Topic Actions

Topic Search

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 32 guests

Where are the kraken?

This fascinating series is a combination of historical seafaring, swashbuckling adventure, and high technological science-fiction. Join us in a discussion!
Re: Where are the kraken?
Post by McGuiness   » Mon May 11, 2015 12:21 am

McGuiness
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1203
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:35 pm
Location: Rocky Mountains, USA

One of the reasons Merlin is encouraging research into petroleum is the impact of the dragoning fleets on the planetary sea dragon population, since kraken oil has been largely replaced by that produced from sea dragons, although people still call it "kraken oil" out of habit.

From MTaT: "Sea dragons reproduced more rapidly than most species of whale, and commercial dragoning was new enough that it would be decades yet, even at the current rate of growth, before it started significantly reducing sea dragon stocks. None of which prevented Merlin from seeing the inevitable parallels between dragoning and commercial whaling, and he intended to do everything he could to encourage the move from sea dragon oil to other sources of fuel and lubricant."

That's probably one of the reasons Howsmyn has installed gas street lamps in Delthak and Tellesberg. I'd guess that some homes and factories have indoor gas lighting at this point as well, which reduces the need for "kraken oil."

"Oh bother", said Pooh as he glanced through the airlock window at the helmet he'd forgotten to wear.
Top
Re: Where are the kraken?
Post by SYED   » Tue May 12, 2015 12:42 am

SYED
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1345
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:03 pm

Imagine if they made engines that are compatable with sea dragons or kracken oil. Low on fuel, go fishing to get extra meat and enough oil to get home. it could greatly aid logistical concerns.
Top
Re: Where are the kraken?
Post by MTO   » Tue May 19, 2015 4:34 pm

MTO
Lieutenant (Junior Grade)

Posts: 37
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2015 1:35 pm

SYED wrote:Imagine if they made engines that are compatable with sea dragons or kracken oil. Low on fuel, go fishing to get extra meat and enough oil to get home. it could greatly aid logistical concerns.


In general, diesel engines are pretty fuel agnostic. As long as the engine doesn't achieve temperatures and pressures so high that the fuel ignites too soon, it'll probably work. The same is true for turbines. AFAIK, turbines are actually more forgiving than diesels.

Also, external combustion engines (like steam locomotives, or stirling engines) don't really care where their heat comes from. If that water boils, the engine runs.
Top
Re: Where are the kraken?
Post by SYED   » Thu May 21, 2015 12:31 am

SYED
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1345
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:03 pm

I wonder if to ensure a constant supply of oil, they help the sea dragons and krackens to breed more, so numbers increase, allowing larger harvests of the seas.
Top
Re: Where are the kraken?
Post by n7axw   » Thu May 21, 2015 12:36 am

n7axw
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 5997
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:54 pm
Location: Viborg, SD

SYED wrote:I wonder if to ensure a constant supply of oil, they help the sea dragons and krackens to breed more, so numbers increase, allowing larger harvests of the seas.


My own hunch is that it won't be too long before we are dealing with fossil based oil products. In fact there is textev hinting that this will be the way things go.

Don
When any group seeks political power in God's name, both religion and politics are instantly corrupted.
Top
Re: Where are the kraken?
Post by isaac_newton   » Thu May 21, 2015 3:29 am

isaac_newton
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1182
Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 6:37 am
Location: Brighton, UK

SYED wrote:I wonder if to ensure a constant supply of oil, they help the sea dragons and krackens to breed more, so numbers increase, allowing larger harvests of the seas.


Fun task for someone :-)

Maybe for stray inquisitors??
Top
Re: Where are the kraken?
Post by Isilith   » Thu May 21, 2015 4:15 am

Isilith
Captain (Junior Grade)

Posts: 310
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:58 am

n7axw wrote:
SYED wrote:I wonder if to ensure a constant supply of oil, they help the sea dragons and krackens to breed more, so numbers increase, allowing larger harvests of the seas.


My own hunch is that it won't be too long before we are dealing with fossil based oil products. In fact there is textev hinting that this will be the way things go.

Don



^ This, there is textev to support it. Plus, there is no way "whaling" could supply the necessary fuel oil. Nor could it even approach the cost effectiveness of merely pumping crude oil.
Top
Re: Where are the kraken?
Post by saber964   » Thu May 21, 2015 6:50 pm

saber964
Admiral

Posts: 2423
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2012 8:41 pm
Location: Spokane WA USA

n7axw wrote:
SYED wrote:I wonder if to ensure a constant supply of oil, they help the sea dragons and krackens to breed more, so numbers increase, allowing larger harvests of the seas.


My own hunch is that it won't be too long before we are dealing with fossil based oil products. In fact there is textev hinting that this will be the way things go.

Don



IIRC there is textiv that there oil deposits in southern Charis and Emerald. Plus there maybe anecdotal evidence of surface oil or at least tar deposits like the Duchy of Black Water.
Top
Re: Where are the kraken?
Post by n7axw   » Thu May 21, 2015 6:58 pm

n7axw
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 5997
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:54 pm
Location: Viborg, SD

Isilith wrote:

^ This, there is textev to support it. Plus, there is no way "whaling" could supply the necessary fuel oil. Nor could it even approach the cost effectiveness of merely pumping crude oil.


Once the need became widespread, there is no way at all no matter how cheap or expensive that there would be enough volume to meet the need no matter how furiously the sea dragons and kraken bred.

Don
When any group seeks political power in God's name, both religion and politics are instantly corrupted.
Top
Re: Where are the kraken?
Post by SYED   » Fri May 22, 2015 1:59 am

SYED
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1345
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:03 pm

Dpending on quality and use, one of the 2 oil options will be kept for imperial use, while the other simply sold to the mainland. My bet is the sea ol going to main land, to fuel their oil needs. It would be ages before hteir industry would need so much that it is detromental to ocean sea life.
oil will akways be heavy in demand, so multiple sources is always good. selling the main land kracken products is better than selling guns.
Top

Return to Safehold