Huge oil find 'threatens Caspian' - huge, being compared with largest Saudi Arabian fields

news.bbc ^

[jimt]

The oil in Kashagan and elsewhere in the north Caspian, he says, "is pressurised to 1,000 atmospheres and is at 100 to 120 C. The problem is that we do not have enough experience to work under such extreme conditions."

He needs to come to Texas. We work with such conditions all the time, in fact, harsher. Typical equipment now is designed for operation at 1360 atmospheres and 200 C, with advanced equipment operating at 1700 atmospheres and 232 C.

The conditions he cites are not remotely a problem.

[winner3000]

Dang! I wish they could find oil in a democratic country for a change. Kazakhstan is similar to the way the Soviet Union was. It's a dictatorship, and oil revenue will not find its way to the Kazakhs, but to a select few rulers. It still is a good news as exploiting this oil will keep the Saudis honest and keep the prices low.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I understand they use steam to losen up heavy oil deposits in the Edmonton area. Don't think the H2O is a replacement or "filler."

[Guillermo]

There was/is a FReeper who was involved in water injection in Kuwait at least a few years back.

Don't remember his handle, but he went under "Caiaphas" in the FR chat room.

This was just what he told me. I guess they use different methods depending on location, geology, etc.

[itsahoot]

Nope, can't be true, we are running out of oil and must outlaw SUV's NOW. All except mine of course :)

[hchutch]

Hmm...

Definitely a good thing if the Russians have similar fields...

The Saudis are SOL - Vladimir seems like a far better person to get our petrodollars.

[Poohbah]

My only complaint is that drilling for this oil doesn't involve harpooning whales, clear-cutting tropical rain forests, strip-mining, and clubbing baby harp seals :o)

[hchutch]

As McKnight was told in Black Hawk Down:

"Life's imperfect."

[APBaer]

"One barrel contains 45 gallons"

No, 42 gallons.

[Rocky]

Gee, with all that oil down there to lubricate the plates, the ground is bound to shift. I think we should get that oil out of there as fast as possible to avoid further slippage.

[aruanan]

One barrel contains 45 gallons, enough to fill the tanks of three family saloon cars.

Does this writer believe that a 50 gallon barrel of oil contains 45 gallons of gasoline?

[leadhead]

Beyond that, Professor Diarov fears that emptying the oil and gas from their reservoirs beneath the Caspian's bed could trigger devastating earthquakes

Klutz doesn't know about salt water replacement of oil.Pump salt water in, oil comes out. Volumn remains, no earthquakes.

[RightWhale]

200 billion barrels and now we hear there is no Caspian oil. Also, Iraq has cancelled an oil contract with the Russian company, what's its name. What is going on?

[chance33_98]

What is going on?

Good question. Still looking into all the business news in the ME and other deals. Not sure I can make any predictions but will ping you over to new articles I find relating.