radioman
Super Member
you are right, but oil is not renewable. its a finite supply. the thing is NOBODY has a guage to show the amount left or willing to share the information.
Are we running out of fossil fuels? - peak oil theory
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you are right, but oil is not renewable. its a finite supply. the thing is NOBODY has a guage to show the amount left or willing to share the information.
Ken
Veteran Member
You can add Arkansas oil was and is being pumped since it was 10 cents per barrow .
The Rockafellers and the Hunts started here and many millionares still enjoy the fruits of the grand parents labors.
Redneck in training
Elite Member
There will be oil available for foreseeable future (not by historical standards but measured by a length of human life), after that there will be perhaps hydrates (solid natural gas on the sea bottom, currently technology to get it doesn't exist). So there will be oil but it will be expensive. The era of cheap oil is over.
USA has vast amount of coal though. It should last at current consumption level about next 500 years. Technology turning it into liquid fuel exists more than 50 years. Technology leader in this field Sasol (South Africa) is currently building several big plants in China. One of the coal processing plants called Dakota Gasification is in operation since sixtieth in the USA in town Beulah North Dakota.
USA has vast amount of coal though. It should last at current consumption level about next 500 years. Technology turning it into liquid fuel exists more than 50 years. Technology leader in this field Sasol (South Africa) is currently building several big plants in China. One of the coal processing plants called Dakota Gasification is in operation since sixtieth in the USA in town Beulah North Dakota.
inveresk
Platinum Member
I agree the estimated reserve amounts will change on the basis of new geological finds, and this will depend on what the industry believes to be economical to extract. The higher the price, the more it will be worth exploring tar sands, for example. But the easy to extract oil has been depleted. Much of what remains is in the form of tar sands where we need to consume 2 barrels of oil for every 3 produced.
This is an interesting resource that explains.
Tar Sands Basics
Not only are we on a diminishing resource that's harder and more expensive to extract, we're on an increasing consumption path, particularly by the third world. China will soon be the world's biggest consumer, perhaps they are already, It so happens their overall population is very high but but per capita, they are 144th, way behind Canada (19th) and the USA (23rd).
Oil consumption (per capita) (most recent) by country
Not only are most of the remaining untapped oil resources in tar sands, therefore hugely energy intensive (and expensive) to extract, they're also enormously more polluting than sinking a well and letting the goop bubble to the surface. Those are the reasons why I believe the argument for developing alternative energy sources is so compelling.
I have enormous faith in human ingenuity. I believe as a species we are more than capable of devising answers and there are a lot of companies engaged in this research. For example, Cella Energy in the UK has devised a new technology for hydrogen capture and storage which could mean very much cheaper gas without using fossil fuels. Here are two links on their technology.
Cella Energy - Home
Breakthrough promises $1.50 per gallon synthetic gasoline with no carbon emissions
It's my view that sooner or later we'll develop the breakthrough that will result in a carbon free substitute for oil. But just in case it's later, I think we can't afford the business-as-usual complacency to consumption. I believe we need to engage in pragmatic conservation methods by using more fuel efficient vehicles and by insulating our buildings better. Whether we like it or not, those measures are being forced on us by rising prices but if we're proactive rather than reactive, the price curve might not rise quite so steeply.
And the necessary technological breakthrough might be further away than my optimism allows for so we have to go through a period of international conflict in order to secure the energy reserves we need to avoid economic melt down. Energy conservation is a much easier route than conflict.
I don't think anyone knows for sure, big oil geologists say we are running out but if we do run out or it gets to expensive for most people to afford we are screwed for sure. Those of us in rural areas, just think what your life would be like without oil, no car, no heat, no work. We better come up with some alternatives quick, just in case. But personally I think if and when it starts to get unaffordable it will be the end of life as we know it.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
A girl that I was dating took me duck hunting on her families farm in Arkansas for New Years Eve. Their land is next to some timber property that is also a private duck hunting club. Very fancy with a ton of money going into the duck hunting and flooding the timber for their clients to come and enjoy.
The founder and previous owner of the timber company took us to his personal blind for a day of shooting, which was some of the best duck hunting that I've ever experienced!!!!!
At the lodge, the current owner of the company sat down with us to talk hunting. The conversation turned to timber and then of all things, converting timber into oil. Unlike methonal, which is corn based, timber can be converted into light sweet crude for about $100 a barrel. At that price, current technology exists to make this happen. He was one of the finalist for a large refinery to be built in his area and to be able to supply the timber for the new refinery. The state of Alabama steped in with some tax insentives that Arkansas didn't match, so the plant is being built there instead.
This is all second hand information, but from a source that sure seemed to know what he was talking about.
Eddie
The founder and previous owner of the timber company took us to his personal blind for a day of shooting, which was some of the best duck hunting that I've ever experienced!!!!!
