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Energy Industry (Oil & Gas)/Questions Answered by Expert Charles E. Felker
| Subject | Date Asked |
| gas odorant on wellhead connections | 1/13/2012 |
| Q: Charles, We have a lease covering 3 gas wells in PA and are entitled to 400 thousand cu. ft. each ... A: I finally heard from my friend who was in the business (now retired)however. He did send me some ... | |
| gas odorant on wellhead connections | 1/11/2012 |
| Q: Charles, We have a lease covering 3 gas wells in PA and are entitled to 400 thousand cu. ft. each ... A: Many years ago when I worked for a gas company these well taps, we called them "farm taps", were ... | |
| massive propane leak in house | 10/12/2011 |
| Q: Our unoccupied house had lightning hit the entrance feed line and blowout in the wine cellar. There ... A: This is a most unusual event. The first thing I'd do is contact the mercaptan manufacturer and get ... | |
| Switch oil to propane | 10/7/2011 |
| Q: My very large oil burner is failing. I have quotes for both oil and propane units. I already have a ... A: Both fuels are "unregulated" as compared to electric or natural gas so the price can go whatever ... | |
| Msc UK vs Professional Career Canada | 6/10/2011 |
| Q: Greetings, I am a graduate Electrical Engineer from Nigeria. I currently have two options to ... A: I am a graduate from Penn State (1954) with a BS in Petroleum & Nat. Gas Engineering. I worked in ... | |
| pipeline safety | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: A pipeline company wants to run a small natural gas pipeline through my property. How far should a ... A: I assume you're thinking of a distance where your home would be "safe" from an explosion resulting ... | |
| liquefied natural gas | 12/31/2010 |
| Q: I am interested in the possible use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to replace the use of propane at ... A: LNG is Liquefied Natural Gas. When natural gas is cooled to minus 260 degrees F it will liquefy but ... | |
| BBQ PROPANE TANK | 11/19/2010 |
| Q: WOULD IT BE SAFE TO FILL MY EXHAUSTED BBQ LP TANK WITH NATURAL GAS? ANSWER: Would it be safe to use ... A: If you refill your tank with natural gas from that source it will (probably) be low pressure and you ... | |
| direct ownership oil/gas | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: Felker I am doing my due diligence to become a investor in ownership of oil/gas properties. I am ... A: I'm not a financial advisor however I worked for Equitable Resources for many years(Symbol EQT), ... | |
| BBQ PROPANE TANK | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: WOULD IT BE SAFE TO FILL MY EXHAUSTED BBQ LP TANK WITH NATURAL GAS? A: Would it be safe to use natural gas in your propane tank? Is the tank still certified for its ... | |
| US gas & oil fields | 10/3/2010 |
| Q: would be great if you kindly explain : is it true that there are vast oil and gas fields in the US ... A: My best estimate that if we can produce, fully, these shale formations (Marcellus is just one of ... | |
| US gas & oil fields | 10/1/2010 |
| Q: would be great if you kindly explain : is it true that there are vast oil and gas fields in the US ... A: I have no access to proprietary information from oil and gas companies but it is public knowledge ... | |
| converting to gas with direct vent boiler | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: How many btu's in the new boiler do I need for a 1 1/2 story cape home with approximately 1600 ... A: I can give you an educated guess but lack a lot of your details, like where is the house located. ... | |
| homebased gas well | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: I own property which has a natural gas well on it .I was told that since the gas was free it would ... A: In a general way I can say the well head gas you're describing can certainly be used in a home ... | |
| Propane vs Oil Heat ,Hot Air vs Hydro | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I am building a 3000 sf ranch in RI. My heating options are propane vs oil. No natural gas ... A: Look at commodity costs first, and assume propane and fuel oil are selling for $3 per gal. To ... | |
| gas logs | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: Sir- I was interested to read an answer you provided on a web site back in 2005 about gas log ... A: If the gas log unit were a purchased item I would assume that somewhere on the unit there's a ... | |
| fuel efficiency | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: It has been virtually impossible for me to find an answer to my questions; I hope you can! If I ... A: Answer: Not sure if you really want to know the flame temperatures of the two different fuels. ... | |
| Accidental Contact | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: 1954 was a good year for graduates of PSU. HA! Hi Chuck! A friend recommended that I look at "All ... A: Bob Good to hear from a Penn State face. No, no profit there, just try to do some good deeds. ... | |
| natural gas verses propane gas | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: at what temperature does 1 cubic ft. of natural gas burn at and for how long compared to the same ... A: Not sure if you really want to know the flame temperatures of the two different fuels. There's too ... | |
| raw gas use for home heating | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 gas wells drilled on my property, i do not have mineral rights and am not receiving any ... A: I'm sitting in Florida right now checking my email and for some reason your email address is blank. ... | |
