Not Logged In Log In   Sign Up   Points Leaders
Follow Us    7:03 AM

GasBuddy News Article

55
votes
Oil boom eating up ice cream ingredient

MySanAntonio.com -- A sudden demand for an obscure substance with an odd name — guar gum — has companies whose products range from vanilla ice cream to black gold checking Indian weather reports and their own bottom lines.
Guar is a plant grown mainly in northern India, where its seeds are harvested and developed into a gummy substance that long has been an ingredient in a host of foods, along with cosmetics, drugs, explosives, fire retardant and paper.
But the big bump in demand now stems from guar gum's role in the shale boom. It is a key component in the mix of sand, water and chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing — the process for extracting hydrocarbons from tight formations that has revolutionized oil and gas production.
Halliburton, the world's larg-est provider of hydraulic fracturing services,


Read the Full Article

Submitted Jul 05, 2012 By: drpepperTX
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
Author Topic: Oil boom eating up ice cream ingredient Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
Profile Pic
honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

Posts:18,609
Points:1,608,545
Joined:Nov 2008
Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 6:19:03 AM

I guess some folks could stand to eat less ice cream... maybe even shed a few pounds (or 50 or 100...).
Profile Pic
honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

Posts:18,609
Points:1,608,545
Joined:Nov 2008
Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 8:52:46 AM

when will we learn that oil and gas are not edible and we are cutting our food supply with ever turn?
Profile Pic
rabbit1976
Rookie Author Richmond

Posts:98
Points:112,515
Joined:Jun 2012
Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 6:27:52 PM

ok
Profile Pic
jerej829
Champion Author Memphis

Posts:2,846
Points:692,615
Joined:May 2011
Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 5:27:42 PM

Ok
Profile Pic
puinsai808
Champion Author Honolulu

Posts:3,534
Points:725,355
Joined:May 2011
Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 9:56:24 AM

ok
Profile Pic
kyjlh
Champion Author Kentucky

Posts:1,613
Points:650,780
Joined:Feb 2005
Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 6:00:09 AM

ok
Profile Pic
MAC48
Champion Author Dallas

Posts:1,546
Points:764,970
Joined:Dec 2006
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:35:27 PM

You mean to tell me that there is not an acceptable substitute for gar gum for use in the hydraulic fracturing process. Surely, the citizens of the world would be willing to pay a bit more for a substitute for gar gum rather than give up ice cream.
Profile Pic
eblair54
Sophomore Author Missouri

Posts:143
Points:436,250
Joined:Sep 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:23:53 PM

Wow....so I have to choose between ice cream and gas? Well, I do need to lose weight anyway....
Profile Pic
MountedShooter
Champion Author Georgia

Posts:3,070
Points:739,520
Joined:Mar 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:20:22 PM

Ok.
Profile Pic
MidNJ
Champion Author New Jersey

Posts:7,546
Points:1,171,835
Joined:Sep 2009
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:17:07 PM

Make mine Cherry Vanilla (without guar gum) on hot days like these :)

[Edited by: MidNJ at 7/6/2012 12:19:09 AM EST]
Profile Pic
miiike572
All-Star Author Phoenix

Posts:797
Points:524,020
Joined:Apr 2009
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:09:35 PM

and we eat it.
Profile Pic
bbthegun
Champion Author San Diego

Posts:5,973
Points:1,679,240
Joined:Sep 2006
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:01:41 PM

There's a correlation that most people wouldn't expect.
Profile Pic
wayoung56
Champion Author Alabama

Posts:2,795
Points:817,360
Joined:Oct 2006
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:58:19 PM

Interesting article...
Profile Pic
neemund
Champion Author Seattle

Posts:6,545
Points:1,544,525
Joined:Jan 2007
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:57:49 PM

Thankfully for the people that use it, it's not necessarily a finite resource. Supply may be short for a period of time, but the increased demand will lead to an increase in production.

I've never used it when making ice cream, so I'm not sure what it adds to the mix.
Profile Pic
danreino
Champion Author Twin Cities

Posts:8,343
Points:1,538,780
Joined:Mar 2008
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:56:37 PM

Grow it here, or would that be dangerous in an invasive species way ?
Profile Pic
Vette1967
Champion Author Albany

Posts:5,957
Points:1,274,050
Joined:Jun 2009
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:56:35 PM

Got it.
Profile Pic
bvrbill
Champion Author Eugene

Posts:3,207
Points:516,800
Joined:Jul 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:56:02 PM

Someone will find an alternative. Too much money to be made.
Profile Pic
whaboush
Champion Author Richmond

Posts:1,233
Points:729,910
Joined:Nov 2010
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:55:39 PM

Great - another reason for ice cream prices to jump. As if the heat wasn't enough - :P
Profile Pic
WBBNC
Veteran Author North Carolina

Posts:499
Points:488,640
Joined:Jan 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:52:22 PM

How about making ice cream without the ingredient!?
Profile Pic
jerej829
Champion Author Memphis

Posts:2,846
Points:692,615
Joined:May 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:52:00 PM

ok
Profile Pic
Chillywilly
Champion Author Winnipeg

Posts:2,097
Points:580,645
Joined:Mar 2004
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:50:48 PM

Hope the demand for guar doesn't gum up the works.
Profile Pic
SnickersDog
Champion Author Denver

Posts:3,273
Points:679,035
Joined:Feb 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:50:40 PM