At the lodge, the current owner of the company sat down with us to talk hunting. The conversation turned to timber and then of all things, converting timber into oil. Unlike methonal, which is corn based, timber can be converted into light sweet crude for about $100 a barrel. At that price, current technology exists to make this happen. He was one of the finalist for a large refinery to be built in his area and to be able to supply the timber for the new refinery. The state of Alabama steped in with some tax insentives that Arkansas didn't match, so the plant is being built there instead.
This is all second hand information, but from a source that sure seemed to know what he was talking about.
Eddie
Bison
Platinum Member
I have a problem with the term "fossil Oil".
I also have a problem with understanding how dead animals could supply all that oil that somehow collects deep underground in pockets in the rocks.
I learned long ago that Oil is lighter than water,so how can it be that dead sea animals could contribute oil to deposits on the ocean floor.It should be floating on top.
Besides that 95 % of all animals gets ate by others (recycled so to speak),that leaves very little animal matter to turn into oil IMO
Personally i think oil is formed by a natural process deep in the earth and will never run out but maybe we're using it faster than can be regenerated.
I also have a problem with understanding how dead animals could supply all that oil that somehow collects deep underground in pockets in the rocks.
I learned long ago that Oil is lighter than water,so how can it be that dead sea animals could contribute oil to deposits on the ocean floor.It should be floating on top.
Besides that 95 % of all animals gets ate by others (recycled so to speak),that leaves very little animal matter to turn into oil IMO
Personally i think oil is formed by a natural process deep in the earth and will never run out but maybe we're using it faster than can be regenerated.
LBrown59
Super Star Member
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- 16,904
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NOT ACCORDING TO THIS E-MAIL
OIL - you better sit down. ..
Here's an interesting read, important and verifiable information :
About 6 months ago, the writer was watching a news program on oil and
one of the Forbes Bros. was the guest. The host said to Forbes, "I am going to
ask you a direct question and I would like a direct answer; how much oil
does the U.S. have in the ground?" Forbes did not miss a beat, he said, "more
than all the Middle East put together." Please read below.
The U. S. Geological Service issued a report in April 2008 that only
scientists and oil men knew was coming, but man was it big. It was a
revised report (hadn't been updated since 1995) on how much oil was in
this area of the western 2/3 of North Dakota, western South Dakota, and extreme eastern Montana ...... check THIS out:
http://bakkenshale.net/bakkenshalemap.html
The Bakken is the largest domestic oil discovery since Alaska's Prudhoe
Bay, and has the potential to eliminate all American dependence on foreign
oil. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates it at 503 billion
barrels. Even if just 10% of the oil is recoverable... at $107 a barrel,
we're looking at a resource base worth more than $5..3 trillion.
"When I first briefed legislators on this, you could practically see
their jaws hit the floor. They had no idea.." says Terry Johnson, the Montana
Legislature's financial analyst.
"This sizable find is now the highest-producing onshore oil field found
in the past 56 years," reports The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. It's a
formation known as the Williston Basin, but is more commonly referred to as the
'Bakken.' It stretches from Northern Montana, through North Dakota and
into Canada.. For years, U. S. oil exploration has been considered a dead
end. Even the 'Big Oil' companies gave up searching for major oil wells
decades ago. However, a recent technological breakthrough has opened up
the Bakken's massive reserves.... and we now have access of up to 500
billion barrels. And because this is light, sweet oil, those billions of barrels
will cost Americans just $16 PER BARREL!
That's enough crude to fully fuel the American economy for 2041 years
straight. And if THAT didn't throw you on the floor, then this next one
should - because it's from 2006!
U. S. Oil Discovery- Largest Reserve in the World
Stansberry Report Online - 4/20/2006
Hidden 1,000 feet beneath the surface of the Rocky Mountains lies the
largest untapped oil reserve in the world. It is more than 2 TRILLION
barrels. On August 8, 2005 President Bush mandated its extraction. In
three and a half years of high oil prices none has been extracted. With this
motherload of oil why are we still fighting over off-shore drilling?
They reported this stunning news: We have more oil inside our borders,
than all the other proven reserves on earth. Here are the official estimates:
- 8-times as much oil as Saudi Arabia
- 18-times as much oil as Iraq
- 21-times as much oil as Kuwait
- 22-times as much oil as Iran
- 500-times as much oil as Yemen
- and it's all right here in the Western United States .
HOW can this BE? HOW can we NOT BE extracting this? Because the
environmentalists and others have blocked all efforts to help America
become independent of foreign oil! Again, we are letting a small group of
people dictate our lives and our economy.....WHY?
James Bartis, lead researcher with the study says we've got more oil in
this very compact area than the entire Middle East -more than 2 TRILLION
barrels untapped. That's more than all the proven oil reserves of crude oil in
the world today, reports The Denver Post.
