[Michael DeM]

From NRDC.

http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_071408

Oil companies and their allies in Congress claim that drilling in America's oceans and coastal areas would help solve the energy crisis and have proposed ending the 27-year moratorium on new offshore drilling. But offshore drilling would neither solve our energy needs nor significantly lower gas prices. Instead, drilling would harm America's economy, health, oceans and coasts.

Proponents of offshore drilling claim it would reduce gas prices, even though the Department of Energy has determined that it would not significantly do so. Oil companies currently have 5,500 offshore leases they are not drilling, and with 80 percent of the untapped oil in offshore areas already open to development, they do not need access to more areas to increase supply. And while the U.S. oil industry says it wants even more access to sensitive ocean areas to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, American-based companies are shipping record amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel to other countries. This proposal is simply a way to give oil companies unfettered drilling access to our oceans and coastal areas.

In addition, opening up additional offshore areas to drilling poses real threats to our ocean and coastal ecosystems and economies. Offshore drilling creates toxic waste products that contaminate fish and marine life. Offshore wells emit air pollutants that are known carcinogens, cause respiratory problems and worsen global warming. And current cleanup methods can only remove a small fraction of oil spilled in marine waters, where it is toxic for most species.

America needs real, long-term solutions for the energy crisis, but oil companies and their allies are not delivering them. We need to use less oil by improving energy efficiency and utilizing renewable energy. In doing so, we can achieve energy independence, fight global warming, and jump-start our nation's economy.

Attempts to lift the offshore drilling moratorium could be attached to several different bills and come up for a vote at any time.

What to do:
Send a message right away urging your senators and representative to say NO to offshore drilling.

[Magi2]

:thumbup:

Thanks Michael,
I took the time to send out the letter via e mail directly to My Rep. & Senator Dodd, CT.'s only democratic Senator.

[Magi2]

How interesting is this?
It seems countries with All the OIL they'll ever need are more progressive than our present Dictatorship allows U.S. to be!

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43624


MIDDLE EAST: In the Race for Renewable Energy Sources
By Meena Janardhan

The Masdar campus will be part of a Green Community that observes zero-carbon footprint.

Credit:Masdar Institute of Science and Technology

DUBAI, Aug 21 (IPS) - As the world scrambles to develop renewable energy resources (RES), the oil-rich Gulf countries that benefit from high prices on fossil fuels are making sure that they do not get left behind.

According to ‘REN 21: Renewables Global Status Report 2007,’ though the share of fossil fuels in the global final energy consumption in 2006 stood at 79 percent, the fact that the share of RES has climbed to 18 percent is a clear indication of trends.

A report by the Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre (GRC), ‘Alternative Energy Trends and Implications for Gulf Cooperation Council Countries’, offers this analysis: "High costs of fossil fuels alongside technological breakthroughs and decreasing costs with growing economies of scale will play out well for RES, which have developed into an industry to reckon with and are also underpinned by growing government support and concerns about global warming."

Experts say that the overall technical potential for renewable energy is huge and several times the current total energy demand. According to the International Energy Agency, global electricity consumption in 2050 could be between 113 and 167 Exajoules (EJ). The technical electricity production potential of RE technologies, excluding biomass, is almost 2,500 EJ per year.

"Sustainable energy investment was 70.9 billion US dollars in 2006, an increase of 43 percent over 2005. The sectors with the highest levels of investment are wind, solar and biofuels, which reflects technology maturity, policy incentives and investor appetite," Eckart Woertz, programme manager at the GRC, told IPS.

Investments in developing countries still play a minor role in comparison, but increasing quickly and are already considerable in China, India and Brazil. Currently India 4,300 of Mw a year, followed by China with 765 Mw.

In line with the global trend, interest in RES is growing among Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), resulting in huge investments and several notable projects.

"The GCC countries were reluctant to adopt renewable energy. Although they have favourable conditions, the attitude was that they are sitting atop a sea of oil and gas which will last forever and, therefore, alternatives need not be contemplated," said Woertz.

One sign of the changing attitude is the fact that UAE, which has the world’s sixth largest proven oil reserves of 100 billion barrels, signed a deal in January with a French company to build two nuclear reactors. Kuwait and Bahrain also have plans to build nuclear plants.

Though many see these countries and Saudi Arabia pursuing nuclear energy plans as a hedge against Iran’s nuclear programme, they are certainly looking beyond it too.

Analysts feel this new emphasis on RES also arises from the growing realisation that oil is a finite resource. Hence, they are now seeking to conserve and prolong the longevity and value of their hydrocarbon resources, especially since the global demand for fossil fuels is bound to increase and prices are likely to remain on the higher side.

Further, given their enormous liquidity they are also confident that they can be just as successful in developing RES as they were in developing their oil industry.

Most importantly, shortages in domestic energy supply are looming up for the rapidly growing GCC countries, and many of them are already facing gas scarcities.

Saudi oil minister Ibrahim Al Naimi recently stated that his country is planning to make solar energy an important pillar of the national energy mix. Hailing solar energy as "abundant, clean and available to all," he said Saudi Arabia will be giving ‘’that sort of energy special attention’’.

Within the mix, Saudi Arabia plans to include waste-to-energy plants that can convert commercially hazardous, organic and toxic wastes into saleable electricity.

In Oman, a roadmap for the development of RES has been outlined. The establishment of large-scale solar thermal plants and a 750 Mw wind farm in the south of the country rank prominently among proposed projects.

A study is being carried out for the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority for a one billion US dollar wind farm that aims to supply up to 10 percent of Dubai city’s power requirement.

Then, there is the ambitious Masdar project in the UAE where the projected overall investment for Masdar City -- which aims to be the first carbon neutral city in the world -- is 22 billion dollars with another 15 billion dollars earmarked for Masdar renewable energy projects.

To promote its new outlook, Masdar has instituted the Zayed Future Energy Prize, a 1.5 million dollar international award, to encourage innovations in the field of clean energy and sustainable development. An eminent jury headed by 2007 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient R.K. Pachauri will select the winner in January 2009.

Masdar is also carrying out a study for a 500 Mw, 500 million dollar solar power plant and is considering the feasibility of a hydrogen-fuelled power plant with a budget of 100 million dollars.

"Energy security, climate change and sustainable development require engaging, aligning and collectively committing to investing in and shaping a better, and more secure future. Through Masdar, we want to play a major role in developing solutions that answer present challenges…We are not simply a renewable energy initiative, our aspirations are far higher. We truly believe that we can make a difference," said Sultan Al Jaber, chief of Masdar, in a statement on the company’s website.

Economist Woertz endorses the Masdar initiative: "This is one of the most significant RE projects in the GCC thus far. It seems that the government of Abu Dhabi has taken up the Saudi initiatives of the 1980s on a much larger scale, in order to take advantage of the technological progress and the improved economics that have taken place in RES since then."

(END/2008)





As the Government Of Prostitutes do their best to dumb down the USA, other countries appreciate their scholars and progress intelligently as the USA spirals downward!

:dissapointed:

[bigtex]

you know i am all about researching and developing new efficient energy. and i am all about harnessing the natural energy that we have like solar, wind and hydro. but why not drill? even if it takes years for it to reach the pumps. we should still use every resource we have. because solar, wind, and hydro are not as efficient as oil. and if the rest of the world sees that we are serious about drilling for our own oil, that will also cause gas prices to go down. and ethanol is a joke. ethanol is part of the reason that food prices have gone up, as well as grain and feed prices.

[Jennifer_SFBA]

The solar project break-through reported below by MIT News first appeared in the July 31, 2008 peer reviewed journal, Science. That solar project was funded by tax-payer dollars through the National Science Foundation and by the Chesonis Family Foundation, who gave MIT $10 Million dollars this spring to launch the Solar Revolution Project, with a goal to make the large scale deployment of solar energy within 10 years.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oxygen-0731.html

"The project has "developed an unprecedented process that will allow the sun's energy to be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Later, the oxygen and hydrogen may be recombined inside a fuel cell, ..."

"The new catalyst consists of cobalt metal, phosphate and an electrode, placed in water. When electricity -- whether from a photovoltaic cell, a wind turbine or any other source -- runs through the electrode, the cobalt and phosphate form a thin film on the electrode, and oxygen gas is produced.

Combined with another catalyst, such as platinum, that can produce hydrogen gas from water, the system can duplicate the water splitting reaction that occurs during photosynthesis.

The new catalyst works at room temperature, in neutral pH water, and it's easy to set up, Nocera said. "That's why I know this is going to work. It's so easy to implement," he said. ..."



Originally Posted by MIT News
'Major discovery' from MIT primed to unleash solar revolution

Scientists mimic essence of plants' energy storage system

Anne Trafton, News Office
July 31, 2008

In a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn't shine.

Daniel Nocera describes new process for storing solar energy
View video post on MIT TechTV

Until now, solar power has been a daytime-only energy source, because storing extra solar energy for later use is prohibitively expensive and grossly inefficient. With today's announcement, MIT researchers have hit upon a simple, inexpensive, highly efficient process for storing solar energy.

