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To: ChanceIs who wrote (47685)	7/9/1999 2:25:00 PM
From: Tomas	Respond to of 95453

Iraq May Be Damaging Own Oil Capability -UN Report UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - In an effort to squeeze more oil from its wells, Iraq is using techniques that could damage pipeline systems and eventually reduce production unless it can import far more oil industry equipment, according to a new U.N. report. A ''water injection'' program, which was assisted by treatment chemicals, increased production in Iraq's southern oil fields by 160,0000 barrels per day between August 1998 and May 1999, the Dutch Saybolt firm, which monitors Iraqi oil flows for the United Nations, said in a report Thursday. This technique ''produces a short-term jump in the rate of production of oil but a long-term deterioration in the total volume recovered,'' the report said. A total of 54 wells have ''watered-out'' in the south since mid-1998 and were unlikely to be revived, it added. Iraq, under stringent economic sanctions since its troops invaded Kuwait in August 1990, is permitted to sell $5.26 billion worth of oil every six months to buy food, medicine and other goods under a U.N. ''oil-for-food'' program. But Baghdad had difficulties in reaching its target so the Security Council allowed imports of $300 million worth of spare parts and equipment every six months for its dilapidated oil industry. The total has now reached $900 million. However, Iraq has asked that the $300 million be doubled during the current phase of the program and Saybolt agreed. ''This amount is considered to be commensurate with the production levels achieved and predicted, given in particular the emphasis placed on major projects and investment in safety, control of pollution and environmental damage,'' the report said. Iraq's oil ministry has set targets of 3 million barrels per day by December 1999, 3.2 million per day by March 2000 and 3.5 million per day by December 2000. ''It is conceivable that the projections of the Ministry of Oil will be met, possibly exceeded for the next six months to one year, with a legacy of water-damaged reservoirs,'' Saybolt said in the report. Saybolt's recommendations are in response to a May Security Council resolution that requested Secretary-General Kofi Annan submit a report on the state of Iraq's oil fields to determine which spare parts Baghdad would be allowed to purchase. The report, however, has political implications. The United States has delayed approval of several contracts on grounds they would be used to refine oil that is then sold illegally. As of last month, Iraq had submitted 958 applications for spare parts worth $508 million, of which 785 contracts worth $398 million have been circulated to the Security Council's sanctions committee for approval. Of this amount, 561 applications, valued at $287 million, have been approved and 201 applications, worth $95 million, have been put ''on hold.'' In an introduction to the report, Annan appealed to council members ''to proceed as expeditiously as possible ... and to review further all applications placed on hold.'' dailynews.yahoo.com

To: ChanceIs who wrote (47685)	7/9/1999 2:32:00 PM
From: Think4Yourself	Respond to of 95453

A rebuttal of coal and big endorsement of Nat Gas! Friday July 9, 11:40 am Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: Allied Business Intelligence, Inc. Expect Deadly Energy Shortages - They Are Here to Stay, ABI Says OYSTER BAY, N.Y., July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The phrases are now familiar: ``rolling blackouts,' ``low voltage,' and ``brownouts.' All of the terms will become more common due to one fact: the next five years will be filled with nationwide energy shortages caused by an unprepared US power industry. ``These energy shortages are just symptomatic of a situation that is going to get much worse before it gets better,' said ABI senior analyst Mike Kujawa. Kujawa authored a recently released ABI report which spelled out how the nation's energy demands are now exceeding the existing energy supply. In anticipation of the new competitive nature of the energy industry, utilities stopped building power plants about a decade ago, waiting to see how the new world of deregulation panned out. However, the booming economy of the past ten years saw energy needs continue to grow at a rapid pace. As billions of dollars are invested by 400 independent power producers nationwide, still not enough is being done. The study shows that over a hundred billion dollars must be put into new power generation capability by 2010 to meet demand. Markets for fuel cells, microturbines, cogeneration, and wind turbines will climb into the tens of billions of dollars annually by 2010. All either reduce or eliminate the emissions associated with power production. ``Wind turbines alone could supply the US with much of its needed capacity, for example,' Kujawa said. For congested areas with constrained power and gas distribution capacity, distributed generation technologies are likely to be the only way out of the current situation. The present equipment of choice, large gas turbines, is in short supply. There is not enough manufacturing capacity to satisfy demand for large gas turbines in the US while maintaining market position in other countries. Another traditional energy source -- coal -- has seen its use stop growing due to global warming while a newer energy source -- nuclear energy -- is seen as too dangerous. The study, ``Power Generation Opportunities in a Restructured Environment,' addresses the causes of the regular power shortages now part of the national power supply grid. The situation is creating large markets for a number of new power marketers and electricity production technologies. Allied Business Intelligence, Inc. is an Oyster Bay, NY-based technology research think-tank which publishes strategic research on the broadband, wireless, electronics, automation, energy and transportation industries. Details of these studies can be found at alliedworld.com. Or call 516-624-3113 for more info.