| raw gas use for home heating | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 gas wells drilled on my property, i do not have mineral rights and am not receiving any ... A: I just sent an email to an old friend in the Pittsburgh area who supplied this kind of gas equipment ... | |
| raw gas use for home heating | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 gas wells drilled on my property, i do not have mineral rights and am not receiving any ... A: In a general way I can say the well head gas you're describing can certainly be used in a home ... | |
| oil and gas lease | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: I own 62 acres in Tioga County,PA. East Resources is the main company in our area that is doing ... A: I'm no attorney, but just attended a seminar in Stroudsburg on drilling in the Marcellus Shale. One ... | |
| Oil vs Propane | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: We live in Rhode Island. My current furance is oil and is about 40 years old. I was looking to ... A: I've noted a link at the bottom that might help too. To compare fuels you need to look at the price ... | |
| leasing mineral rights | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: my family owns the mineral rights on approxmately. 800 acres in kentucky I have been meeting with ... A: Peggy I'm no "lease attorney" but companies have been leasing for a long time and if they all look ... | |
| Seismic Mineral Permit Agreement | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I am being asked to sign a Seismic Mineral Permit Agreement. The land service is offering me $15 an ... A: Not my area but you might find out what others in your area are getting. If you could find out ... | |
| Seismic Mineral Permit Agreement | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I am being asked to sign a Seismic Mineral Permit Agreement. The land service is offering me $15 ... A: If this "Permit" is just for seismic work, from what I remember of this kind of testing, they just ... | |
| oil vs gas heat | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: What is the difference in oil verse gas heat, including transmission costs etc. from PECO? It is a ... A: I'm not familiar with PECO billing so I can't help you there but its a sure thing that natural gas ... | |
| Marcellus Shale through WV | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: As understand it, the Marcellus Shale vein through PA and WV promises to provide us with much ... A: There are some good geological maps of the Marcellus Chale showing its thickness and location in the ... | |
| Overview of operating stationary IC engine | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Flekar, Please assess the possibility of operating a stationary internal combustion engine at ... A: You didn't note what trace elements you have in your well head gas. If its acid gases they could be ... | |
| natural gas production | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a gas well and would like to know how much the out put is to check if the oil comp is ... A: Robert Based on what you have given, that is an orifice meter. This orifice meter has a 2" line (I ... | |
| marcellus shale | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: i have 100 acres in wayne co pa and recently signed a lease with hess....are they a godd co and how ... A: I looked at your location on available maps and looks like the Marcellus is fairly deep there ... | |
| marcellus shale | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: i have 100 acres in wayne co pa and recently signed a lease with hess....are they a godd co and how ... A: The only thing I meant with the word "surprise" was since the well head price of gas has dropped ... | |
| marcellus shale | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: i have 100 acres in wayne co pa and recently signed a lease with hess....are they a godd co and how ... A: This is really a guess but based on the info you provided it would appear you have 1/6 interest and ... | |
| Oil Hot Water Heater | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I may be interested in replacing my electric HWH with an oil one. Is this wise or should I replace ... A: You should look at fuel cost first and compare either energy source on a comparable basis. The ... | |
| oil | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: My family owns a farm in Pickaway Township. What is the odds of discovering oil or natural gas ... A: If this the Twp near Columbus, Ohio it looks like you're a little West of the most recent natural ... | |
| gas lease contract vs. "selling" of mineral rights | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: What happens if a tract of WV land is sold (including mineral rights), yet there is an existing gas ... A: This is really out of my area BUT I did work for Equitable Gas for many years and we had a "Land ... | |
| Non-Producing Oil & Gas Lease Expiration | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: My company owns a 16 unit apartment building in southern California. After reviewing the title ... A: Tia This is really out of my area BUT I did work for a gas company for many years and we had a ... | |
| oil verses propane broilers | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: i need to get a new boiler, i live in NE pa and was wondering about the choice of oil verses propane ... A: To evaluate any fuel the best way is compare them is on an energy content basis, the BTU. A gallon ... | |
| Oil or propane? | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I currently have an oil burner hot air system. House is about 1800 square feet. Oil burner needs to ... A: Lets look at the basic fuel cost first. All energy, oil, gas, electricity, wood etc can be ... | |
