for each of us to use. Once the basics are covered (food, shelter) we have a surplus left over for the nice-to-haves. Because most of us have never been hungry (to the point of eating our own shoes or the family pet, I don’t mean “peckish” here) we aren’t as worried about what will happen if we stop production on many of the little things that drive the engine of our society.
    The results of the straw that breaks the camels back will likely be a surprise much like how the hippies re-discovered some two thousand year old truths about why bathing and hygiene are good for you.

  4. It depends on what type of renewable energy. Wind power- no; hydroelectric- yes; solar depends on the location and application. For example in the North solar can save a lot on the cost of diesel fuel during the summer in the Land of the Midnight sun. If it doesn’t produce much in the winter that’s not important. Solar in Ontario is a foolish waste of tax dollars. Placing windows on the East and South in a house is a good use of solar. Intelligent people consider all facets of energy management. The real world isn’t black vs. white; good or bad, details are always important.

  5. What a damn fool question. Of course, those who will profit from the swindlemills are all in favor.

  6. Actually, coal spawned the industrial revolution, but apart from that quibble, I agree with you.

  7. True and one of the most important things that separates us from 3rd world status is cheap abundant energy. And that does not mean wind or solar until they can deliver the freight required for the survival of the nation.I don’t wish it on anyone but sometimes I think we need a long ,lasting famine. That would reset a lot of things. Unfortunately, whether we wish it or not, it’s coming anyway.

  8. Was not talking about the industrial revolution. Was talking about oil and the innovation it brought , from the affordability of the automobile to plastics and over 4000 other products derived from it.

  9. Keep developing, keep improving the technology, keep advancing society.
    RIP R.F., an elementary school classmate, who died on the Ocean Ranger in 1982 along with 83 other souls.

  10. Not totally true Peterj, coal was the original affordable personal energy, and it was the preferred industrial energy source until the supply became undependable. If the coal miner’s unions hadn’t been so sure that there was no other possible source of large-scale energy for transport (locomotives, ships) they wouldn’t have made the energy source so undependable with their frequent strikes.
    Coal was tried for personal vehicles, but found wanting (like electric, and turbines, and fan based locomotion). The cheapness and ease of access to energy was the key. Oil met the description, but I don’t think it’s the only possibility for energy sources that could do it. The energy density is comparable, which is why both are still used.

  11. It depends on who is doing the investing. If these “green” billionaires would put their fortunes where their rhetoric is instead of the crony capitalist taxpayer funded scam they’re currently undertaking then by all means. In fact that goes for every “environmentalist”.

  12. Very true but the real potential for coal came when James Watt refined the steam engine and coal + steam became a match made in heaven. It changed the world and did not take long to spread from Britain to Europe and around the planet. Only in Britain, which had (still has) abundant supply of coal did the unions make it unreliable because of constant strikes, but remember also that working conditions were horrendous at the turn of the 20th century and although conditions improved over the decades, the “us against them” mentality was so ingrained that Maggie Thatcher provided the death knell to coal. What coal does not have is the versatility of oil or the ability to turn into thousands of other products from medicines to plastics to clothing to most things we take for granted today. Tree huggers always bring up the vehicle when they protest everything oil. If we took away everything made from oil, most of them would would be naked without a cell phone, computer or 90% of the things they cherish. I would venture that 95% of them don’t know that. Nothing that’s taught in school either.

  13. Regarding oil rigs, the Huntington Beach photo reminds me that the windfarm advocates want to foist monstrosities on us that differ from those in the photo only in appearance. The Huntington Beach ugliness is gone now isn’t it?
    Regarding the poll, I voted no. I’m sure that the “investment” they are referring to is more windmills and solar panel arrays along with the natural gas and diesel plants required to back them up.

