Customer Reviews:
 shale - an alternative source of energy October 4, 2008
H. V. Amavilah (Phoenix, AZ USA)
The recent increase in the prices of petroleum and petro-products revives the debate for alternative sources of energy. This book is an insider's call to action. The author cites four reasons for making the call. First, the theoretical basis for creating a real industry of oil from shale has been there since the 1970s. Second, since inflation is no longer at its 1970s level, and is, in fact, under control, oil production from shale and other sands is affordable. Third, world production of petroleum would likely peak as King Hubbert's curve predicts it will. Finally, the changing and unpredictable international geopolitical scene, including the U.S. war on terrorism, has put petro-based economies at greater risk for disruption, and "unreasonable price manipulations" (p.188).
The book claims that the technology for extracting oil from sands has a long history. In addition, it is being perfected all the time, as experiments and live projects in the Alberta province of Canada demonstrate. Therefore, argues the author, it does not make sense to let all that R and D and other efforts people have made go to waste.
Six well-documented chapters, from someone who has actually been there, are hard to refute. Irresistibly informative, as well as entertaining.
Amavilah, Author
Modeling Determinants of Income in Embedded Economies
ISBN: 1600210465
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