| natural gas | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: How can I make sure my gas stays on and my heat in the house? There is a gentleman who owns the well ... A: Mary You need to find out why the gas goes off. Could be water in the line or, if you're in a ... | |
| LP gas converted to degrees for cooking | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: Cooking with LP gas burner, the high heat is 15,000 BTU and the Simmer is 950 BTU's, What does this ... A: This is a difficult answer to give with a real degree of preciseness and might be answered better by ... | |
| Propane costs | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I am buying a house that runs off of propane instead of natural gas. I have always had natural gas ... A: You need to compare the propane to natural gas costs on the same basis, and the basis to use is $ ... | |
| Very Old Oil Burners and Boilers | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: Our two family home just outside of Boston has two very old converted coal to oil boilers (the ... A: Either a new oil or nat gas system should be a more efficient unit than your present 1960's system. ... | |
| Propane vs. Natural Gas | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: I am considering building a home in an area without natural gas. My options then are propane or ... A: Your location sounds like a spot where the electric heat pump would fit. There are ductless models ... | |
| OIL FURNACE REPLACEMENT | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I appreciate the opportunity of asking a HVAC expert a few questions: 1. I have 2 RUUD oil furnaces ... A: I'll assume they are hot air furnaces, not boilers so there's not many mechanical "pieces" to ... | |
| Lease Offers | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: My family owns mineral interest in Gaines County, Texas. We were offered a lease and to our ... A: I'm no expert on leasing but Penn State has put considerable information on the web since the ... | |
| oil vs electric for house and water heating | 11/29/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I are getting ready to remodel our house and were wondering what would be better for ... A: Sorry, I can't give you any advice on the Bodarus furnace. If you're debating between oil and ... | |
| New Gas Well To New Gas Furnace--Trouble Shooting | 11/24/2008 |
| Q: I had a natural gas well drilled on my farm this summer, which has been connected with National Fuel ... A: Sounds like you've eliminated the quality issue and the problem is the Goodman. I don't have any ... | |
| New Gas Well To New Gas Furnace--Trouble Shooting | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: I had a natural gas well drilled on my farm this summer, which has been connected with National Fuel ... A: Well head gas can be troublesome as it usually contains liquid water or water vapor that can ... | |
| Propane and Natural Gas | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: We have natural gas in the shop now, would it be cheaper and get more heat out of propane? Thanks ... A: Best way to evaluate cost is compare fuels on the same basis, the one I use is $/Million BTU. If ... | |
| LPG gas | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: How to find out the energy released in LPG gas in joules per second? Thanks A: Joules per second indicates a flow rate. If I did my SI conversion correct 1 BTU = 1045 joules (no ... | |
| comparison cost of water heating by oil vs electricity | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a 30-year-old oil-fired water heater which is dying. I have an oil-fired furnace, but I am ... A: I've never used a tankless "on-demand" water heater but it makes sense that not heating a large tank ... | |
| new home in Maine | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: I am building a new home on the coast of Maine. It will be well insulated and good tight windows. ... A: Hard to say regarding the economics since both fuels are non-regulated (unlike natural gas) and the ... | |
| Replacing gas line from wellhead to home | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: The well tender who maintains a well that is on our property has determined that there is a leak in ... A: I can't tell you who to get to replace your line since I don't know where you live, but I would ... | |
| need calculations | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: If customer NG Consumption for month is = 14,000 MMBTU on 24/7 basis. What will be LPG equivalent in ... A: Here's my step per step conversion 14,000 MMBTU divided by (30 day month)x (24 hr/day) =19.44 ... | |
| North Dakota Land | 9/12/2008 |
| Q: I currently own 100 acres of farmed land in Findley North Dakota. I have recently heard that there ... A: Sorry, I'm not a lawyer and that sounds like a legal question. From my viewpoint, I would think if ... | |
| Cost of propane vs. natural gas | 9/5/2008 |
| Q: Charles, Most homes in my community are heated by propane. Our HOA has been approached by ... A: Your math is OK and I was taking a wild guess at the $14, glad you confirmed that price. Don't know ... | |
| Cost of propane vs. natural gas | 9/5/2008 |
| Q: Charles, Most homes in my community are heated by propane. Our HOA has been approached by ... A: You need to compare costs on a heating value basis using BTU. Your propane has a cost of $23.91 per ... | |
| Natural gas versus propane | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: I currently am using a 1950's oil furnace and am considering purchasing a new furnace with central ... A: You need to compare fuels on their BTU basis. If Natural gas is selling for $14 per MCF this ... | |
