In this article, by Scott E. Rickert, CEO of Nanofilm, Ltd., located in Valley View, Ohio, United States, the author says the rising prices at the gas pump only reinforce the notion that countries need to take charge of preserving and protecting their energy independence. The best experts estimate that we are decades away from ending our dependence on fossil fuels, so, Rickert asks, are there ways nanotechnology can help develop cost-effective and environmentally sound ways to extract resources and use them more efficiently? The answer: “Absolutely.” Nanotechnology can help retrieve the 60 to 70 percent of discovered oil that remains in the ground. Nano-enabled sensors will help drillers find the oil, and choose the best extraction methods. Hydraulic fracturing, a recent technology for extracting oil and gas, can be improved through the use of nanotechnology, as can extracting oil from oil sands deposits in Canada. The Middle East, he says, will remain a permanent part of the global energy landscape, and once the current unrest settles out, all will be back to normal for the producers and customers of crude oil. Still, Rickert says, “it’s in the best interest of any country to take control of their energy stores. Even Jordan recently announced plans to start exploration of oil shales. And note this: they also formed a partnership with a U.S. corporation for a nanotechnology center researching energy and water. The bottom line — or more accurately, the bottom gallon — is this: every energy option must be vigorously pursued as though our future depends on it — because it does. And I believe nanotechnology will prove to be our most important resource.” The article can be viewed online at the link below.
http://www.industryweek.com/articles/nanotech_and_middle_east_revolution_24153.aspx?SectionID=3