The displacement effect of all that new US natural gas
See it already in how natural gas deals are proceeding internationally: the flow out of North America alters things, regionalizing flows more as Japan and Germany move off nukes and seek to ramp up their use of gas to generate electricity, and as emerging markets in general ramp up their gas use.
But another displacement raised in the recent Wikistrat crowd-sourced online simulation on the North American Energy Export Boom was the notion that the long-term abundance of cheap gas in NorthAm would encourage a crowding out of oil in transportation:
- Encouraging hybrids by making electricity cheaper long term;
- Enabling more direct natural gas fueling of vehicles (typically trucks); and
- Pushing refiners to take NG, process it into syngas and then into gasoline.
WSJ story cited here:" "Natural gas to power pickups." US auto makers introducing trucks powered by NG "as they look to catch the growing wave of interest in the fuel as an alternative to gasoline." So here we're talking either pure compressed natural gas (CNG) or vehicles, like the one Chrysler is working, that will run on a combo of gasoline and CNG.
Exciting stuff.
Reader Comments (3)
I have a liquid natural gas (LNG) stove on my boat (Do I sound like Romney?) and it is safer than propane. Propane is "heavy" and when it gets loose it seeks out the lowest spot. On a boat that is not good. The LNG is "light" and it will float up and dissipate. Just keep a hatch open. People who like to cruise prefer the propane because it is easier to find and most of us are familiar with the fat white tank which is the same as the one used for backyard BBQ's.
Some utility companies have fleets of trucks that run on CNG. These trucks have a "known" range and return each day to a central location where the fuel is stored. Employees are trained in the use of this fuel and how to safely handle it.
The large ocean going gas transport ships are a security concern. They have the potential to be floating bombs and a typical "worst case scenario" in gaming for Coast Guard or Homeland Security folks is a gas container ship in the hands of terrorists.
Before natural gas is usable for fuel, it must be extensively processed to remove all secondary components, such as propane and sulfur. The uses of natural gas are many and varied. Consumers, industries, and commerce can all benefit from its use. Here are just some examples of the many uses of natural gas.
Very interesting to know more about natural gases.
@Ted, that sounds scary for those ship can serve as a floating bombs,
I can't imagine if it exploded in any fort. Well, I hope more security for it
Kim from canapé cuir pas cher