| Natural Gas vs. Propane | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: I live south of Pittsburgh, PA and I have a 50's stone ranch with a 20 yr old oil furnace. I want to ... A: I haven't priced LPG (propane) recently but I'll bet its $4 /gal and if so that equates to $41.90 ... | |
| Switch from oil heating forced air to heat pump | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: Felker, I have a forced air oil heating system for my house. Now I want to switch it to heating ... A: It would seem to me the house duct work can't tell the difference where the hot/cool air comes from ... | |
| Damages? | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: I own surface rights for 84 acres in Pennsylvania. I have been approached by a petroleum engineer ... A: I'd certainly hire an attorney. Unless there are a lot of words to cover their mineral rights, and ... | |
| oil or (natural)gas? | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: I own a small, 100-yr. old commercial bldg (5000sf) which includes 5 small storefronts and 3 ... A: No question that nat gas is the answer now and probably for quite a while in the future. You need ... | |
| Home filling for CNG vehicles | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: I would like to make my own home filling system to fill my cng vehicle. I know you can buy a system ... A: Allen I've looked for a compressor as a home refueling system and have found nothing EXCEPT that ... | |
| natural gas vs. propane vs. electricity | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: We are considering the purchase of a home in the North San Diego County area. Currently the home is ... A: I'd take a recent cold month electric bill (actual meter reading not estimated) multiply the Kw Hr ... | |
| Switching steam boiler to radiant heat? | 7/26/2008 |
| Q: . The house is drafty with older windows. We used approx. 1300 gals of oil per year, the last 2 ... A: Currently oil is twice the cost of natural gas when compared on the same basis, ie $/MMBTU (oil is ... | |
| New Furnace: Oil vs Propane? | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: I recently bought a house in Maine and just learned that my old forced-air oil furnace is unsafe and ... A: Here's some numbers that might help. To compare costs you need to get the energy type to a common ... | |
| royalty on natural gas well | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I don't know if my first question made it thru or not, so I am re-submitting. If one had a natural ... A: No, I never received your request. Mineral interest and Royalties are pretty complicated stuff and ... | |
| Oil vs propane | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: I live in a big (3500 sq ft), old, leaky house with a 25 year-old oil furnace. Last winter, I was ... A: I'd look close at switching since fuel oil is about 135,000 BTU per gal while propane is 95,000 BTU/ ... | |
| Even with a new Oil Burner - thinking of switching to gas worthwhile? | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: Three and half years ago we bought an 80 year old +/ Dutch Colonial frame house in West Orange, NJ ... A: You seem to understand about the heating value of fuels to compare pricing. NAt gas is currently ... | |
| Oil to gas conversion | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: After a great deal of research, I am getting ready to change my heat fuel from oil to gas. That ... A: I've always had an aversion to fireplaces because they (usually) take air from the room for ... | |
| Professional Exams In The Energy Industry | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: I have been working in the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria for about 6 years now. I started before ... A: I'm a 75 year old retired Petroleum & Nat GAs Engineer, graduated from Penn State. I remember I ... | |
| existing oil house and switching it over to gas | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: I am looking to purchase a home but so many houses have oil heat and has been the reason why I ... A: If the present oil system is a forced air system it should be relatively easy to put in a new gas ... | |
| oil vs propane | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: I am doing my homework on this subject your info has been very helpful. I have also heard that ... A: I don't see how a propane furnace would heat any faster. furnaces are rated BTU/Hr no matter what ... | |
| Drilling yourself | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: Family has 300+ acres unleased over the thickest part of the Marcellus, in close proximity to a ... A: That's great about the Marcellus and a pipeline. You could do what you're thinking but I'd think ... | |
| Oil vs. natural gas for home heating | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: I'd like to revisit a question you had answered in 2004 about which fuel is less costly – oil or ... A: Richard I probably told you then you need to compare costs on the same basis, and that is $/ ... | |
| minerals | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: I would like help in determining what my minerals are worth. I have one offer but I need some ... A: Dan I assume by minerals you mean natural gas. I'm not an expert in gas pricing. I just looked at ... | |
| Heat per btu---Natural Gas verses Propane | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: Could you tell me which produces more heat per BTU gas or propane. A: Not sure exactly what you mean. You can't compare the BTU's in a (gaseous) cubic foot of either ... | |
| leasing | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: Is there a method of calculating the money I would earn on a lease?My land is in NC PA and I have ... A: I didn't do any research on current well head pricing, and the 200 MCF per day was just a guess ... | |
