Peat: a major energy resource to meet U. S. clean fuels needs

Book · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6069055

The U.S. has the second-largest peat resources in the world. The energy contained in these peat resources is estimated to total about 1440 quads (equivalent to 240 billion barrels of crude oil). The total U.S. peat resources compare favorably with other fossil-energy sources. Although peat is found in all 50 states, more than 90% of the peat resources are located in parts of Alaska (outside of the permafrost regions), Minnesota, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Louisiana, North Carolina, Maine, New York, Hawaii, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Many of the states have no significant resources of other fossil fuels; this circumstance enhances the importance of peat resource development in those areas. Water is plentiful in the states with large peat deposits. Conversion of peat to substitute natural gas (SNG), therefore, will not cause a significant strain on the local water resources. IGT estimates show that, if all the peat in the U.S. were to be converted to SNG, it could supply more than 720 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of SNG, plus significant quantities of by-product oils and ammonia. By comparison, the current level of natural gas consumption in the U.S. is about 20 TCF per year. Even though about half of the U.S. peat resources are located in Alaska, which has significant oil reserves, it may be feasible in the future to convert the Alaskan peat to SNG for export to the contiguous 48 states via a proposed natural gas pipeline.

• OSTI ID: 6069055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010400 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Processing
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
DATA FORMS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SUPPLIES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
GRAPHS
HIGH BTU GAS
LAND RECLAMATION
NORTH AMERICA
PEAT
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
TABLES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA