Oct 1

Crude Oil: Black Gold or Black Menace?
With all the publicity nowadays surrounding the price of Crude Oil, I resolved to write an enlightening article on the backdrop of the so-called “Black Gold.” I’ll briefly go over history, environmental effects, pricing and the future of the thick black sludge that is coveted by every major economy in the world. Hopefully you can reach a better point of view on the subject.  The history of Crude Oil is too immense to discuss in this brief editorial so I will limit it to a general overview. The first oil wells were drilled in China in the 4th century. They where as much as 243 meters deep and were drilled utilizing drill bits attached to bamboo poles. The contemporary history of crude began in 1846, with the breakthrough of the process of refining kerosene from coal by Atlantic Canada’s Abraham Pineo Gesner. The first rock oil mine was built in Bobrka, Poland the following year. These breakthroughs rapidly spread around the world, and Meerzoeff built the first Russian refinery in the mature oil fields at Baku in 1861.  James Miller Williams in Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada in 1858, excavated the first commercial oil well drilled in North America. The American petroleum industry commenced with Edwin Drake’s discovery of oil in 1859, near Titusville, Pennsylvania. The industry matured slowly in the 1800s, driven by the demand for kerosene and oil lamps. It became a major national business in the early part of the 20th century. With the introduction of the internal combustion engine came a need that has largely sustained the industry to this day.  While we all need to get to work in some way or another, rarely does anyone consider the environmental effects of the fuel that powers our mode of transportation. Yes we know that the emissions from are cars, buses and trains have a green house effect on our delicate environment; but what about the rest of our ecology? Oil extraction is costly and occasionally environmentally detrimental, although Dr. John Hunt from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution revealed in a 1981 paper that over 70% of the reserves in the world are associated with visible macroseepages, and numerous oil fields are found due to natural leaks. Offshore exploration and extraction of oil agitates the encompassing marine environment. Exploration could call for dredging, which stirs up the sea bottom, stamping out the ocean plants that nautical creatures need to survive. Not to mention the typical Crude Oil and refined fuel spills from tanker ship accidents. All of these factors have tainted frail ecosystems all over the world. Petroleum products are priced like most commodities: supply and demand. While this may sound simple, the actual start to finish process can be a lot more complex subject. References to oil prices are generally related to the spot price of either WTI/Light Crude as traded on New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). Priced by the barrel, Crude Oil is rapidly becoming the most costly commodity on the market (second only to Gold). Oil pricing is extremely reliant on both its grade and location. The vast majority of oil will not be traded on an exchange but on an over-the-counter basis, typically with reference to a standard crude oil grade that is quoted via a pricing agency such as Argus Media Ltd or Platts. It is often claimed that OPEC arranges the oil price and the real monetary value of a barrel of oil is in the area of $2, which is equivalent to the cost of extraction of a barrel in the Middle East. These appraisals of costs disregard the cost of finding and developing oil reserves.  You can’t talk about the future of oil without talking about the “Hubbert Peak” oil theory. This hypothesis depicts the long-term rate of production of conventional oil and other fuels. It assumes that oil reserves are not replenishable. It also predicts that future world oil production must unavoidably reach a crest and then decline as these reserves are exhausted. Like every other theory of any importance it is highly controversial. “When will the Oil actually start to run out?” is the big question. No matter how you look at it, our society needs to concentrate more efforts on either alternative fuels or more fuel-efficient modes of transportation. While I’m sure that the oil won’t peter out in my life time I would like to think we can leave this world a better place for future generations. In closing, I hope this article has given you a better understanding of the topic and made you a more informed consumer. So the next time your grumbling at the price of gas, at least you’ll understand what you re complaining about. If you would like to read more on the topic of Crude Oil, you can vistit http://www.crudeoilrefineryhome.com/ or read one of the books listed at the end of this article.  Books about the petroleum industry: James Howard Kunstler (2005). The Long Emergency: Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-first Century. Atlantic Monthly Press.  C.J. Campbell (2004). The Coming Oil Crisis.  Peter Odell (2004). Why Carbon Fuels Will Dominate the 21st Century’s Global Energy Economy. Multi Science.  Amory B. Lovins (2004). Winning the Oil Endgame. Rocky Mountain Institute.  Vaclav Smil (2003). Energy at the Crossroads : Global Perspectives and Uncertainties. The MIT Press.Stephen Nelson is a professional commodity trader that specializes in the energy market. http://www.crudeoilrefineryhome.com/
Source: www.ArticlePros.com

Review Of The New Mercedes benz Glk 350
There are a couple vehicle that tell us in one glance that they are ordinary and not the best vehicle that we would want to be seen driving inside of But there are other vehicles that give out an air of splendor and the instant you look at it you understand it is the vehicle that you wish to be in One of these cars is the new Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 . .This is the very first premium compact crossover SUV that Mercedes has ever developed Though the GLK 350 might be a bit boxy it does not disappoint us The platform for this model was designed on the classic C-class sedan . . .So why did Mercedes-Benz decide to make an SUV? “We needed a car like the GLK 350,” sales representative Mark Leonard said “It’s designed to go head-to-head with the BMW X3 and it is doing a fantastic job ” . .The model was debuted earlier in the year and is predetermined to be a 2010 model version It has already drawn in a lot of attention because of its different design and the starting price that Mercedes-Benz has set for it Numerous individuals were expecting them to choose a high number - but were shocked when the business set it at a low $33,900 This will most definitely be in the running for the low-cost SUV on the market and may be able to overpass the X3 in price alone . .The GLK is fitted out with a 3 5 liter V6 engine and linked with a seven speed automatic transmission The two work together to allow for a smooth but powerful drive It is simpler then before to speed up the vehicle and it can touch 60 MPH in only 6 9 seconds . .If you desire to pick out the premium packet you will be getting a panorama sunroof, power liftgate, media upgrade bundle, heated front seats, and memory settings for mirrors, steering wheel, and the driver’s seat You will also be given numerous of the most preferred characteristics that include power assist, dual zone automatic climate control, eight CD sound system, and a trip computer Mercedes also added the standard safety features to each model .
Source: www.rsstnx.com