| leasing | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: Is there a method of calculating the money I would earn on a lease?My land is in NC PA and I have ... A: Was curious what county in PA, and who has leased your land? Anyhow, having received some money for ... | |
| natural gas line | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: Charles We have a proposed 36 inch natural gas pipe line to go through our farm. Is there a required ... A: There is a Federal Code that applies to gas pipelines, here's a link to that code ... | |
| New home heating fuel options | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: I live in the Boston area and am building a new one level 3K sqft home. There is no natural gas ... A: To bad nat gas isn't available as its the least expensive energy available now, and probably for a ... | |
| Tankless Gas Water Heater VS. Oil Fired Furnace Hot Water | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: With the price of oil fast approaching $4.00 per gallon, we are contemplating purchasing a gas ... A: Go for it. Natural gas is currently a bargain compared to other fuels when compared on a heating ... | |
| cng pump | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: I am a Pkistani National and at the moment working in Kuwait. I am an aircraft Engineer. Back home I ... A: I converted several cars and trucks in the 1970's to run on either gasoline or nat. gas and it was ... | |
| natural gas vs. liquid propane cooking temperature | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: Is there a difference in the heat produced by natural gas vs. liquid propane? A: There could be a slight difference in the flame temperatures but I'm sure you wouldn't notice that ... | |
| CONVERTING FROM OIL TO GAS | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IT VERY EXPENSIVE OR EVEN POSSIBLE TO CONVERT FROM OIL POWERED HEAT TO GAS? A: I don't have enough info to understand your problem. If this is your home and if you have a hot air ... | |
| Propane vs LNG Regulation | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I understand Propane is not regulated hence the rapid increase in price. Is LNG regulated? Why ... A: LNG is regulated in the sense that it is not a commodity that can be easily purchased at a retail ... | |
| Propane vs LNG Regulation | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I understand Propane is not regulated hence the rapid increase in price. Is LNG regulated? Why ... A: The primary reason is the storage of LNG requires exceptional (and expensive) containers to hold the ... | |
| Oil hot water heater | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: We currently have a 40 gallon oil fired hot water heater that needs to be replaced. In terms of ... A: Lets talk energy cost first as that the easiest. You need to compare oil versus electric on the ... | |
| Natural Gas to CNP | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: Is it possible to convert natural gas supplied by a utility company to CNP for use in a vehicle? I ... A: Sure its possible but the normal pressures in the on-board cylinders is usually around 2500 psig to ... | |
| gas meter responsibilities | 2/3/2008 |
| Q: My son has natural gas with Dominion Hope which his meter is several hundred feet from his house. ... A: Getting somewhat out of my area since responsibility and damage gets into a legal question. Your ... | |
| gas meter responsibilities | 2/2/2008 |
| Q: My son has natural gas with Dominion Hope which his meter is several hundred feet from his house. ... A: Lots of local regulations may apply, but my experience has been that the piping from the meter to ... | |
| Nat Gas vs. Propane | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: I am building a new home in NE PA and would like to know your views on installing propane or natural ... A: In terms of operation and maintenance they're both about equal except with propane you have a ... | |
| Gas Furnace verses Oil Furnace | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: Like many others, I am considering switching from Oil to Gas. When comparing the costs, I have ... A: Since you already know a therm is 100,000 BTU, lets assume your furnace has a rating of 100,000 ... | |
| how much money to convert to oil | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: My husband and I purchased a new home last year. We heat with propane 500 gallon tank. Last year ... A: You're right, those propane prices are crazy. I have no idea what it would cost to convert from ... | |
| Gas well for home heating | 11/27/2007 |
| Q: My parents are wanting to use their natural gas well to heat their home. They have ran it to the ... A: I knew a lot of people that ran their furnaces on well head gas and never heard of a special well ... | |
| PROPANE VS NATURAL GAS | 11/26/2007 |
| Q: CHUCK WE ARE BUILDING A NEW SHOP FOR OUR SUBARU CAR DEALERSHIP IN DOING THIS PROJECT WE ASKED ... A: Fuel costs are easy to compare when you put them on the same heating value basis, that is $ per ... | |
| new gas furnace | 11/18/2007 |
| Q: I will be purchasing a home this tuesday. I need to replace the asbestos wrapped oil furnace that is ... A: Not knowing where you live its tough to estimate your btu requirements. I can tell you I have about ... | |
| gas vs oil | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: We currently have oil heat. The boiler is an old unit and I am tired of the burning oil when the ... A: I think oil heat pricing will go through the roof as an unregulated commodity. Gas however is ... | |
| Alternative Natural Gas Supplier | 10/26/2007 |
| Q: My natural gas delivery company and supplier is National Fuel. How do I go about determining which ... A: The first question is the price on a BTU basis then you them all equalized. Most gas companies are ... | |
