Fracking Gasholes or (Humor like beautiy, is in the eye of the beholder.)
Feb 19, 2012 13:45:50 #
Al FR-153 wrote:
Beautiful shots Dave - - And I do know those hills... (show quote)
I thought I would need to buy a snow blower when I moved in about a year and a half ago, instead, I have become good friends with the man who built my house and who still owns the self-storage business at the foot of my driveway. He has a four wheel drive truck with a snow blade. He must come out to clear the roads to all the storage sheds. He makes a quick run up and down my driveway while he is at and refuses payment. He does accept a cup of hot chocolate that I run out the front door and hand to him.
BTW, I'm told the hog farmers develop huge biceps from "poling hogs". This is process wherein the hog is attached to a long pole and held on the hill side so they can eat without rolling down the hill. I'm sure you already know the cows develop one set of legs longer than the other so they do not roll. However this forces them to walk all the way around the mountain top and enter the other side of barn. Tall tail tellers and Steelers fans, good people all.
Some day I'll tell you about the night the power went out and my sister decided to knit by candle light. It got so cold the flame froze and none of could get to sleep because we could no longer blow out the candle flame. We had to cut the wick off and threw it out the window into the snow to get some sleep. Everything was Okay until spring when a chicken mistook that frozen candle flame for a kernel of corn. She laid hard boiled eggs for a week.
Feb 19, 2012 16:15:02 #
It quit raining here long enough for me to venture out and grab a few shots of finished and producing methane wells near my house. These wells have been in production for many years.
These wells are all within 3 miles of home. As we previously discussed here there are no problems with the water supply and as you can see from these pictures there is no great environmental devestation either.
You will probably have to download the third original to see the wells near the treeline way off in the back.
These wells are all within 3 miles of home. As we previously discussed here there are no problems with the water supply and as you can see from these pictures there is no great environmental devestation either.
You will probably have to download the third original to see the wells near the treeline way off in the back.
Closeup of methane well
Methane well in cornfield
2 Methane wells in cornfield
Feb 19, 2012 16:21:31 #
Dave, if it wasn't for the harsh winters I wouldn't mind living in your neck of the woods at all.
That's a big house you have there. Talk about luck being on top of your house when the plane came over taking pictures.
That's a big house you have there. Talk about luck being on top of your house when the plane came over taking pictures.
Feb 19, 2012 16:25:18 #
John Brown
Loc: New Mexico
I am all for getting our own oil...screw the Arabs. Every time some one farts in the Middle they find an excuse to jack up oil prices.
Feb 19, 2012 16:33:10 #
Feb 19, 2012 17:31:20 #
RTR wrote:
Dave, if it wasn't for the harsh winters I wouldn't mind living in your neck of the woods at all.
That's a big house you have there. Talk about luck being on top of your house when the plane came over taking pictures.
That's a big house you have there. Talk about luck being on top of your house when the plane came over taking pictures.
RTR, Thank you for the photos of methane wells.
Do they pump up and down like oil wells? I thought the gas was under pressure and would naturally come out of the well?
Where do the pumps draw the energy from; do they burn a portion of the gas to power the pump?
I have a Chemist friend who explained to me that the gas we have here is particularly valuable because it is a "wet" gas, comprised of very long hydrocarbon molecules. Does this mean that the gas is in a liquid state and that is why it needs to pumped?
There is a story that explains why I bought such a big beautiful home. I was a prodigious saver with investments. I lost my wife to cancer and had a hard time finding another woman to fill that void in my life. I attended a high school reunion were I discovered a little girl I had known since fourth grade. She had just lost her husband after a long happy marriage. To make a long story short, it felt right between us and we married. It become very clear to me just how finite life is. The savings provided little comfort or pleasure to me. I converted my wealth to a love nest for my wife and myself, big enough to share our happiness with friends and relatives. It was one of the smartest things I have ever done.
Feb 19, 2012 18:27:56 #
Wow, your life story is inspiring to say the least.
I am not a methane expert but I can answer some of your questions.
The pictures I uploaded all show 'pumpjack' pumps which do go up and down like the prototypical oil well. Some gas producers use rotary pumps too.
The pumps on the wells are actually pumping water out of the well. In coalbed methane wells the methane is 'attached' to the coal with water. You have to remove the water to let the gas come out. The gas is not under (much) pressure.
All of the wells around here have 460v 3 phase electricity brought to them from the electric utility company. There are some remote compressor stations in the vicinity that do burn a portion of the methane to power large internal combustion engines that drive the compressors.
That is about all I can do. I don't have a clue about the chemistry of the gas. Your chemist friend probably would love to expand on his description of 'wet' gas if you were to ask him :)
I am not a methane expert but I can answer some of your questions.
The pictures I uploaded all show 'pumpjack' pumps which do go up and down like the prototypical oil well. Some gas producers use rotary pumps too.
The pumps on the wells are actually pumping water out of the well. In coalbed methane wells the methane is 'attached' to the coal with water. You have to remove the water to let the gas come out. The gas is not under (much) pressure.