Requiring nothing but abundant, non-toxic natural materials, this discovery could unlock the most potent, carbon-free energy source of all: the sun. "This is the nirvana of what we've been talking about for years," said MIT's Daniel Nocera, the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy at MIT and senior author of a paper describing the work in the July 31 issue of Science. "Solar power has always been a limited, far-off solution. Now we can seriously think about solar power as unlimited and soon."

Inspired by the photosynthesis performed by plants, Nocera and Matthew Kanan, a postdoctoral fellow in Nocera's lab, have developed an unprecedented process that will allow the sun's energy to be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Later, the oxygen and hydrogen may be recombined inside a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity to power your house or your electric car, day or night.

The key component in Nocera and Kanan's new process is a new catalyst that produces oxygen gas from water; another catalyst produces valuable hydrogen gas. The new catalyst consists of cobalt metal, phosphate and an electrode, placed in water. When electricity -- whether from a photovoltaic cell, a wind turbine or any other source -- runs through the electrode, the cobalt and phosphate form a thin film on the electrode, and oxygen gas is produced.

Combined with another catalyst, such as platinum, that can produce hydrogen gas from water, the system can duplicate the water splitting reaction that occurs during photosynthesis.

The new catalyst works at room temperature, in neutral pH water, and it's easy to set up, Nocera said. "That's why I know this is going to work. It's so easy to implement," he said.

'Giant leap' for clean energy

Sunlight has the greatest potential of any power source to solve the world's energy problems, said Nocera. In one hour, enough sunlight strikes the Earth to provide the entire planet's energy needs for one year.

James Barber, a leader in the study of photosynthesis who was not involved in this research, called the discovery by Nocera and Kanan a "giant leap" toward generating clean, carbon-free energy on a massive scale.

"This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind," said Barber, the Ernst Chain Professor of Biochemistry at Imperial College London. "The importance of their discovery cannot be overstated since it opens up the door for developing new technologies for energy production thus reducing our dependence for fossil fuels and addressing the global climate change problem."

'Just the beginning'

Currently available electrolyzers, which split water with electricity and are often used industrially, are not suited for artificial photosynthesis because they are very expensive and require a highly basic (non-benign) environment that has little to do with the conditions under which photosynthesis operates.

More engineering work needs to be done to integrate the new scientific discovery into existing photovoltaic systems, but Nocera said he is confident that such systems will become a reality.

"This is just the beginning," said Nocera, principal investigator for the Solar Revolution Project funded by the Chesonis Family Foundation and co-director of the Eni-MIT Solar Frontiers Center. "The scientific community is really going to run with this."

Nocera hopes that within 10 years, homeowners will be able to power their homes in daylight through photovoltaic cells, while using excess solar energy to produce hydrogen and oxygen to power their own household fuel cell. Electricity-by-wire from a central source could be a thing of the past.

The project is part of the MIT Energy Initiative, a program designed to help transform the global energy system to meet the needs of the future and to help build a bridge to that future by improving today's energy systems. MITEI Director Ernest Moniz, Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems, noted that "this discovery in the Nocera lab demonstrates that moving up the transformation of our energy supply system to one based on renewables will depend heavily on frontier basic science."

The success of the Nocera lab shows the impact of a mixture of funding sources - governments, philanthropy, and industry. This project was funded by the National Science Foundation and by the Chesonis Family Foundation, which gave MIT $10 million this spring to launch the Solar Revolution Project, with a goal to make the large scale deployment of solar energy within 10 years.

[Jennifer_SFBA]

Below is a September, 2000 Harvard University Abstract that proposes "... upgrading hydrogen to the new combustible fuel called magnegas^TM, whose chemical structure is composed by the new chemical species of magnecules, whose energy content and other features are beyond the descriptive capacities of quantum chemistry. In fact, magnegas contains up to 50% hydrogen, while having combustion exhaust with: 1) a positive oxygen balance (releasing more oxygen in the exhaust than that used in the combustion); 2) no appreciable carcinogenic or toxic substances; 3) considerably reduced carbon dioxide as compared to fossil fuels; 4) considerably reduced nitrogen oxides; and 5) general reduction of pollutants in the exhaust up to 96% of current EPA standards."



Title:

Alarming Oxygen Depletion Caused by Hydrogen Combustion and Fuel Cells and their Resolution by Magnegas$^{TM}$

Authors:

Santilli, R. M.

