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Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (5849)	4/28/2007 10:17:25 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Respond to of 24213

Icebergs threaten vast Russian gas project 27 Apr 2007 14:13:54 GMT Source: Reuters By Dmitry Zhdannikov MOSCOW, April 27 (Reuters) - Russia's giant Shtokman gas field, one of the world's most challenging offshore projects, will face even greater problems as global warming unleashes vast icebergs into the Arctic, a senior scientist says. Even if icebergs are unlikely to halt the world's largest single energy development, as the global hunger for resources grows, they would make the $30 billion-plus project by Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom yet more expensive. "Our studies show that, as the Arctic climate gets milder, the risks of huge iceberg formation and ice storms in the Barents Sea will grow significantly by 2015," said Alexander Frolov, deputy head of state weather forecaster Rosgidromet. "When we talk about such a large project as Shtokman, we can't just ignore these risks," he told Reuters. Gazprom <GAZP.MM>, the world's largest gas producer and supplier of a quarter of Europe's needs, says it realised that Shtokman would be one of the world's most tough and costly developments immediately after discovering the field in 1988. Located 550 km (340 miles) from the shore, the field cannot be reached by helicopter from continental bases. With water depths of 600 metres (1,968 ft), installing a platform in the stormy sea will be hard. Freezing winds and six months of winter darkness add to the many challenges. The stakes are high, as the field contains more than enough gas to supply the world for a year. The field was meant to be come on stream in 2003 but its launch has been repeatedly postponed due to lack of funds and Gazprom's inability to agree with Western partners. Analysts had expected a breakthrough in the development last year, when Gazprom came close to teaming up with U.S. Chevron <CVX.N> and ConocoPhillips <COP.N>, Norway's Statoil <STL.OL> and Norsk Hydro <NHY.OL> and France's Total <TOTF.PA>. But the deal collapsed amid what experts said was the cooling of political relations between Moscow and Washington and the Kremlin's unwillingness to share Russia's natural resources. WESTERN EXPERTISE Gazprom has resumed talks with the same partners, this time to bring them in as possible contractors, as experts say the Russian company lacks the offshore expertise to go it alone. "The project foresees a system of iceberg monitoring and the use of special technologies to chase them away," said Gazprom's spokesman Denis Ignatyev. Frolov said Russia had no such experience and the threat from ice formations, which can be more than 100 km (62 miles) long and equal the size of Jamaica, should not be underestimated. "It was an iceberg which sank Titanic. A platform can't just dodge icebergs. So we need to create a proper iceberg monitoring system, like the one in Canada," he said. While warmer temperatures may cause larger icebergs to break off polar ice, many experts have said global warming may also help develop Arctic resources as melting ice will make once inaccessible reserves attractive to oil and gas firms. The U.S. Geological Survey said a quarter of all undiscovered oil and gas may be in the Arctic. Countries from the United States to Russia are looking north, partly to help break dependence on supplies from the volatile Middle East. Shtokman will probably need up to four production platforms capable of withstanding 25-metre waves. Gas will flow to the shore by pipelines, where it will be liquefied for shipment to the United States. The cost of Norway's Snoehvit gas field, a much smaller development but similar in conditions, exceeds $10 billion. Frolov said destroying icebergs with bombs could be just one of the solutions, but it might raise ecological concerns. Some experts say the safest way to avoid the icebergs is not to build the platforms at all, but to stick to underwater developments and lay pipelines in deep trenches so that even the biggest icebergs cannot scratch them on the sea bed. Ignatyev declined to say whether Gazprom could chose a purely underwater development scheme. Analysts say that, whatever scheme is chosen, Western technology would be needed. "Securing foreign participation, even in the form of subcontractors, should help Gazprom attract better technologies and improve the overall management of the project", Alexander Burgansky of Renaissance Capital said. alertnet.org

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (5849)	4/28/2007 10:58:48 AM
From: SG	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 24213

Talk about wasted hydrocarbons and pollution-I am listening to lots of lawn mowers and leaf blowers in my neighborhood this AM. Nothing frosts me more than lawn work, doing the minimal I do or the huge industry. Using dead dinosaur remains to blow leaves from one side of the yard to the other while polluting the air and causing a racket. Jeez. SG

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (5849)	4/29/2007 6:30:30 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Respond to of 24213

