If the US Navel Fleet is powered by Nuclear energy. Then why do we need a Naval petroleum reserve???

Question

I just learned that the US government has more oil under Federal Lands than exists in all of Saudi Arabia.

Sure it was good to have a backup when the Navy used diesel engines. But now ships only use oil for freedom frys.

Answer 1

1. Not all the fleet is "nukuler" powered. Just the big ships and subs.

2. The last I heard, those little things called planes and helicopters use jet fuel made from old dinosaurs.

Answer 2

it doesn't matter how much oil is under some rock in alaska somewhere. saudi arabia has the wells that are producing the oil that's going to go into your tank next month.

having oil reserves isnt' the same as oil production. and it takes months, if not years and hundreds of billions of dollars in investment, and political agreements, before these reserves can be brought to market by oil companies willing to invest in them

you have to realize saudi arabia has the best oil. the cheap to produce, cheap to refine that we want. and if we got smart and started spending money on infrastructure to develop our reserves, the saudis could jsut bankrupt that scheme by selling the oil really cheap for a few years. so getting these oil reserves to market is easier said than done

Answer 3

Only the big ones have nuclear power. They are escorted by fleets of different types of ship with conventional combustion engines.

Answer 4

The entire fleet is not nuclear powered. You must ride the short bus. Plus just cuz its the navy doesnt mean they dont have land vehicles

Answer 5

Not all ships are nuclear -- just the subs mainly.

Also keep in mind the Navy has planes, small boats, and trucks.

Answer 6

Not all naval vessels are nuclear. Many still run on deisel. Petroleum is also used to make jet fuel.

Answer 7

(1) The term ''national defense'' includes the needs of, and
the planning and preparedness to meet, essential defense,
industrial, and military emergency energy requirements relative
to the national safety, welfare, and economy, particularly
resulting from foreign military or economic actions.
(2) The term ''naval petroleum reserves'' means the naval
petroleum and oil shale reserves established by this chapter,
including Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 (Elk Hills), located
in Kern County, California, established by Executive order of the
President, dated September 2, 1912; Naval Petroleum Reserve
Numbered 2 (Buena Vista), located in Kern County, California,
established by Executive order of the President, dated December
13, 1912; Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 3 (Teapot Dome),
located in Wyoming, established by Executive order of the
President, dated April 30, 1915; Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 1,
located in Colorado, established by Executive order of the
President, dated December 6, 1916, as amended by Executive order
dated June 12, 1919; Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 2, located in
Utah, established by Executive order of the President, dated
December 6, 1916; and Oil Shale Reserve Numbered 3, located in
Colorado, established by Executive order of the President, dated
September 27, 1924.
(3) The term ''petroleum'' includes crude oil, gases (including
natural gas), natural gasoline, and other related hydrocarbons,
oil shale, and the products of any of such resources.
(4) The term ''Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.
(5) The term ''small refiner'' means an owner of a refinery or
refineries (including refineries not in operation) who qualifies
as a small business refiner under the rules and regulations of
the Small Business Administration.
(6) The term ''maximum efficient rate'' means the maximum
sustainable daily oil or gas rate from a reservoir which will
permit economic development and depletion of that reservoir
without detriment to the ultimate recovery.

Answer 8

only the carriers, with the exception of the JFK and the kitty hawk. and all the submarines, are nucleared power.

that leaves a whole lot of ships, jets, cars, trucks everything, that needs gas.

Answer 9

this is true and a great question. My guess is if the fed gov made our reserve public property gas prices would plummet and that's no good for Bush's buddies making 10billion a quarter.

Answer 10

Small destroyers and frigates aren't big enough to have a nuclear reactor.