Publication:

eprint arXiv:physics/0009014

Publication Date:

09/2000

Origin:

ARXIV

Keywords:

Physics - General Physics

Comment:

15 pages, 1 eps-figure. Contributed paper, International Hydrogen Energy Forum 2000, Munich, Germany, September 11-15, 2000

Bibliographic Code:

2000physics...9014S

Abstract

We recall that hydrogen combustion does resolve the environmental problems of fossil fuels due to excessive emission of carcinogenic substances and carbon dioxide. However, hydrogen combustion implies the permanent removal from our atmosphere of directly usable oxygen, a serious environmental problem called oxygen depletion, since the combustion turns oxygen into water whose separation to restore the original oxygen is prohibitive due to cost. We then show that a conceivable global use of hydrogen in complete replacement of fossil fuels would imply the permanent removal from our atmosphere of 2.8875x10^7 metric tons O_2/day. Fuel cells are briefly discussed to point out similarly serious environmental problems, again, for large uses. We propose the possibility of resolving these problems by upgrading hydrogen to the new combustible fuel called magnegas^TM, whose chemical structure is composed by the new chemical species of magnecules, whose energy content and other features are beyond the descriptive capacities of quantum chemistry. In fact, magnegas contains up to 50% hydrogen, while having combustion exhaust with: 1) a positive oxygen balance (releasing more oxygen in the exhaust than that used in the combustion); 2) no appreciable carcinogenic or toxic substances; 3) considerably reduced carbon dioxide as compared to fossil fuels; 4) considerably reduced nitrogen oxides; and 5) general reduction of pollutants in the exhaust up to 96% of current EPA standards.

[Jennifer_SFBA]

Below is a recent Health Bulletin that was issued by the New Zealand, Department of Labour that speaks to, "... but, why not drill."



Health Bulletin No. 24, January 2007

Clean Air – Oxygen Depletion Project

The aim of this project is to increase awareness of the hazard of oxygen depletion, and to increase the level of control measures used.

Oxygen deficiencies (hypoxia) result in a reduction in the oxygen saturation of the blood (anoxia), leading to a retardation of the oxidising processes in the brain, and consequently to disturbances of the central nervous system. Early signs that a person is working in an oxygen-poor atmosphere, and is beginning to develop anoxia, are that the pulse and respiration rate increase as the body attempts to compensate for the reduced oxygen levels. These signs are often accompanied by a lack of muscle coordination, insensitivity to pain, emotional changes and fatigue. If any of these symptoms appear in situations where asphyxia is possible, immediately remove the affected person to the open air, and follow up with resuscitation if necessary. It is important to realise that the victim may not be aware that he or she is being asphyxiated. More severe depletion can lead to nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, convulsions, respiratory collapse, and death within just a few minutes.

Oxygen deficiency is most commonly associated with working in mines, sewers, deep excavations, wells, silos, poorly ventilated confined spaces and at high altitudes.

Oxygen depletion is often associated with the presence of significant levels of atmospheric contaminants that may or may not be toxic, e.g. hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

What is oxygen depletion?

By volume, fresh air is composed of 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.033% carbon dioxide and about 0.9% inert gases, the most abundant of which is argon.

Technically the oxygen content can be considered to be depleted if it falls measurably below 20.9%, and people should not work in conditions where the level drops below 19.5%.

How do oxygen levels become depleted?

Oxygen levels can diminish due to physical displacement, biological activity, chemical activity or naturally as a result of altitude. Although the composition of air remains constant with altitude, the amount of air available to breathe reduces with altitude such that at 2000m there is only approximately 80% of the air available as at sea level.

Physical displacement – refers to displacement of air, and consequently oxygen, by some other gas, vapour, fume, or mist, thus lowering the concentration or proportion of oxygen present. Liquid nitrogen, and other cryogenic[1] fluids, will displace air as they evaporate. In the case of liquid nitrogen, upon evaporation it will occupy a volume of approximately 700 times the volume of the liquid from which it has evaporated. Physical displacement can also result from the use of compressed gases, internal combustion engines and burning of heating fuels (the latter two both produce carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and water vapour), and the release of steam from an industrial or commercial process.

Biological activity – in the context of oxygen depletion, refers to microbial activity (yeasts, moulds, bacteria, algae) that utilises oxygen, and generally releases carbon dioxide and/or other metabolites. Microbial activity can take place anywhere and is normally not a problem from a clean air point of view, unless it takes place in a confined space with inadequate ventilation, such as fermentation vessels, effluent tanks, sewers, silos and pits.

Chemical activity – in the context of oxygen depletion, refers to any chemical process that uses oxygen. One such example is oxidation of steel or iron, causing rust to occur. Where this occurs in a confined space, the oxygen content of the atmosphere will be reduced.

Is oxygen depletion a problem in New Zealand workplaces?

Oxygen depletion, confined spaces and toxic atmospheres are very much interrelated subjects.

While possibly not a major problem in New Zealand, oxygen depletion must always be considered a possibility in confined spaces. Confined spaces will also often harbour significant quantities of ‘confined space contaminants’. Confined space issues continue to be a significant contributor to the serious harm figures arising in New Zealand workplaces.