Don't know if they make PHEV, but I've had these guys for a loooooong time, so I may as well pimp them. Enova Files 2006 10-K, Announces FIRST QUARTER 2007 Purchase Volume, and Introduces a Strategic Global Initiative Monday April 2, 5:35 pm ET TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Enova Systems, (AMEX:ENA - News; AIM:ENV)(AIM:ENVS), an early stage production company in an emerging industry and a leading developer of proprietary electric, hybrid and fuel cell digital power management systems, today released its 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, summarizing its financial results for 2006. Enova Systems also announces that during the first quarter of 2007 it has so far received product purchase orders from customers exceeding USD $6,000,000. ADVERTISEMENT Jarett Fenton, Enova Chief Financial Officer stated "The significant influx of orders received at this point is an excellent sign that the market for these products is growing, and that Enova is poised to capitalize." In 2007, Enova will roll out the first phase of our Global Support Services Initiative. This initiative endeavors to provide a truly global service and support infrastructure to our customers, many of whom operate fleets of vehicles all over the world. In coordination with our channel partners, Enova will utilize our competitive advantages to offer integration, retrofit, supply, support, maintenance, upgrade, and other field services to our customers. Phase I of the Global Support Services Initiative will focus on "in place" customers in specific markets domestically and in Europe and Asia. The second phase envisions the finalization of other channel partner relationships across the world, facilitating our entry into additional markets. The third phase of the rollout seeks to establish Enova as assertively supporting our product, worldwide. Mike Staran, Enova Executive Vice President, noted, "This is an exciting development for Enova. We believe we are now positioned as a global supplier of drive systems for electric, hybrid and fuel cell applications. We are able to go to a customer or potential customer and, along with offering a reliable and efficient product, we will be able to support that product on a global basis. This is a critical step in supporting Enova as a recognized leader in the industry." Some recent customer highlights of Enova's accomplishments are: International Truck and Engine (IC Corp), perhaps the nation's largest School Bus manufacturer and Enova have supplied the nation's 1st production Hybrid School Buses. IC Corp currently maintains 60% of the North American School Bus market. In addition to School Buses, IC Corp is teaming with Enova to supply hybrid buses to the Commercial Bus Market. WrightBus, the largest Low-Floor and Double Deck bus manufacturer in the United Kingdom has taken delivery of our series hybrid diesel genset and integrated them into its medium and large bus applications. Six of these systems are now running seven days a week 18 hours a day in London. Enova continues to work with WrightBus on projects related to Enova's hybrid drive systems. Tanfield, the World's largest Electric vehicle Manufacturer, has signed an arrangement with Enova. where Enova will supply electric drive systems for Tanfield's 3.5, 7.5 and 12Ton vehicles. First Auto Works, China's largest vehicle manufacturer has indicated that it intends to purchase Enova's pre transmission hybrid system for FAW's bus applications. Th!nk and Phoenix Motorcars, Electric Vehicle OEMs, have both utilized Enova as a supplier of primary components/systems for their vehicles. Verizon, a Fleet Operator, has recently taken receipt of thirteen (13) service vans incorporating Enova's technology. Verizon is the nation's 2nd largest Fleet Operator with 58,000 vehicles. In addition to Verizon, Enova has begun development work with other large fleet operators in both the service van and pick up and delivery sectors. About Enova: Enova Systems (http://www.enovasystems.com) is a leading supplier of efficient, environmentally friendly digital power components and systems products. The Company's core competencies are focused on the development and commercialization of power management and conversion systems for mobile applications. Enova applies unique 'enabling technologies' in the areas of alternative energy propulsion systems for light and heavy-duty vehicles as well as power conditioning and management systems for distributed generation systems. The Company develops, designs and produces non-invasive drive systems and related components for electric, hybrid-electric, and fuel cell powered vehicles in both the "new" and "retrofit" vehicle sales market. For further information, contact Enova Systems directly, or visit its Web site at enovasystems.com. Additional Information: This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to Enova Systems and its products that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should,' "could," "project," "plan,' "seek," "intend,' or "anticipate' or the negative thereof or comparable terminology and statements about industry trends and Enova's future performance, operations and products. Except for firm purchase orders identified in this Press Release, there are no assurances that any of the referenced customers will purchase product from Enova or in what volumes. These forward-looking statements are subject to and qualified by certain risks and uncertainties. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Enova Systems' periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Enova's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. biz.yahoo.com