Discussion:
A shame but....
(too old to reply)
Tony
2019-12-23 22:39:06 UTC
Permalink
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12296397
Always a pity to see companies fail with the consequential loss of jobs and
often money wasted.
But, it should remind us that there is no guaranteed way of avoiding energy
from oil and gas, at least not yet. Perhaps the real solution is Fusion power
when it is perfected; safe and low byproduct electricity.
Meanwhile we need to keep prospecting for oil and gas.
Rich80105
2019-12-24 01:17:17 UTC
Permalink
On Mon, 23 Dec 2019 16:39:06 -0600, Tony <lizandtony at orcon dot net
Post by Tony
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12296397
Always a pity to see companies fail with the consequential loss of jobs and
often money wasted.
But, it should remind us that there is no guaranteed way of avoiding energy
from oil and gas, at least not yet. Perhaps the real solution is Fusion power
when it is perfected; safe and low byproduct electricity.
Meanwhile we need to keep prospecting for oil and gas.
I don't think the company liquidation has much to do with our
continuing need for some oil and gas. Despite moving towards more
elecricity use, overall demand for electricity has been flat (covered
in teh article), so it is not surprising that they have not found
recent sales in New Zealand. The other issue identified in the article
is the rise of large international companies as competitors; with
increasing Nationalism in the UK, USA and some other countries, the
prospect of international sales must also be lower.

There is certainly some nimbyism regarding placement of new wind
turbines, but they are likely to be used more as demand for cheap
electricity rises.

There are still quite a few companies who have permission to prospect
for oil and gas, but one company recently folded - demonstrating the
weak contract they had enjoyed by leaving the taxpayers with a large
potential clean-up cost. Part of the reason for stopping new licenses
was that the price being offered in tenders was going down - oil
companies were realising that the most favourable fields had already
been explored, that avoiding spills was becoming more expensive, and
that the world is moving towards lower use of oil. In time we can
expect oil prices to rise; there are some areas where it will be take
a long time to develop alternatives to oil, and cheap sources are
running out. In time therefore prices may make prospecting attractive
again, but in the meantime the marke was not prepared to pay enough to
our government to make issuing more licenses desirable - and given the
recent event we can hope that any new contracts require significant
deposits to cover clean-up costs.
Tony
2019-12-24 01:26:55 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rich80105
On Mon, 23 Dec 2019 16:39:06 -0600, Tony <lizandtony at orcon dot net
Post by Tony
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12296397
Always a pity to see companies fail with the consequential loss of jobs and
often money wasted.
But, it should remind us that there is no guaranteed way of avoiding energy
from oil and gas, at least not yet. Perhaps the real solution is Fusion power
when it is perfected; safe and low byproduct electricity.
Meanwhile we need to keep prospecting for oil and gas.
I don't think the company liquidation has much to do with our
continuing need for some oil and gas.
I did not say otherwise.
Post by Rich80105
Despite moving towards more
elecricity use, overall demand for electricity has been flat (covered
in teh article), so it is not surprising that they have not found
recent sales in New Zealand. The other issue identified in the article
is the rise of large international companies as competitors; with
increasing Nationalism in the UK, USA and some other countries, the
prospect of international sales must also be lower.
The rapid move towards electricity use (instead of oil) is a two edged sword,
it is not actually all that much better for the environment until we have
batteries that are less damaging to the environment. There are other issues
that result from this silliness.
This rush to electricity is a symptom of misplaced panic and political agendas.
Post by Rich80105
There is certainly some nimbyism regarding placement of new wind
turbines, but they are likely to be used more as demand for cheap
electricity rises.
It is not just nymbyism, there are real downsides.
Post by Rich80105
There are still quite a few companies who have permission to prospect
for oil and gas, but one company recently folded - demonstrating the
weak contract they had enjoyed by leaving the taxpayers with a large
potential clean-up cost. Part of the reason for stopping new licenses
was that the price being offered in tenders was going down - oil
companies were realising that the most favourable fields had already
been explored, that avoiding spills was becoming more expensive, and
that the world is moving towards lower use of oil. In time we can
expect oil prices to rise; there are some areas where it will be take
a long time to develop alternatives to oil, and cheap sources are
running out. In time therefore prices may make prospecting attractive
again, but in the meantime the marke was not prepared to pay enough to
our government to make issuing more licenses desirable - and given the
recent event we can hope that any new contracts require significant
deposits to cover clean-up costs.
Mostly a political statement, no factual evidence.
Having said that I have never been against a reduction in the use of oil, just
a politically motivated drive to the imaginary benefits of such a move. The
technology is simply not there yet.
Gordon
2019-12-24 03:59:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Tony
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12296397
Always a pity to see companies fail with the consequential loss of jobs and
often money wasted.
Hindsight is wonderful.
Post by Tony
But, it should remind us that there is no guaranteed way of avoiding energy
from oil and gas, at least not yet.
Rich is that you?

Tony, I think you are getting confused between technology and commerical
side of things.

The wind turbines do produce energy, the company could not sell its products
at a profit.

Everytime someone walks out in the sunlight they receive energy.

Oil and gas, along with coal are "winning" as they are cheap(er) than
alternatives.

BTW, NZ produces 82% of its electricty from renewalable sources. Hydro,
geothermal and wind.
Post by Tony
Perhaps the real solution is Fusion power
Sure thing. The Earths nerest star is consuming 4.3 million tons of hydrogen
per second and turning it into helium. Some of this energy powers life on
planet earth.
Post by Tony
when it is perfected; safe and low byproduct electricity.
Meanwhile we need to keep prospecting for oil and gas.
Nuclear fission, while it has some hard to deal with waste, does until this
point produce "climate change" free output.

Geting nuclear fussion to work on Earth is a task in progress.

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