VOA标准英语2012--Technology Developed in Texas Expands Natural Gas Production

 

Technology Developed in Texas Expands Natural Gas Production

LEAM Drilling Systems, in Conroe, Texas, runs its trucks on compressed natural gas, or CNG. LEAM Vice¹ President Scott Bradley said cheap natural gas makes the company's 18 CNG trucks a good investment.

“These are F-550s ordered from Ford² with a V-10 engine. We have had these trucks for about a year now and they have been performing very well for us,” he said.

The technologies that have made gas cheap enough to fuel trucks were developed here in Texas, principally by George Phydias Mitchell.

“What has happened in this country in the oil and gas business, in particular with the independents and now the majors, is happening all over the world. It is unbelievable,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell's company began experimenting with two technologies - called hydraulic³ fracturing and horizontal drilling - in the 1970s. Other drilling companies expanded rapidly after 2002, when Mitchell sold his company and published his methods for all to see.

“I made enough money and I wanted to have a public record of how it happened,” said Mitchell.

The director of the University of Houston's Petroleum⁴ Geoscience program, Don Van Nieuwenhuise said Mitchell deserves a lot of credit.

“What George Mitchell did was take these two different technologies, horizontal drilling and fracturing, put them together and he showed the entire industry how they could make money,” said Van Nieuwenhuise.

But Emily Wurth of the environmental group Food and Water Watch said residents near some drilling areas have concerns about fracking, which pumps water and chemicals into rock to force out trapped gas.

“There are a number of issues with the air quality effects of this practice. It releases methane⁵ as well as benzene and other carcinogenic chemicals. And methane is a greenhouse gas,” she said.

Advocates say that if regulations are followed, hydraulic fracturing can be done with minimal⁶ damage.

“If, say in windmills or electrical cars or whatever it is, we have a breakthrough that is similar to hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in the oil business, if we have a technological⁷ breakthrough like that, we will see the market move toward it and what we need to have happen will happen,” said Van Nieuwenhuise.

Surveys show that most Americans favor renewable energy research. But they also show that Americans like the benefits of expanded natural gas production - jobs and lower fuel costs, even though they remain wary⁸ of its environmental risks. 

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

3 hydraulic   

adj.水力的；水压的，液压的；水力学的

参考例句：

• The boat has no fewer than five hydraulic pumps.这艘船配有不少于5个液压泵。
• A group of apprentics were operating the hydraulic press.一群学徒正在开动水压机。

4 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

5 methane   

n.甲烷，沼气

参考例句：

• The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
• Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。

6 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。

7 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

8 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。