Case studies - Oxygen depletion

A farmer used a ladder to descend into a relatively new offal pit to recover an implement. After recovering the tool and near the top he fell backwards into the pit. He had died by the time rescue services arrived. Gas measurements taken some days later, considered likely to approximate those at the time of the accident, showed an oxygen level of 3.2%. There were also significant amounts of methane (a non-toxic asphyxiant) and very low levels of hydrogen sulphide present. Significant carbon monoxide (CO) readings found were thought to be due to cross-reactivity of the CO sensor with carbon dioxide, which, although not measured at the time, would have very likely been present at thousands of parts per million. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the U.S. states that at 6%, breathing is difficult and death occurs in minutes.

In Victoria, a hotel worker was overcome and died as a result of exposure to an oxygen-deficient atmosphere in a hotel cellar. Carbon dioxide and sometimes nitrogen are used to provide a pressure head for tapping off beverages such as beer and soft drinks. In a poorly ventilated area, like a cellar, the oxygen in the air can be diluted by gases from a leaking system, and a person entering the area can be overcome without warning. Death will occur within 3 minutes. Anyone who spontaneously attempts to rescue a victim in these circumstances is also likely to become a victim themselves. In cellar situations such as this, a maintenance programme that includes regular inspection and testing of the gas system, by competent service contractors, is essential. Consideration should also be given to the installation of natural or mechanical ventilation as a practicable step to reduce the accumulation of gases in the event of a leak. Where there is no functional ventilation in place, the cellar should be fitted with an oxygen alarm to warn if breathing zone levels of oxygen drop below 19.5%, in which case no person should enter the area. In the absence of adequate ventilation or an alarm, the cellar must be regarded as a confined space with insufficient oxygen, and entry should involve a full confined space entry procedure.

[Jennifer_SFBA]

Continued:



A welder in Western Australia was overcome when he entered a 750mm pipe fabrication where argon had been used to create a gas shield behind an external weld zone. A second worker also encountered difficulties when he went to assist after the alarm was raised by an observer. The pipe fabrication in question was several metres long and one section had been dammed and flooded with argon gas. Upon completion of the welding, the dams were vented and the argon expelled from the weld area. The welder then entered the pipe to remove the dams, unaware that the expelled argon had accumulated in another section of the fabrication. There was a failure to implement established confined space procedures, despite the need for an observer being recognised. Had the system been implemented, a risk assessment would have identified potential hazards and control measures would have been completed, test equipment would have been provided to test and monitor the atmosphere, and employees would have been aware of the actions to be taken in the event of an emergency. (Source: Government of Western Australia, Department Consumer and Employment Protection)

A cellar-hand was overcome by carbon dioxide after entering a 4,500 litre wine vat through a 380 mm opening at the top of the wine vat containing crushed grape skins and seeds. The juice of the crushed grapes had been drained off through the drainer at the bottom of the tank. The atmosphere was inert due to the presence of large amounts of carbon dioxide. The contributing factors included a lack of scientific equipment to test the wine vat’s internal atmosphere and the employee appeared to lack an knowledge of the risks associated with carbon dioxide, including the rapidity of symptoms, onset of euphoria, loss of muscle control and death within minutes. (Source: Government of Western Australia, Department Consumer and Employment Protection)

An employee of a fruit packer collapsed when he was working in a controlled atmosphere room. It is believed that the atmosphere contained no more than 2% oxygen. While assessing maintenance work required in a large vessel known as a pregasser, a milk powder shift fitter removed a manhole cover, and lay on his back with his head and shoulders in the vessel, to inspect the proposed job. The vessel, while in use, had been filled with nitrogen to prevent spoilage of the product. Although the gas valve was “off” at the time of the accident, there was still residual nitrogen in the vessel. The worker became unconscious a short time later, but was revived and made a full recovery following evacuation to hospital. The employer had developed a draft confined space entry procedure, but this had not been implemented as an interim measure. Had it been implemented, it is likely that the accident would have been avoided. The use of gas detection equipment was a practicable step that should have been taken.

Three men died in February 1999 in an oxygen-deficient tidal manhole in a 300 mm sewer pipeline in Auckland. It is believed that one of the men entered the manhole, to remedy an apparent blockage, and collapsed shortly afterwards. The second man entered to effect a rescue, but it appears that he got into difficulty, the third man entered to assist him. The job of removing such blockages was normally done from above ground using a water blasting technique. It was speculated, based on the evidence available, that they experienced some difficulty in manipulating the hose into the blocked pipeline from above. There were three separate companies involved in the operation – all three had written policies in place at the time of the accident, consistent with the standard for confined space work, but safety equipment had been left at one of the business’s depots. Because there was insufficient gear to clear the blockage, it was agreed that the work would not be done that day. However, one of the three men remained on site and decided to descend into the manhole. Testing of the atmosphere was undertaken some five days after the event. This revealed an atmosphere severely deficient in oxygen and containing other gases including hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane. The pattern of readings suggested that less oxygen was present at high tide. The pathology report concluded that death resulted from hydrogen sulphide intoxication whilst working in a sewer.

Workplaces where oxygen depletion should be considered:

Hospitality industry - arbon dioxide and/or nitrogen systems are used, often in poorly ventilated cellars for tapping off beverages such as beer and soft drinks. Where these systems are poorly maintained, leakages may occur leading to displacement of air.

Brewing and winemaking - fermentation produces carbon dioxide, resulting in displacement of air in fermentation vessels. Also, vessels are charged with a carbon dioxide atmosphere to minimise spoilage due to oxidation reactions.

Farming - offal pits and effluent tanks will often have contaminant-rich and oxygen-poor atmospheres.

Laboratories - - In cell culture and semen storage wide use is made of cryogenic liquids, such as liquid nitrogen. With a boiling point of 196°C below zero, liquid nitrogen readily evaporates at room temperature, displacing air. Many cell culture rooms are operated at a positive pressure, by introducing filtered air – where this is the case, a build up of nitrogen is less likely.

Waste water treatment - biological activity caused by microbes utilises oxygen and often produces toxic gases as by-products of metabolism.

Businesses burning heating fuels - where small rooms are heated using gas or solid fuels, oxygen will be consumed. Where the burners are unflued, toxic gases, especially carbon monoxide, will accumulate.

Engineering maintenance – commonly engineers are called upon to work inside confined spaces such as vats, vessels and tanks, where at best, atmospheres will be stale, if not dangerous due to low oxygen levels and/or high levels of toxic contaminants.

Many types of business use compressed gases, too. These fall into 5 categories:

a. Compressed oxygen – leaks can lead to an enriched oxygen atmosphere, increasing the risk of fire and of spontaneous combustion of oils and greases. Examples of gases containing oxygen include oxygen, Entonox (50%oxygen/50% nitrous oxide) and Heliox (mixture of helium and oxygen).

b. Toxic gases – examples include carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia (generally compressed as a liquid). Most of these toxic gases are found in research and calibration laboratory settings.

c. Inert gases – the best examples are nitrogen, carbon dioxide and argon or helium, which are generally only hazardous because of their capacity to displace air, and thus reduce the concentration of oxygen. They are asphyxiants.

d. Flammable asphyxiant gases – these act in the same way as the inert gases, they are asphyxiants, but they are also highly flammable. Examples include methane, acetylene and LPG.
Compressed air –not a problem if compressed air leaks slowly into a workplace.

Categories a) through d) all have the capacity to displace air.

Category a) has the capacity to generate an enriched oxygen atmosphere.

Categories b), c) and d) have the capacity to generate an oxygen-poor atmosphere.

Cryogenic fluids are liquefied gases that have a normal boiling point below -238°F (-150°C)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Footnote:

1 Cryogenic fluids are liquefied gases that have a normal boiling point below -238°F (-150°C)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Issued by the Department of Labour, New Zealand
http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz

[Jennifer_SFBA]

Scripps Institution of Oceanograpy's 20 year study shows that atmospheric oxygen depletion is occuring at the rate of 3 oxygen molocules lost for each carbon dioxide molocule produced. Therefore, "... but, why not drill," is answered:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/12/14/205855.php



Atmospheric Oxygen Levels Fall As Carbon Dioxide Rises
Written by Mike Johnston
Published December 14, 2007

According to a study conducted by scientists from the Scripps Institute there is less oxygen in the atmosphere today than there used to be. The ongoing study, which accumulated and interpreted data from NOAA monitoring stations all over the world, has been running from 1989 to the present. It monitored both the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the decline in oxygen. The conclusion of that 20 year study is that, as carbon dioxide (produced primarily by burning fossil fuels) accumulates in the atmosphere, available oxygen is decreasing.

Carbon dioxide seems to be almost the total focus of attention in the climate change model as it exists today. After reviewing the results of this study and talking with Dr. Ralph Keeling (one of the lead scientists on the study), it seemed to me that the consequences of atmospheric oxygen depletion should be included in any discussion of atmospheric change.

