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Cheap natural gas gains appeal for oil-field engines

Columbus Dispatch -- The biggest, baddest engines in the world, long chained to diesel fuel, are on the verge of a mass transformation because of cheap natural gas, and oil-field equipment holds particular potential, executives said during a recent summit of heavy fuel users and producers.

“Here’s the first reason that large engines are going (natural) gas,” said Joel Feucht, director of gas-engine strategy for Caterpillar’s energy and power systems division. “Large engines burn the most fuel. I could try to make it harder, but that’s pretty straightforward.”

Oil companies alone use nearly 1.2 billion gallons of diesel fuel a year just for pressure-pumping equipment that supports hydraulic fracturing, said David Hill, vice president of natural-gas economy operations for Encana Corp. Add the diesel used to po

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Submitted Oct 01, 2012 By: skb69sa

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sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,003 Points:598,710 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 1:24:55 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,655 Points:1,118,650 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 9:19:49 PM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse bring on the mass produced cng cars already.
slowtrain Champion Author Georgia Posts:3,667 Points:948,900 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 5:42:55 PM Ignore slowtrain Report Abuse Natural gas will only be cheap until demand rises, then prices will rise.
QuagmireLA Champion Author Louisiana Posts:1,079 Points:160,365 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:34:24 PM Ignore QuagmireLA Report Abuse Developing a dual fuel pickup wouldn't be that big a trick, esp if you sacraficed some cargo space to the cng tank. The problem I see is Carburetor vs fuel injection. I know it could be done using a carburetor. With fuel injection and CAFE stanards along with the EPA may well kill the gasoline CNG dual fuel alterantive.
getalong All-Star Author California Posts:796 Points:149,190 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:31:22 PM Ignore getalong Report Abuse been here done that.
ItisAJeepThing Champion Author Tucson Posts:19,760 Points:2,152,555 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:21:27 PM Ignore ItisAJeepThing Report Abuse North America can become energy independent if we pursue increased use of abundant, cheap and clean American natural gas in the form of CNG as our primary alternative to all oil based fuels. Start with large static engines near the source, then convert heavy duty cross country diesel truck engines to use CNG. This will reduce the price of diesel fuel for use in new high efficiency light trucks. This would put downward pressure on the price of gasoline for use in hew high MPG vehicles, hybrids and the older vehicles that most of us drive. [Edited by: ItisAJeepThing at 10/1/2012 4:22:06 PM EST]
bearzz Champion Author California Posts:1,432 Points:419,670 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:21:11 PM Ignore bearzz Report Abuse Unfortunately, demand does usually mean increase in price.
vizilo Champion Author British Columbia Posts:5,729 Points:2,590,650 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:21:05 PM Ignore vizilo Report Abuse About time
QuagmireLA Champion Author Louisiana Posts:1,079 Points:160,365 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:20:48 PM Ignore QuagmireLA Report Abuse Also the person ordering the polls for the media get to choose the sampling method. Random is almost never done. If you look into the details they are broken down by party. And often weighted toward the Dem party, for any number of reasons.
TRAIN RIDER Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:9,082 Points:2,757,820 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:20:26 PM Ignore TRAIN RIDER Report Abuse It will be good for them to use a cheaper fuel. But do the engines last as long as diesels?
JagXKR Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,164 Points:1,092,355 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:18:08 PM Ignore JagXKR Report Abuse Great until the demand for CNG starts to raise the price.
duffee01 All-Star Author Mississippi Posts:781 Points:428,340 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:17:51 PM Ignore duffee01 Report Abuse Use it while it's cheap cause it'll go back up with more use.
stevencr Champion Author Ohio Posts:5,656 Points:1,434,765 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:17:13 PM Ignore stevencr Report Abuse I would like to get a CNG auto, but no place to refuel.
txkrb Champion Author Texas Posts:1,563 Points:639,640 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:15:24 PM Ignore txkrb Report Abuse A poll on who you plan to vote for would be good here on GB may not be random etc, but with over 20,000 normally filling in polls would be better than the polls the media does of less than 2,000
menagerie1013 Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,365 Points:690,740 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:14:55 PM Ignore menagerie1013 Report Abuse It makes sense to convert them, since their power sources is being produced where they are being used.
ChuckGVT Champion Author Vermont Posts:6,698 Points:1,693,950 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:14:46 PM Ignore ChuckGVT Report Abuse Old, old "news."
satrn38mpg Champion Author Raleigh Posts:5,072 Points:1,054,015 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:13:18 PM Ignore satrn38mpg Report Abuse more of the same .
waynemustang Champion Author Indiana Posts:6,381 Points:1,665,990 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:11:57 PM Ignore waynemustang Report Abuse Oil companies are smart.
DOMFL Veteran Author Miami Posts:316 Points:85,560 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:11:50 PM Ignore DOMFL Report Abuse Yes
greentre All-Star Author Pensacola Posts:792 Points:276,135 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:11:38 PM Ignore greentre Report Abuse Good, but will this help lower fuel prices? Cost? Yes. Price at the pump? No.