All of the wells around here have 460v 3 phase electricity brought to them from the electric utility company. There are some remote compressor stations in the vicinity that do burn a portion of the methane to power large internal combustion engines that drive the compressors.
That is about all I can do. I don't have a clue about the chemistry of the gas. Your chemist friend probably would love to expand on his description of 'wet' gas if you were to ask him :)
Feb 19, 2012 19:05:30 #
RTR wrote:
Wow, your life story is inspiring to say the least.
I am not a methane expert but I can answer some of your questions.
That is about all I can do. I don't have a clue about the chemistry of the gas. Your chemist friend probably would love to expand on his description of 'wet' gas if you were to ask him :)
I am not a methane expert but I can answer some of your questions.
That is about all I can do. I don't have a clue about the chemistry of the gas. Your chemist friend probably would love to expand on his description of 'wet' gas if you were to ask him :)
I will get more information from him the next time I see him. I only see him about once a month when we both volunteer at a food bank. I believe he works for the EPA but seems to have a very deep understand of all things chemical and a lot of other things. I always enjoy talking to him.
Feb 20, 2012 07:12:49 #
Michael O'
Loc: Midwest right now
Davethehiker wrote:
quote=bull drink water of course they would never... (show quote)
Davethehiker, you have it exactly right. Of course those who form opinions quickly, permanently, and without fact and research are generally the type that "bite" on the "major media" politically motivated propaganda. Their philosophy is not based on the same morality as ours. Beautiful shots of your new home area, by the way. Great country. I am a bit more familiar with the good people from Allentown and Reading, having served with an F-94 Fighter-Interceptor squadron of reactivated National Guard guys at Dover, Delaware long ago. Great bunch of guys and we had it "made in the shade" until MATS moved in and the whole base became occupied and very military. I was transferred to MATS, asked for a transfer back with my PA guys, but MATS found a new place for me -- in Air-Sea Rescue in Tripoli, Libya -- a different world to say the least. I was in airborne radar maintenence so went from working on gun-laying sets to search radar. Eventually was assigned to the Matador Missile wing headquartered in Sembach, Germany. That swaray took me thru 30 countries in N Africa, Europe, and Asia. Fascinating for a small-towner from Illinois farm country. An education in every sense of the word. Life is good!
Of course you and freckles know that. Michael O' ..... soccermick33@yahoo.com
Feb 20, 2012 07:23:23 #
Michael O'
Loc: Midwest right now
RTR wrote:
Wow, your life story is inspiring to say the least... (show quote)
Hello, 'Bama RTR. You are from good country, too. Love it there. Used to visit a great restaurant in Bayou la Batre, and in Mobile on the Bay. Great seafood. Birmingham was nice but I liked the coast better. As to the methane natural gas engines driving generators, that is great fuel that has virtually no contaminates ! As a side benefit, the natural gas engines have a virtually unlimited life. Regards, Michael O'
soccermick33@yahoo.com
Feb 20, 2012 07:30:51 #
Michael O'
Loc: Midwest right now
Country's Mama wrote:
quote=Davethehiker quote=Al FR-153 Beautiful sho... (show quote)
I really like your relating of common sense facts; lightens my day !
Michael O' ...soccermick33@yahoo.com
Feb 20, 2012 08:14:26 #
Michael O' wrote:
As to the methane natural gas engines driving generators, that is great fuel that has virtually no contaminates ! As a side benefit, the natural gas engines have a virtually unlimited life. Regards, Michael O'
soccermick33@yahoo.com
As to the methane natural gas engines driving generators, that is great fuel that has virtually no contaminates ! As a side benefit, the natural gas engines have a virtually unlimited life. Regards, Michael O'
soccermick33@yahoo.com
Michael O', I'm very glad to learn that. This is the first home I have owned that was heated by natural gas. My other home was heated by fuel oil. I find gas to be much cleaner and the air in the house does not seem to be dried out as much as it was by the oil furnace. I do not need a humidifier. I don't understand that but believe it's true.
This big house does not have any fireplaces. I like that! I had two fire places in my other house and consider them a big, dirty, waste of wall space. They seem like a romantic idea until you really are forced to use them during a power failure. The first change I made to my home in Pennsylvania was to add a 25 KW whole house power generator powered by natural gas. It automatically kicks on and and transfers power after a six second power failure. It uses a Kohler gas engine. About a month ago a neighbor mentioned to me "That was some power failure we had." I was completely unaware that we had a power outage. I change the plugs, oil, and air-filter myself. I'm glad to learn the engine has "virtually unlimited life."
I have read accounts in the news where houses that use natural gas have blown up! I bought and use two "particles of combustion and CO detectors." I have one next to furnace on the lowest floor and the second one is near the ceiling on the third floor next to our bed room.
I'm a big fan of gas and glad we have so much of it here in the USA. If I could covert my cars to natural gas, I could tell the folks in the middle east to go frack themselves.
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