In order to make sure that I was interpreting the data correctly I asked Dr. Keeling to clarify a few points. I asked him if the rise in carbon dioxide levels and the decrease in oxygen levels were proportional to each other in the sense that this would indicate that the decrease in atmospheric oxygen was a direct result of the buildup of carbon dioxide. His response:


It is roughly true that the oxygen depletion is equivalent to a displacement by carbon dioxide. But it is not exactly true. First, some of the carbon dioxide produced has been absorbed by the oceans. This process involves inorganic chemical reactions which have no effect on O2. Second, the O2:C combustion ratio of a fossil-fuel depends on the hydrogen content. The ratio varies from about 1.2 for coal, 1.45 for liquid fuels, and 2.0 for natural gas. Taking these factors together, we are losing nearly three O2 molecules for each CO2 molecule that accumulates in the air.

We are losing three oxygen molecules in our atmosphere for each carbon dioxide molecule that is produced when we burn fossil fuels. Studies of ice cores and recent data from direct atmospheric sampling have shown that there has been a 30% increase in carbon dioxide since the beginning of the industrial age. With that in mind I asked Dr. Keeling how much oxygen has been depleted from the atmosphere in that same time frame. He responded that, "A reasonable estimate for how much O2 has been lost since the beginning of the industrial revolution can be based on the estimated loss due to fossil-fuel emissions, which can be calculated from records of the amount of each fuel type burnt and its combustion ratio. Such records are not readily available online, but I have figures handy:

Total loss since start of industrial revolution

O2 depletion from fossil-fuel burning through 2004: 35.2 Pmol
CO2 depletion from fossil-fuel burning through 2004: 26.3 Pmol

[Jennifer_SFBA]

Continued:



Atmospheric Oxygen Levels Fall As Carbon Dioxide Rises
Written by Mike Johnston
Published December 14, 2007

Estimated O2 content of preindustrial atmosphere: 37050 Pmol
1 Pmol = 10^15 mol


"So the total estimated industrial O2 depletion on Jan 1, 2005 would have been (35.3)/(37050)x100 = 0.095% of the preindustrial amount."

"For the past 15 years, we have direct measurements of the decrease. But the observations before 1990 aren't good enough to draw inferences. Hence the estimate based on industrial emissions is about the best we can come up with."

Think about that. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution we have removed .095% of the oxygen in our atmosphere. True, that is only a tenth of one percent of the total supply, but oxygen makes up only 20% of the atmosphere. I looked up safety rules regarding oxygen concentrations and according to OSHA rules on atmospheres in closed environments, "if the oxygen level in such an environment falls below 19.5% it is oxygen deficient, putting occupants of the confined space at risk of losing consciousness and death." What happens if the world's atmospheric levels of oxygen fall to 19.5% or lower? Are we all going to have to carry little blue oxygen tanks with us to survive? Not a pleasant possibility.

Plants and certain bacteria take in carbon dioxide, combine it with water to form glucose and produce oxygen as a byproduct in the photosynthesis reaction. The current increase in carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere indicates that this cycle is no longer in balance. It shows that we have reached the point where the biosphere of the planet can no longer process all of the carbon dioxide that we are producing.

When hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline are burned in air, gasoline (C8H18) and oxygen (O2) join in an explosive reaction. This reaction releases the energy which we use to propel our vehicles. The two main products of this chemical reaction are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O). The chemical reaction for the combustion of gasoline (chemical name: isooctane) looks like this:

C8H18 + 12.5 O2 --> 8 CO2 + 9 H2O

This mix of CO2 and H2O vapor are the primary gases which come out of your tailpipe. Interestingly, these two byproducts are also the two things which plants need to take in to produce glucose and release oxygen. As long as the environment is in balance no excess carbon dioxide or water vapor will build up. If the environment cannot absorb the amount of these two gases that we produce on the other hand they would remain in the environment as a measurable surplus. I wondered if this water that was being created by burning hydrocarbons could be contributing to the rise I the planets oceans in a meaningful way.

I asked Dr. Keeling for his opinion on this possibility. He said, "I agree qualitatively with your arguments. Some time ago I also calculated the sea- level rise that would be caused by the water generated as a bi-product of fossil-fuel burning. I got quite a small number. I can make a similar calculation here:

O2 lost into forming water: 35.2 - 26.3 = 8.9 Pmol.
Amount of H2O formed: 8.9x2 = 17.8 Pmol
Volume occupied by water formed:
(17.8x10(15) mol)(18g/mol)/(1000000g/m3) = 3.2x10(11) m3.

Resulting sea-level rise (taking ocean area of 3.6x10(14)m2):
3.2x10(11)/3.6x10(14) = 9x10(-4) m

[Jennifer_SFBA]

Continued:



Atmospheric Oxygen Levels Fall As Carbon Dioxide Rises
Written by Mike Johnston
Published December 14, 2007

So the effect is only ~1 millimeter since the industrial revolution. This is small compared to the other factors that have contributed to sea level rise over this period."

