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Texas Energy Story

The Texas Energy Story

Population 23,900,000Land Mass 268,601 square miles 2nd largest state in the United States in

area and populationMajor Industries: Petroleum, Natural

Gas, Petrochemicals, AgricultureTexas has EVERYTHING - renewables,

nonrenewables and an innovative spirit.

The Texas Energy Story

Texas is the leading oil producer in the U.S.

Texas’ signature crude oil type - West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is the major benchmark of oil in the Americas

25 oil refineries process 4.6 million bbl per day – 1/4th total U.S. refining capacity

The Texas Energy Story

More than 1/4th of natural gas production – 1st in the nation

Overcame California for wind powered generation of electricity – there are 2,000 wind turbines in West Texas alone

1st in generation of electricity and 1st in consumption of electricity

Per capita electricity consumption is significantly higher than the national average

Texas Oil

• Spindletop 1901 – 100,000 barrels a day near Beaumont

• 2007 – 4,871million barrels of oil per day from 144,660 producing wells

• Houston area refineries make up the largest refining center in the U.S.

Texas Oil

• 1972 was the largest production year with 1,263,412,000 barrels of oil (3,452,000 per day) from 167,233 wells

• Why the decline? Texas oil and natural gas reservoirs are mature and much of the economically recoverable oil has been produced. At $120 (or more) per barrel, it becomes more economically recoverable.

• 2005 production was lower due to wells being taken off line for Rita and Katrina. 2007 data indicates a return to pre-hurricane levels.

Texas Natural Gas

• Natural gas has been produced in Texas for over 100 years. Texas natural gas is used for petrochemical production, electricity production, and manufacturing.

• In 2007, 61,836 billion cubic feet of natural gas were produced from 83,218 wells.

• 1972 was also the largest natural gas production year with 9,602,629,000 cubic feet produced from 23,373 wells.

• Natural gas has many of the same economic issues as petroleum.

• Natural gas is most often found in formation with oil and salt water.

Texas Coal

• 5th largest producer of coal

• 1st largest consumer of coal for electrical generation

• Largest generator of electricity in the U.S.

• Most Texas coal is lignite – low in energy content, but also low in sulfur

Texas Uranium

• Texas has 4 nuclear reactors (2 at Comanche Peak in Somervell County and 2 at the South Texas Project in Bay City) and spent fuel is stored on site.

• 10% of Texas electricity is generated from nuclear

• Since 1983, Texas consumers have paid $802.3 million dollars into the Federal Nuclear Waste Fund.

Texas Solar

• Sunniest spots in Texas! • 1st in the nation for solar potential• Single acre of land in West Texas is

capable of producing the energy equivalent of 800 barrels of oil each year

• Compared to East Texas, West Texas experiences 75% more solar radiation.

• 5-10 acres per megawatt. A 200MW plant would need 1,300 acres.

Texas Wind

Texas Wind

• Panhandle has the greatest landmass with sustained, high quality winds

• Offshore areas south of Galveston may provide suitable development

• Mountain passes and ridgetops of the Trans-Pecos exhibit the highest average wind speeds.

• At 736 MW, the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in central Texas is the largest wind power facility in the world. (Taylor and Nolan counties)

Texas Biomass

• Texas’ abundant agricultural resources provide opportunity for extensive agri-energy development.

• The state’s large urban communities contribute substantial amounts of biomass-derived wastes.

• If 1/2 of the available biomass waste were used for generating electricity, it could supply 10% of the state’s energy needs.

• Texas 70 billion cubic feet of landfill gas could power 200 MW of electricity for 100,000 Texas homes.

Texas Biomass

• Exciting Texas biomass projects include:

• Mesquite to Ethanol studies at A&M - harvesting mesquite from North Texas to turn into ethanol

• Lower Rio Grande Valley sugarcane to ethanol

• Central Texas ethanol plants planned for the “corn belt” running from Brazos to McLennan County.

• Denton, Texas is the home of the world’s first sustainably powered biofuel production facility.

The Texas Energy Story - Bright Past, Brighter Future

• Texas, unlike many states, has a diverse portfolio of energy resources. Not one single source will fuel growth and provide the quality of life we have come to expect.

• A diverse range of fuels and energy efficiency technologies - with energy efficient buildings (including schools, government buildings, and homes) - Texas will remain a leader in production of energy and in energy technologies.

Additional Resources

• State Energy Conservation Office• Texas Railroad Commission• Texas Office of Surface Mining• Nuclear Energy Institute• Texas General Land Office• Texas A&M • Texas Mining and Reclamation

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