Energy
Strategy, Technology, and Current Issues
in the Oil Industry
Energy Overview / Current Issues in
Energy
Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D.
Issue:
“Green” energy must combine with
oil and gas.
Trying to reduce carbon emissions, and finding ways to bring
together alternative energy in oil and gas operations
(solar-powered monitors, for example), are costly, complex, and
filled with regulatory pitfalls. Nevertheless, green options are
often viewed as worth pursuing if they help reduce the impact on
the environment and if they help individuals recycle and reuse
energy resources.
Companies are utilizing solar panels on oil and gas leases, and
are using wind turbines to generate electricity for oil and gas
operations. Further, geothermal energy is often harnessed to
also generate electricity, or to provide other sources of
energy.
It can be argued that the best approach to using alternative
energy is to combine it with traditional energy so that there
are more favorable economics. Further, with solar or wind
power, it’s often possible to provide electricity without having
to be on the grid.
A good example would be solar-powered pump jacks for stripper
wells. The DOE funded an effort to use a solar-powered standard
160D pump jack on a producing well. It was by all accounts
fairly successful, and points to future possibilities.
Readings:
Solar-Powered Pump Jack for Stripper Wells
http://www.energy.psu.edu/swc/sites/default/files/files/membersonly/2009/Final/3985-RAMI_2009_Final.pdf
Green Energy / Renewable Energy
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/renewableenergy
Guiding Questions:
What is “green” energy?
What are some of the advantages of using solar panels and small
wind turbines in conjunction with oil and gas operations?