Peak Oil

[Iron Felix]

Dear Reader,

Civilization as we know it is coming to an end soon. This is not the wacky proclamation of a doomsday cult, apocalypse bible prophecy sect, or conspiracy theory society. Rather, it is the scientific conclusion of the best paid, most widely-respected geologists, physicists, and investment bankers in the world. These are rational, professional, conservative individuals who are absolutely terrified by a phenomenon known as global "Peak Oil."

Read on

[Iron Felix]

Here is some more reading:

http://peakoil.com/
http://dieoff.org/
Our Village by D. Orlov.

[Daymare17]

Yet one more reason why world revolution is necessary in the near future. The authors of this site, like all other doomsayers, obviously overlook the international working class. Ever since Marx we have known that yes, if the trends that are created by world capitalism are allowed to continue indefinitely, then human civilization will go under. But we also know that there exists for the first time in history a social force that has the interests and ability to stop these trends.

[Red Student]

very good site on the subject:

http://www.hubbertpeak.com/

They have lots of information from different sources.

[Stonewall]

Peak oil is a joke. Even if oil supplies ran out, there are alternatives. Coal, for instance, can be converted into petroleum fuel for as little as $15 a barrel. China is already doing this. With 1 trillion tons of coal reserves, there's plenty of opportunity in this field. [Google: "coal to liquids"]

As for petroleum itself, the world has over 1.28 trillion barrels in proven reserves. That doesn't include Canada's "oil sands", which contain over 200 billion barrels of petroleum, roughly the same as Saudi Arabia. With world consumption averaging 82.5 million per day in 2004, that's 30.1 billion barrels per year. Assuming no new reserves are found [even though they're found all the time], we have enough to provide for 49.33 years [late 2049]. However, one problem is that demand from China and India is booming [so projecting world demand growth forward, it's possible the problem could happen within 30 years]. Once again, that's assuming no new reserves are found.

By 2050, I'm sure we'll have converted to alternative methods [global warming is more of a threat than "peak oil" ever will be].

Is oil going to remain expensive? Yes!

Reasons?

1. Petroleum companies haven't been investing in expanding production capacity. While the world has sufficient reserves, producers haven't been investing profits in improving infrastructure and expanding production. The problem isn't that we're having a shortage of oil, it's that we're not pumping it out of the ground fast enough.

2. Strict regulatory standards and a lack of investment by private corporations has led to a near stagnation in global refining capacity. Oil does no good if it can’t be processed in diesel and gasoline. Our refineries are already running at over 90% of capacity. It’ll be a matter of years before we have shortages of diesel and gasoline.

3. Nearly one-third of the current price of gasoline reflects federal, state and local taxes. High taxes on gasoline are designed to raise revenue for public programs and to discourage the wasteful consumption of gasoline. However, that’s one reason gas is going to remain expensive.

[turnoviseous]

There is also this plant which can be converted to diesel, i dont know how it is called in English. I dont know how much of it you need for one liter of the fuel tho.

[Stonewall]

Kind of like ethanol?

[Volkov]

There is also this plant which can be converted to diesel, i dont know how it is called in English. I dont know how much of it you need for one liter of the fuel tho.

I don't know what the plant is called either, but I have heard that old vegetable oil can be converted into biodiesel somehow. 

[Stonewall]

Yeah + it's free cause fast food joints currently pay to have the old oil disposed.

[turnoviseous]

I dont know if one can get eco-diesel from old vegetable oil, but I know for sure that one can get it from a plant, from which kitchen oil can also be made. I have never heard that one could get diesel from olive oil.

[Stonewall]

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_svo.html

Veggie oil can be used for cars.....

[Stonewall]

Using "Used" cooking oil

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Savinganddebt/Saveonacar/P115218.asp

[turnoviseous]

Its nice, but old veggie oil is not bio diesel.