| Boiler conversion from Oil to Gas in NYC | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: I am awaiting a couple of bids to have the oil boiler changed out to a gas boiler in our 4 unit ... A: From what I have read, a condensing boiler is an efficient heater. Just do a GOOGLE and you'll get ... | |
| Propane vs Natural Gas recent prices | 10/1/2007 |
| Q: I have LP heat and recently purchased "summer fill" of my tank, with almost 2 to 1 increase in price ... A: Propane is produced from both natural gas and petroleum refining (hence crude oil). I don't know ... | |
| What size natural gas line do I need? | 9/8/2007 |
| Q: I am running a natural gas line to my garage to run a 30,000 btu ventless heater and a small cook ... A: Rick Been years since I've sized a gas house line but thanks for the opportunity to go back to ... | |
| Gas fireplace | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: In my family room i have a gas fireplace 9 yrs. old. Last winter the pilot kept on turning off by ... A: I've had a gas fireplace in the past (not for a few years) and as I recall there was a "hood" that ... | |
| Oil heating | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: I am considering purchasing a newer home(2006)in Westchester County, New York which uses oil for ... A: I've personally used both oil and natural gas and not encountered the problem you described. I have ... | |
| Oil refining | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: While refining sweet crude oil, what other products besides gasoline are formed and in what ... A: John Here's three links that give some info on your question. Somewhere along the line there's ... | |
| oil vs propane furnace | 4/29/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to decide whether to purchase an oil or propane furnace to replace our current wood/oil ... A: Since lower efficiency, in effect, raises the cost of fuel a new fuel cost can be found by dividing ... | |
| oil vs gas, greener? | 4/19/2007 |
| Q: I am considering switching from oil heat to gas. I already have a gas fireplace and gas stove. I ... A: I'm not a supply expert, but logic tells me that the heavy populated north east is mostly oil heat ... | |
| Oil Boiler vs electric hot water costs | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: I currently use my oil boiler to heat my domestic hot water(coil inside boiler). I am considering ... A: Here's a link that gives a lot of comparison data ... | |
| Converting Oil to Gas | 3/22/2007 |
| Q: I own a 4-unit property that has only one tank that serves all four units. Because no single unit ... A: I think it would be a good idea to compare the relative costs of each energy on the same basis. The ... | |
| Commercial conversion from heating oil to gas | 3/6/2007 |
| Q: I contacted our fuel oil provider and he refused to convert his price to BTU's. My response is ... A: For all practical purpose you can use 138,000 BTU per gal as the heat content of fuel oil (really ... | |
| Commercial conversion from heating oil to gas | 3/3/2007 |
| Q: We are a large facility country club on Long Island, and currently spend $52,000 in heating oil. ... A: You did not note what the current fuel prices are. You can easily compare fuel costs by INSISTING ... | |
| propane | 2/4/2007 |
| Q: I woukld like to know how i could determine if i'm buying a good grade of propane or i'm receiving ... A: Flame temperature is not a good "test" of propane quality. Other properties such as vapor pressure ... | |
| Propane v. Electric | 1/8/2007 |
| Q: I'm in the process of planning to build a new house in rural VA and am comtemplating the use of ... A: Cost of use is best compared by comparing the cost of each fuel ON THE SAME BASIS, that is $?MMBTU ... | |
| oil heat vs gas heat | 12/31/2006 |
| Q: Charles, We want to convert a southern New Hampshire home from electric heat to propane or oil heat. ... A: I've had this same kind of question quite a few times lately so you might go over some of those. ... | |
| electricity from free gas | 12/15/2006 |
| Q: We would have the backup (live in town). I would get 300 mcf of free gas per year. Currently I ... A: I'll get back later on my thoughts on sizing. Am curious however if you live "in town" does this ... | |
| electricity from free gas | 12/15/2006 |
| Q: If I am going to get free gas from a well installed on my property--is it practical/feasible to ... A: Most certainly would be. Natural gas engine driven generators will give you great service with ... | |
| Propane v natural gas | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: I have operated a UK natural gas fired pet cremator in my veterinary practice for 12 years. National ... A: Thermo was not my long suit in college and I've been retired 15 years but a quick refresher on my ... | |
| On-site Generation: Natural Gas or Diesel | 11/16/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Felker, we are needing to install a generator to drive an electric motor. The motor is 150 h.p. ... A: John I'm not an electrical engineer but I've worked in many plants with gas engine driven ... | |
| natural conversion | 11/4/2006 |
| Q: i have a 95 silverado w/ a 5.7 v8 and i was wondering what would i have to do to convert my truck to ... A: All I can help you with is tell you that years ago I converted several trucks to a dual-fuel systel ... | |
| home heating--oil vs. gas | 10/29/2006 |
| Q: We live in upstate NY, where the winters are very cold and the "heating season" is 6-8 months long. ... A: My standard answer here is to ask each supplier (oil and nat. gas) their pricing rate on a $/million ... | |