Can we get half & half oil and ice cream. one in the car the other in a bowl
Profile Pic
lesndave
Champion Author Texas

Posts:3,032
Points:699,430
Joined:May 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:47:01 PM

Well well well
Profile Pic
crashintuc34
Champion Author Tucson

Posts:4,042
Points:809,940
Joined:May 2010
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:45:41 PM

More ice cream, please.
Profile Pic
big_mac64
Champion Author Tennessee

Posts:10,593
Points:1,485,690
Joined:May 2005
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:45:27 PM

interesting...never knew this
Profile Pic
SpankyMI
Champion Author Kalamazoo

Posts:2,703
Points:758,305
Joined:Jan 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:36:44 PM

Start looking for a substitute.
Profile Pic
NedW
Champion Author Indianapolis

Posts:5,609
Points:1,141,270
Joined:Mar 2008
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:32:42 PM

Ya can't have it all this time, Michelle Obama.
Profile Pic
BigBob12345
Champion Author Gasbuddy

Posts:1,521
Points:304,730
Joined:Aug 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:32:17 PM

proficient
Profile Pic
Matt G
Champion Author Boston

Posts:4,528
Points:2,772,065
Joined:Jun 2004
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:29:32 PM

Money
Profile Pic
Focus2
Champion Author Illinois

Posts:7,889
Points:1,919,005
Joined:Mar 2006
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:29:05 PM

There you go speculators! Jump on that and stop betting on a bad corn crop!
Profile Pic
serrog
Champion Author Nova Scotia

Posts:5,559
Points:1,511,155
Joined:Oct 2008
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:27:50 PM

Tough news to swallow
Profile Pic
tippybuddy
Champion Author Ontario

Posts:1,523
Points:207,740
Joined:Feb 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:26:45 PM

ok
Profile Pic
Buddy2264
Champion Author Tampa

Posts:11,649
Points:2,358,995
Joined:Oct 2005
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:25:56 PM

I will be glad when oil is not our primary fuel. But I guess this affects natural gas production.
Profile Pic
bonzoonfmb
Champion Author Florida

Posts:1,777
Points:642,860
Joined:Feb 2010
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:25:53 PM

Make the drillers use KY instead.
Profile Pic
soups5
Veteran Author Victoria

Posts:377
Points:569,595
Joined:May 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:24:44 PM

no the icecream costs more cuz gas went up
Profile Pic
REVLAW
Champion Author San Antonio

Posts:10,430
Points:2,006,270
Joined:Jul 2007
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:22:42 PM

So, is that why the price of ice cream has gone up?
Profile Pic
tman70
Champion Author Georgia

Posts:1,750
Points:732,100
Joined:Jul 2007
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:21:33 PM

Ok
Profile Pic
divebomber
Champion Author Nebraska

Posts:6,073
Points:1,811,300
Joined:Jun 2007
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:19:31 PM

I DON'T CARE I EAT SHERBET
Profile Pic
jdc17327
Champion Author Pennsylvania

Posts:2,555
Points:197,690
Joined:May 2009
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:16:02 PM

okay
Profile Pic
cheapgaspleez
Champion Author Long Island

Posts:14,844
Points:2,772,000
Joined:Aug 2005
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:12:28 PM

Hey! Guar gum is an important ingredient in the making of gluten free breads. It gives the dough elasticity in place of the evil wheat gluten, and I have a container in my fridge right now.

Leave it to sleazy Halliburton to take food out of peoples mouths in the name of oil.
Profile Pic
Holly123
Champion Author Charlotte

Posts:3,192
Points:789,010
Joined:Dec 2010
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:12:07 PM

Go with homemade. I don't use guar gum.
Profile Pic
36IHBinder
Champion Author Illinois

Posts:2,948
Points:641,140
Joined:Jun 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:10:21 PM

great now my ice cream will cost twice as much
Profile Pic
carranco
Champion Author Georgia

Posts:1,027
Points:268,265
Joined:Dec 2008
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:09:13 PM

So that's why the ice cream boxes have been shrinking. Bring back the half gallons.
Profile Pic
Tiernan
Champion Author Chicago

Posts:3,470
Points:817,875
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:04:31 PM

Surprising!
Profile Pic
96sc1
Champion Author El Paso

Posts:8,517
Points:1,367,440
Joined:Mar 2008
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:03:49 PM

Guar gum is found in both explosives and fire retardant - how ironic
Profile Pic
bullfrog69
Champion Author Texas

Posts:2,304
Points:832,760
Joined:Nov 2009
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:01:59 PM

Now just wait a fracking minute! My ice cream has no such ingrediants ,mine is all natural!
Profile Pic
ExplorerWA
Champion Author Washington

Posts:4,073
Points:795,300
Joined:Feb 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:01:58 PM

Just the name Halliburton makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. They are in everything.
Profile Pic
nimpy
Champion Author Indianapolis

Posts:8,130
Points:1,700,130
Joined:Oct 2007
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:00:31 PM

They will figure out a substitute
Profile Pic
TedNC
All-Star Author North Carolina

Posts:990
Points:225,975
Joined:May 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 9:59:46 PM

Guess they better stop fracking so I can have some ice cream.
Profile Pic
yonasb
Champion Author Houston

Posts:3,463
Points:737,625
Joined:Apr 2011
Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 9:59:16 PM

Ok
Post a reply Back to Topics