sprocketsplines Champion Author Washington Posts:1,687 Points:861,615 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:10:53 PM Ignore sprocketsplines Report Abuse Finally, the oil companies themselves are realizing the economic savings by switching to natural gas from diesel. It's called eating your own dog food.
JimVP All-Star Author Chicago Posts:632 Points:154,210 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:09:23 PM Ignore JimVP Report Abuse Watch for the speculators who drive up these prices.
silvershark69 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,014 Points:379,890 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:08:46 PM Ignore silvershark69 Report Abuse like we have a random sampling here.
QuagmireLA Champion Author Louisiana Posts:1,079 Points:160,365 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:07:09 PM Ignore QuagmireLA Report Abuse I'd like the next weekly poll to be a who are you planning to vote orf as next president? Obama / Romney / Someone else. Looks simple enough to do. Bet the poll results would make national news.
twopairAL Veteran Author Huntsville Posts:485 Points:103,620 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:06:37 PM Ignore twopairAL Report Abuse ok
tazintally Sophomore Author Tallahassee Posts:189 Points:69,260 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:03:31 PM Ignore tazintally Report Abuse Cleaner fuel. Just not available on every corner.
BobbyVA Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:5,508 Points:1,176,525 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 4:01:39 PM Ignore BobbyVA Report Abuse As long as Obama is in charge we will never recover! Vote this anti-war, enviro nut, and big spender out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dynamouse Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,516 Points:1,751,800 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:58:55 PM Ignore dynamouse Report Abuse WE NEED obama OUT
nstrdnvstr Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:36,859 Points:3,985,180 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:58:47 PM Ignore nstrdnvstr Report Abuse There should be more natural gas/gasoline hybrid vehicles available.
gumbyrex Champion Author Fresno Posts:3,301 Points:760,040 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:54:48 PM Ignore gumbyrex Report Abuse Seems like a win win no brainer.
NemoIL Champion Author Illinois Posts:3,027 Points:1,314,135 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:50:53 PM Ignore NemoIL Report Abuse There are laws against using blowoff gas from oil wells.
marsbars Champion Author Alaska Posts:2,658 Points:1,179,820 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:45:42 PM Ignore marsbars Report Abuse If natural gas is cheaper to use and more efficient then maybe we should be going this route.
MadTraveler Champion Author Idaho Posts:2,082 Points:572,100 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:43:46 PM Ignore MadTraveler Report Abuse It has appeal for a lot of us, but not sufficient infrastructure to be viable yet for cars.
nwhawk Champion Author Kansas Posts:1,972 Points:573,640 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:41:52 PM Ignore nwhawk Report Abuse Old news
MG_Sputnik Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:7,310 Points:1,961,380 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:41:25 PM Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse Sounds good to me.
thirty8paces Champion Author Baltimore Posts:4,521 Points:1,107,105 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:40:30 PM Ignore thirty8paces Report Abuse Good for them.
lovinguy71 Veteran Author Greensboro Posts:443 Points:480,715 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:39:16 PM Ignore lovinguy71 Report Abuse ok
pmanning7843 Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,686 Points:339,190 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:38:39 PM Ignore pmanning7843 Report Abuse good idea
broken80530 Champion Author Denver Posts:3,151 Points:734,225 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:37:13 PM Ignore broken80530 Report Abuse A division of our company built some d-watering pumps and they were powered by natural gas. That was 10 years ago!
regasaz Champion Author Phoenix Posts:5,775 Points:1,282,230 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:37:01 PM Ignore regasaz Report Abuse This is very similar to the report that was posted on this subject a couple of days ago.
DancingDee Champion Author Gary Posts:4,382 Points:1,055,850 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:35:00 PM Ignore DancingDee Report Abuse It certainly should!!!!
mdotson Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:8,651 Points:1,991,490 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:34:54 PM Ignore mdotson Report Abuse Sounds good.
ZimaKC All-Star Author Pittsburgh Posts:552 Points:548,935 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:25:52 PM Ignore ZimaKC Report Abuse natural gas would be better than diesel
2parrots Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:1,562 Points:347,265 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:20:38 PM Ignore 2parrots Report Abuse Let`s get rolling sooner rather than later
RUNNINONEMPTYFL Champion Author Florida Posts:1,408 Points:460,700 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:19:03 PM Ignore RUNNINONEMPTYFL Report Abuse Here we go again...
Panama Red Champion Author San Diego Posts:11,077 Points:2,499,265 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:18:53 PM Ignore Panama Red Report Abuse Good idea.
dan30thz28 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:5,918 Points:1,982,990 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:17:31 PM Ignore dan30thz28 Report Abuse Sounds good!
GManCo Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:4,996 Points:951,590 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:13:44 PM Ignore GManCo Report Abuse Clean burning, reduced cost, a great fuel that we don't have to get from the Arabs. All we have to do is convert our engines to run it. Not a big problem.
FOURXFOUR Champion Author Boston Posts:2,466 Points:1,247,205 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:13:31 PM Ignore FOURXFOUR Report Abuse Drill, Baby, Drill....
Gramps001 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,858 Points:1,365,460 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:10:04 PM Ignore Gramps001 Report Abuse I LIKE CHEAP!