| New Construction | 10/18/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Felker, I am building a new construction colonial home. I am trying to deciude which feul I ... A: Keith Take a look at some questions I've answered along these same lines when comparing costs get ... | |
| Use of propane versus oil heating | 10/15/2006 |
| Q: I have an oil-buring furnace in the basement and a propane fuelled stove in the living room. Which ... A: Joan Look at a lot of my other responses to this same question. For cost effectiveness just ... | |
| oil vs. gas heat | 10/9/2006 |
| Q: I wanted to ask your opinion about oil vs. gas . Do you recommend one over the other? why? What ... A: If I were at a point where my heating system needed replacing I would go with gas every time. ... | |
| gas fireplace | 10/9/2006 |
| Q: I have a natural gas fireplace in my house. I have hesitated to use it much in the past because of ... A: My inclination to fire places is they're all losers UNLESS you bring ALL the air for combustion in ... | |
| impedance matching networks for the home | 9/23/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Felker, Would it be possible to place an impedance matching network where power comes into a ... A: I'm not an electrical engineer, but I guess your question relates to ac motors and power factor. ... | |
| Fuel Oil vs. Propane heating | 9/11/2006 |
| Q: I have a fuel oil furnace and I must get a new furnace. My old one is shot. I have been back and ... A: Jennifer Based on the fuel prices you have, getting them to the same basis is Fuel Oil ... | |
| Converting to a gas fireplace | 9/9/2006 |
| Q: I am considering converting two traditional masonry fireplaces in my weekend home to gas. I am ... A: If you do an internet search on the subject there are some good eplanatory articles out there of the ... | |
| oil heat vs propane. | 9/7/2006 |
| Q: I built a repair shop 36 X 60 X 12. Well insulated. What size furnace or heater should I have, and ... A: Some time ago I did a heat loss calculation for a friend who had a shop size of 66 x 48 where the ... | |
| Oil Heat vs Propane Heat | 8/28/2006 |
| Q: We are having a new home built in Massachusetts and was wondering if it is wise to choose Propane ... A: Chris The basic info to find out is the cost of each fuel on the same heating value basis. Oil ... | |
| OIL OR NATURAL GAS HEAT | 8/26/2006 |
| Q: I AM USING OIL HEAT RIGHT NOW. HAVE BEEN CONCIDERING SWITCHING TO NATUAL GAS. mY OIL SYSTEM IS 30 ... A: The basic question is what do the two fuels cost on an equivalent basis? That basis is $/MMBTU ... | |
| Wellman-Lord initiations | 8/13/2006 |
| Q: Felker I am currently doing a plant project on the Wellman-Lord process. The initial question that ... A: The office was in Lakeland, Florida, and the man behind the project was Jack Terrano (I may have ... | |
| economic comparison of fuels | 8/8/2006 |
| Q: Which home heating system is more economical given the latest and most efficient equipment is ... A: I'd have to know the price your local vendors are charging for natural gas and fuel oil. You can ... | |
| To Convert? | 8/3/2006 |
| Q: I recently bought a house in Wilkes Barre, Pa. it has an old oil burner and radiators throughout ... A: Carol Boy, that covers a lot of ground. I'd first start with a lot of GOOGLING on the web, then go ... | |
| Original Wellman-Lord Scrubber | 7/31/2006 |
| Q: I know that you used to work for Wellman-Lord in the mid-sixties. I was wondering if you knew when ... A: Whew, Andrew, you're asking a 73 year old x-engineer to go back a long way. That was a great time ... | |
| nat gas vs. propane | 7/23/2006 |
| Q: found an answer from 2004 about nat gas vs. propane. it read like this; Propane(95,000 ... A: You know what you're paying for propane and your nat gas supplier will give you his price so making ... | |
| Convert to Natural Gas heat from oil ? | 7/14/2006 |
| Q: I live in the Northeast (NY). I currently heat with an oil fired boiler which is about 18 yrs old ... A: Well, I'm a 73 year old ex-engineer and if my brain hasn't turned entirely to jelly your $.911CCF (I ... | |
| Home Pump Supplier | 6/9/2006 |
| Q: Felker. The gentleman from Canada had the same question as I have so your answer gave me a head ... A: I haven't delved into CNG (home) compressors for a long time but just recently read an article where ... | |
| Cost of Natural Gas to run a generator | 6/4/2006 |
| Q: Sir, I have converted my two 10Kw B&S generators to tri-fuel, using a carb adapter. My concern ... A: Without a detailed study into efficiencies and lots of engineering, I'd look at a first cut solution ... | |
| oil heat vs. gas heat | 6/1/2006 |
| Q: At the moment we are renovating the kitchen and thinking of installing a gas cooktop. Currently we ... A: Since you know how much oil you used in a given year (or over the three year period) you can easily ... | |
| converting my natural gas well to fuel my vehicle | 5/1/2006 |
| Q: -Yes i have thought about it but was really concerned with fuel for my truck since i drive alot of ... A: Ryan Think you have to look at the economics first. Its not rocket science and to see if the ... | |
| converting my natural gas well to fuel my vehicle | 4/30/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Felker my question is how do I begin to set up my gas well to fuel my vehicle. My pressure is ... A: When I was working (now retired many years) I converted several vehicles to CNG. That part is no ... | |
| Diesel or petroleum from crude, which is best? | 12/30/2005 |
| Q: In the UK we're often debating the merits of diesel vs petrol driven cars - usually along fuel ... A: This is really out of my area but I was curious so I did a search for crude oil products and found ... | |