  14. Coal is better than oil when you have a large stationary plant and access to rail. Coal arrives at electrical generation plants by train where it is dumped out of hopper cars and then transferred to the firebox by conveyor belts. All people have to do is push switches and set the speed of the conveyor belt.
    The disadvantage of coal is that changing the energy level of the plant ie starting the fire, raising or lowering the flame takes time whereas with oil or natural gas a simple computer just turns a valve to keep the energy level wherever it is desired. Those of you who have lived with wood stoves will understand this. The quicker spool-up is why gas-fired power plants back-up wind turbines today.
    At sea the first disadvantage of coal is size, because it is less energy dense than oil or diesel you need twice the volume for the bunkers, firebox and boiler. The second disadvantage at sea is labour, coal-fired battleships of WWI had hundreds of stokers taking coal from compartments within the hull and toting it to the boilers. The oil fired battleships would have one or two engineers turning valves and switching pumps on. Cutting the crew by several hundred men saves in many ways – you don’t have to provide food, water and berthing space for them and the precious hull volume saved can be used for other things. Refuelling with oil can be done between ships at sea using hoses whereas coal has to be replenished at the dockside.

  15. A fact I found amazing. JD Rockefeller became the richest man in the US selling oil products, before the use of the internal combustion engine in auto mobiles. I imagine the mail use of oil was in lighting, since coal was used in ships and locomotives.

  17. California offshore oil pew as discovered as tar balls washing up on the beach. Still happens. Just like the Gulf of Mexico leaks yep thousands of bbls per day. Naturally

  18. Just as important, coal is stable in price, because there is really only one use for so called thermal coal which is very important for a cornerstone of prosperity like electricity. Natural gas is very versatile as a chemical feedstock, and it is a mistake to allow the export of LNG, when it could support 100 years of great paying jobs in energy intensive industry, polymers, chemicals, etc.

  19. .is this the future? Thorium is the energy source of the future.
    Development was stopped decades ago because thorium reactors don’t produce weapons grade plutonium as ‘waste’.

  20. I totally agree on Liquid Salt Thorium Reactors. Huge benefits and very little negatives.
    Wind runs on subsidies as does industrial solar. Neither of them will ever meet baseload power.
    That can only be met with massive hydro, Nat gas/coal plants or nuclear.
    As for Ontario..they are in my opinion, permanently hooped..more liberals than persons with common sense..they left and live in the west…to benefit from…..oil
    !

  21. Their are hundreds if not thousands of years worth of NG supply – it would be silly to limit export of it.
    The price of coal is very variable depeneing on where it is located relative to its nearest electrical market and the strength of its competition. When used as a source of electricity it is not a fungible commodity. If, or rather when it becomes commercially viable to gasify it into methane then it will likely decimate naturally occurring NG as coal supplies are far larger and cheaper to access than those reserves are. So tack on another couple thousand years of NG supply.

  23. Yep old JD made his fortune in the gaslight era. Gas light was an urban concept beyond that kerosene was the lighting source.
    That demand for kerosene created an unused bi-product…gasoline…which was too dangerous and unsuitable for lighting…until a german fella named OTTO invented the 4 stroke engine….
    Actually naval (not marine) adoption of oil fuel coincided with the development of the steam turbine…two concepts which allowed the DREADNOUGHT to ship an unprecedented weight of armour and guns, with superior speed and range.
    However coal fired vs oil controversy raged on for a time. Access to a reliable supply of oil and the use of coal bunkers as armour were factors. Coal’s disadvantage was manpower and the telltale smoke…
    Currently much controversy exists in naval propulsion….Combined steam and/or gas turbine or diesel, combined gas and/or gas (cruising turbines and performance turbines), combined diesel and gas, and nuclear. Each has it’s advantages and disadvantages….cost flexibility, efficiency, range, reliability and responsiveness.
    Nuclear’s biggest restraint is cost.

  24. Huh. Didn’t post last night. Oh well.
    …And NorthOf60 brings the discussion back to where I started. “Isn’t it amazing how someone else’s area of expertise can be thought to be simple or easy because it’s out of sight?”
    Small C- There are more uses for coal, ask the South Africans. The cost to develop diesel from coal stock is higher than conventional means, but anything that can be made from oil can be made from coal (for a higher energy input). Hydrocarbons are Hydrocarbons, if you’re willing spend enough energy to corss forms.

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