In conclusion, it seems that the depletion of atmospheric oxygen will continue until such time as we stop burning hydrocarbons faster than the environment can absorb the byproducts of the reaction and replenish the oxygen. The only solution to this problem is to determine beyond the shadow of a doubt just how much carbon dioxide that our atmosphere and environment in general can absorb and process back into oxygen and then limit our burning of carbon containing fuels so that we stay within that “safe zone” and using non carbon based energy sources to make up for what we can no longer produce via fossil fuels.

The problem with this solution is that, in order to keep our economy cooking along, we need to produce and consume ever increasing amounts of energy and so we can’t stop using fossil fuels, including coal, without a lot of economic pain because there currently are no alternatives in place to pick up the slack. The sequestration of carbon dioxide by pumping it under the ground would only dispose of the carbon dioxide with unknown consequences, but would do nothing to stop the depletion of oxygen from the atmosphere. Dr. Keeling agreed that carbon sequestration would do nothing to stop oxygen depletion but reassured me that "... the O2 loss is too small to be much of a concern."

We currently make estimates of how many years we have left before excess carbon dioxide becomes a bigger problem than it already is but we aren’t really sure of their accuracy. However, to the best of my knowledge, we don’t have estimates of how long it might be, if oxygen continues to be depleted at its current rate, until it might become a problem. After all, while most of us may be willing to wait out the effects of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for a time just to see if we really do get warmer weather and more abundant crops out of the deal; how may of us want to wait and see how little oxygen we can survive on?

[KRITER]

More drilling more spills.

[-V-]

Oil and water don't mix.

[KRITER]

Oil is dirty.We needing to get away from dirty energy.It pollutes the air and water everything on Earth needs to liv.Gas prices are so high cuz theres more people buying gas.Theres more people buying gas cuz theres more people.I beleev the technology for cleen energy is here but the oil,coal and nuclear power biznesses are some way controling it and people wont change.I liv off grid but rite now cant aford solar panels,I dont make or hav alot of money.Theres lots of companys selling solar panels and solar powered systems for homes.If more folks would buy solar the price would go down cuz of competion.The industry would creat new jobs in installation and maintenance.And Im sure therell be more creative ways to make energy.If we drill for and get more oil folks will think we got lots of oil agan and go to buying suvs and big cars agan.In general we,r spoilt and think convenance is a nessity.We got to take human overpopulation more seriusly,hav more public tranportation to get cars and truks off the road.I liv in a rural county and theres no public transportation.I see big cars and suvs with one person in them all the time.Im 5 miles thru the woods to the highway.I would gladly park my truk and hike up or ride my bike to the highway to catch a bus or train to work.It sav me alot of money.I hear this been going on in Europe along time.We needing to tuffen up and quit being wimpy and simplify.If we keep doing things that are bad for the planet we hurting ourselfs.Theres nowair els to go.Earth is all we got.

[Jennifer_SFBA]

I agree with your environmental positions, Kriter. Good thoughts!

[KRITER]

I agree with your environmental positions, Kriter. Good thoughts!


Thank you kindly

[Lionhearted]

There are much simpler reasons not to "Drill, baby, Drill"...simple math, it will do absolutely nothing to lessen our dependency on foreign fossil fuels, we don't have enough oil to affect the world's oil prices.

From David Lien of Republicans for Environmental Protection:
Listen up, folks, because the facts here speak for themselves: Sixty-five percent of the world's known oil reserves are in the Persian Gulf; the United States has only 3 percent, but we account for 26 percent of world demand. Drilling in western Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, New Mexico or anywhere else in this country will not do us any good long-term. It's simple fifth-grade math and common sense.

Read the rest here (http://www.rep.org/opinions/op-eds/120.html).

From former CIA Director R. James Woolsey & Anne Korin in The National Review Online:

But speechwriters’ tropes shouldn’t be taken as serious policy proposals. Geology will not cooperate in any such fantasy. There is no reasonable way that we can leave oil in place as the near-exclusive fuel for the world’s transportation systems and simultaneously wall ourselves off from the world oil market. If we want to end dependence on the whims of OPEC’s despots, the substantial instabilities of the Middle East, and the indignity of paying for both sides in the War on Terror, we must define oil “independence” sensibly — as doing whatever is necessary to avoid oil’s being the instrument of despotic leverage and foreign chaos.

The rest of the story (http://energy.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTlmMjFjYWRjOWI3ZGI0MzUxZDJjYTBlMmUzOTc2Mzc=).

[KRITER]

That makes alot of sense Lionhearted.Thanks