| Oil company profits | 12/28/2005 |
| Q: One often reads about huge oil company profits while oil and gas prices are very high, as they have ... A: Steve I'm an engineer not a petroleum economist BUT, I think you'll find most gasoline retailers ... | |
| GAS TRANSMISSION | 12/13/2005 |
| Q: Due to the long distance of the natural gas Transmission via steel pipelines from the refinery to ... A: A good filter is the best way I know. A higher quality gas (ie, less particulate) via a dry filter ... | |
| Gas well production | 11/28/2005 |
| Q: I live in Ohio and have a small gas well (350ft). It was bailed 10 years ago and at its best had ... A: Off the top of my head your well may not produce enough even if you lower the head pressure with a ... | |
| Duel Fuel Heat Pump | 10/28/2005 |
| Q: I have a 6 year old Propane furnace. With propane prices going THROUGH THE ROOF, I would like to use ... A: Don't see why not. I have a coal stoker in my basement that blows hot air into that area. I also ... | |
| Gas Consumption of Fireplace | 10/25/2005 |
| Q: Dumb question - but I am wondering how much natural gas a gas-log fireplace actually uses? If I use ... A: Its all a matter of which is more efficient, and this is a number USUALLY on the nameplate of the ... | |
| Oil vs Gas | 10/24/2005 |
| Q: With the recent rise in gas prices, some people have suggested I switch from Oil to Gas heating ... A: All you need to do is compare your oil price with your gas supplier price ON A BTU BASIS. With both ... | |
| natural gas vehicle pump | 9/25/2005 |
| Q: Mr. Felker, I live in ontario, Canada and own a natural gas well. What I would like to do is set up ... A: Just to make sure I understand your numbers: Is the flow from your well 200 cubic meters per day ... | |
| natural gas vehicle pump | 9/9/2005 |
| Q: Mr. Felker, I live in ontario, Canada and own a natural gas well. What I would like to do is set up ... A: I would enjoy helping you utilize your gas well to fuel a vehicle. Sounds like a nice project. I ... | |
| Oil question | 8/15/2005 |
| Q: I was wondering how much gas does the earth have still, and how long about will it take for us to ... A: A simplistic answer to a simplistic question would note that the worlds natural gas reserves are ... | |
| water hammering in crude oil pipe line | 6/22/2005 |
| Q: In the case of ESD actuated, could the water hammering be the reason of crude oil pipe line rupture ... A: I would say you're right on both counts. I remember seeing (a long time ago) an easy formula to ... | |
| Wellman Lord scrubber | 5/10/2005 |
| Q: Felker, I hope you can answer this one. I am trying to determine the differences between two units ... A: John: Before I wrack my old brain did you somehow know I worked for Wellman-Lord in the mid 60's? ... | |
| I would to have a trainging... | 3/23/2005 |
| Q: I would to have a trainging course in oil economics with aperiod 1-2 months in usa or in ... A: I gradusted from Penn State University in 1954 in Petroleum Engineering. It was a very good school ... | |
| oil vs propane vs natural gas | 11/4/2004 |
| Q: My question deals with which fuel is the most cost-effective. My husband and I recently purchased a ... A: All the energy types you mentioned can be compared on an energy basis, namely the BTU (British ... | |
| GAS FIREPLACE INSERTS | 8/28/2004 |
| Q: My wife and I think that after 55 years of carrying wood for our Majestic "heatalator" type ... A: Heat is energy and ALL energy can be compared on a BTU basis(this ia a measure of energy, doesn't ... | |
| gas furnace | 2/9/2004 |
| Q: Some years ago I heard that the flame on your gas furnace should be a blue color. I often checked ... A: Without doing any research for you I remember my working years and the subject "Interchangeability ... | |
| electricity compared to gas | 11/8/2003 |
| Q: Do you know how I could calculate the amount of electric power that is needed for a amount of ... A: I assume by "earth gas" you mean natural gas. If so, you need to assume a heating value of natural ... | |
| Gas Fireplace Inserts | 12/11/2001 |
| Q: My wife and I are building a custom house in the San Joaquin Valley of California. We are in the ... A: I havn't researched the latest gas (propane) fireplaces, but I have a log home here in Eastern PA ... | |
| My son has to do a project... | 10/13/2001 |
| Q: My son has to do a project on how to boil water without gas or electricity. Of course using fire ... A: Here's a way that should impress his class. Water boils at 212 degrees F, AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE. ... | |
| gas line for a workshop | 9/3/2001 |
| Q: Charles, I'm installing a unit heater in my garage and need to run a gas line from the house 60' to ... A: John: It's been 10 years since I was in the gas distribution business in the Pittsburg Pa area, but ... | |
| Gas Pipes | 6/1/2001 |
| Q: Can they be placed on outside walls of houses where they are exposed to the eliments of weather and ... A: Many years ago(30) I was an engineer for a gas company in PA, and the company had (and I'll bet in ... | |
Energy Industry (Oil & Gas)
Answers by Expert:
Charles E. Felker
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Energy questions related to homeowners and their energy supplier. Questions related to process control. HVAC questions Natural gas transmission, distribution.
Experience
Penn State grad 1954 in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering. Forty five years experience in process control, natural gas processing, compression, transmission and distribution
Organizations
ASME
Education/Credentials
BS Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering Pennsylvania State University
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