Chavez is dead; that solves our energy problems; Orinoco Tar Sands here we come.

[FarCenter]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orinoco_Belt

Equal in size to the world's conventional crude oil fields.

[MadHound]

1. I seriously hope that you're being sarcastic. n/t

[Common Sense Party]

2. We don't really have energy problems. Domestic energy production has been way up for the past few

years.

[FarCenter]

4. Imports are sliding slowly. We imported 297 milion barrels in December 2012

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_m.htm

That is about 9.6 million barrels per day. The US produced only 217 million barrels, or 7.0 million barrels per day.

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_crd_crpdn_adc_mbbl_m.htm

So we are far from producing even half of the crude oil we need in the US.

The long term sources of petroleum are the Athabascan Tar Sands and the Orinoco Tar Belt. And without petroleum, our 240 million cars and the lesser number of trucks grind to a stop.

[Common Sense Party]

5. Natural gas.

[FarCenter]

6. There equivalent energy is 5800 cubic feet of gas = 1 barrel of oil.

So 16.6 million barrels of oil per day = 96 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.

This would be an additioal 96 bcf/day over and above our current production of around 72 bcf/day.

No way will fracing for natural gas replace petroleum. For one thing, the fracked wells only flow at a high rate for a short period of time. Then the flow drops and new wells have to be drilled.

[Catherina]

3. The Army has already deployed to protect the country

Venezuela's army moves to centre stage

March 6, 2013 - 10:11AM


Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro Photo: AFP
CARACAS: Venezuela has deployed its army and police in the wake of President Hugo Chavez's death, as the nation enters a period of political uncertainty and national mourning.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro said in a nationwide television broadcast on Tuesday that a special deployment was "at this very moment" being rolled out "to accompany and protect our people and guarantee the peace".

Venezuela's military chiefs appeared live on state TV to pledge their loyalty to Mr Maduro following the death of President Hugo Chavez.

...

http://www.smh.com.au/world/venezuelas-army-moves-to-centre-stage-20130306-2fk2e.html

[hack89]

7. They will sell us all we want - they always have

we don't need to do anything.