The capacity imperative

Oct. 25, 2004
The capacity imperative "The capacity imperative" editorial along with Doyle Grogan's letter, "Energy Policy," relate to the readers that the emphasis on foreign oil has shifted in the public's mind (OGJ, Sept. 6, 2004, pp. 19,12).

"The capacity imperative" editorial along with Doyle Grogan's letter, "Energy Policy," relate to the readers that the emphasis on foreign oil has shifted in the public's mind (OGJ, Sept. 6, 2004, pp. 19,12). Unfortunately, it slipped away to alternate fuels and another dead end for any sound energy policy. The only relief from foreign oil is drilling in our oil and gas potential areas, still locked out by our unknowledgeable public of what goes on (or what doesn't) concerning America's future energy outlook.

Alternate fuels can never meet America's ever-growing need for energy. Solar, wind, hydrogen, etc. will never be more than a small percentage of what is and will be required. Nuclear could help considerably, but its stigma in the public's mind is worse than fossil fuel.

Tertiary recovery is always going to be expensive. Many of the chemicals required for sophisticated methods to remove large percentages of the oil clinging to the rocks in known reservoirs (50 billion bbl in eastern Kansas alone) come from crude oil, making that a Catch 22 proposition. The cost of the chemicals have a direct relationship to the price of crude oil.

The only answer to reducing any dependence on foreign oil, perhaps 10%, is domestic drilling.
Toby Elster
Consulting Geologist
Wichita, Kans.