Don't think 'OPEC' will drop its price - even with this find? Think
again!
It's all about the competitive marketplace, - it has to. Think OPEC just
might be funding the environmentalists?
Got your attention yet? Now, while you're thinking about it, do this:
Pass this along. If you don't take a little time to do this, then you
should stifle yourself the next time you complain about gas prices - by
doing NOTHING, you forfeit your right to complain.
--------
Now I just wonder what would happen in this country if everyone of you
sent this to every one in your address book.
By the way...this is all true. Check it out at the link below!!!
GOOGLE it, or follow this link. It will blow your mind.
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911 <http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911>
<http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911 <http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911> >
Here's an interesting read, important and verifiable information :
About 6 months ago, the writer was watching a news program on oil and
one of the Forbes Bros. was the guest. The host said to Forbes, "I am going to
ask you a direct question and I would like a direct answer; how much oil
does the U.S. have in the ground?" Forbes did not miss a beat, he said, "more
than all the Middle East put together." Please read below.
The U. S. Geological Service issued a report in April 2008 that only
scientists and oil men knew was coming, but man was it big. It was a
revised report (hadn't been updated since 1995) on how much oil was in
this area of the western 2/3 of North Dakota, western South Dakota, and extreme eastern Montana ...... check THIS out:
The Bakken is the largest domestic oil discovery since Alaska's Prudhoe
Bay, and has the potential to eliminate all American dependence on foreign
oil. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates it at 503 billion
barrels. Even if just 10% of the oil is recoverable... at $107 a barrel,
we're looking at a resource base worth more than $5..3 trillion.
"When I first briefed legislators on this, you could practically see
their jaws hit the floor. They had no idea.." says Terry Johnson, the Montana
Legislature's financial analyst.
"This sizable find is now the highest-producing onshore oil field found
in the past 56 years," reports The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. It's a
formation known as the Williston Basin, but is more commonly referred to as the
'Bakken.' It stretches from Northern Montana, through North Dakota and
into Canada.. For years, U. S. oil exploration has been considered a dead
end. Even the 'Big Oil' companies gave up searching for major oil wells
decades ago. However, a recent technological breakthrough has opened up
the Bakken's massive reserves.... and we now have access of up to 500
billion barrels. And because this is light, sweet oil, those billions of barrels
will cost Americans just $16 PER BARREL!
That's enough crude to fully fuel the American economy for 2041 years
straight. And if THAT didn't throw you on the floor, then this next one
should - because it's from 2006!
U. S. Oil Discovery- Largest Reserve in the World
Stansberry Report Online - 4/20/2006
Hidden 1,000 feet beneath the surface of the Rocky Mountains lies the
largest untapped oil reserve in the world. It is more than 2 TRILLION
barrels. On August 8, 2005 President Bush mandated its extraction. In
three and a half years of high oil prices none has been extracted. With this
motherload of oil why are we still fighting over off-shore drilling?
They reported this stunning news: We have more oil inside our borders,
than all the other proven reserves on earth. Here are the official estimates:
- 8-times as much oil as Saudi Arabia
- 18-times as much oil as Iraq
- 21-times as much oil as Kuwait
- 22-times as much oil as Iran
- 500-times as much oil as Yemen
- and it's all right here in the Western United States .
HOW can this BE? HOW can we NOT BE extracting this? Because the
environmentalists and others have blocked all efforts to help America
become independent of foreign oil! Again, we are letting a small group of
people dictate our lives and our economy.....WHY?
James Bartis, lead researcher with the study says we've got more oil in
this very compact area than the entire Middle East -more than 2 TRILLION
barrels untapped. That's more than all the proven oil reserves of crude oil in
the world today, reports The Denver Post.
Don't think 'OPEC' will drop its price - even with this find? Think
again!
It's all about the competitive marketplace, - it has to. Think OPEC just
might be funding the environmentalists?
Got your attention yet? Now, while you're thinking about it, do this:
Pass this along. If you don't take a little time to do this, then you
should stifle yourself the next time you complain about gas prices - by
doing NOTHING, you forfeit your right to complain.
--------
Now I just wonder what would happen in this country if everyone of you
sent this to every one in your address book.
By the way...this is all true. Check it out at the link below!!!
GOOGLE it, or follow this link. It will blow your mind.
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911 <http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911>
<http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911 <http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911> >
IH3444
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2004
- Messages
- 2,528
You might want to do some reading about how oil was formed. The information is all out there for us to read about but in a nutshell petroleum was formed mostly by decaying plant matter which was buried under tremendous pressures inside the earth. This has been studied extensively by geologists that don't just pull this stuff out of their arse. I need to read more about it myself.