The average energy returned on investment, or EROI, for conventional oil is roughly 25:1. In other words, 25 units of oil-based energy are obtained for every one unit of other energy that is invested to extract it. But tar sands oil is in a category all its own. Tar sands retrieved by surface mining has an EROI of only about 5:1, according to research released Tuesday. Tar sands retrieved from deeper beneath the earth, through steam injection, fares even worse, with a maximum average ratio of just 2.9 to 1. That means one unit of natural gas is needed to create less than three units of oil-based energy. Hmmm. Maybe this is why those poor oil&gas corps need such huge public subsidies to maintain their fat cat perks and profits....
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 02:50:54 +0000
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