U.S. to become biggest oil producer - IEA

So the question now is, "Why the sudden reversal in hoarding our below-ground oil reserves (not counting the strategic petroleum reserve, but merely what is below the surface anywhere)?"

If "peak oil" is believed to be real, why start exporting our oil if the goal is to run everyone else out before we run out? I can think of two things.

1) The redevelopment of our oil fields point to a possible change in the view on the possibility that "peak oil" isn't real because this article - The evolution of multicomponent systems at high pressures: VI. The thermodynamic stability of the hydrogen - seems to put the premise that oil is of fossil-origin in dispute. The recreation of the conditions needed to make oil was based on high temperatures and high pressures that are NOT evident until you get about 100 km underground - OVER 60 MILES DEEP, and the earth's crust is only about 30-50 km (range-wise), or an average of 40 km (25 miles) down...

"The pressure of 30 kbar corresponds to depths of ≈100 km. For experimental verification of the predictions of the theoretical analysis, a special high-pressure apparatus has been designed that permits investigations at pressures to 50 kbar and temperatures to 1,500°C and also allows rapid cooling while maintaining high pressures. The high-pressure genesis of petroleum hydrocarbons has been demonstrated using only the reagents solid iron oxide, FeO, and marble, CaCO3, 99.9% pure and wet with triple-distilled water. "

If fossil fuels were down there that far, where did all this dirt above it come from...? That article referred to is supporting the abiogenic origin of petroleum and has been able to make oil with just the materials used in the quoted paragraph. Maybe this very article started circulating among the energy department people, causing the possibility that now, there is no peak oil because it's being made by processes that happen in the mantle, BENEATH the earth's crust where fossils are found. Please read this article THOROUGHLY. I'll conclude the view with the following:

"Experiments to demonstrate the high-pressure genesis of petroleum hydrocarbons have been carried out using only 99.9% pure solid iron oxide, FeO, and marble, CaCO3, wet with triple-distilled water. There were no biotic compounds or hydrocarbons admitted to the reaction chamber. The use of marble instead of elemental carbon was intentionally conservative. The initial carbon compound, CaCO3, is more oxidized and of lower chemical potential, all of which rendered the system more resistant to the reduction of carbon to form heavy alkanes than it would be under conditions of the mantle of the Earth."

2) This is more of a conspiratory bent here. It may be that peak oil is coming, and the redevelopment of the oil industry within the US would be because some people attached to the US energy department see problems with the world's most productive fields, and the US wants its own fields to be producing NOW so that if a major war with the US starts, it can supply the military with the oil it needs and not have oil from abroad cut off. One of the strategies the allies used in WWII was cutting off the resources of Germany's army, and fuel was one of them. The military must have had discussions with the Dept. of Energy and got them to realize that to last in a future war, it must have secure access to fuel NOW, NOT when a war breaks out and it's scrambling for oil supplies. In this view, this is the ramping up of secure access to fuel prior to a potential conflict and has been underway for a few years already. With better extraction technology, we can go back to the old, closed fields and extract even more oil from them. Remember that these fields up to the 90s didn't "run dry," but rather had its reserves dropped to a point where existing technology was not able to extract any more because of a lack of pressure needed to push the oil to the top. Often, the oil reserves can be as much as 40-60% full, so the oil extracted over the life of the field may not even be half its original reserves at the time of discovery.

So, which is it, people? I want to favor the first point.

Also, consider this chart... http://xkcd.com/1040/large/
 
Last edited:
For me, I don't believe in peak oil and I'm seriously doubt that oil will be run out in 50 years.
 
There are a lot things that we the average Americans don't realize or know. There are too many lies from politicians that got too many average Americans gullible and fall for it. I do not believe 99% of politicians claims, and they were covering up the facts, and these facts that we average American don't know and not realize that these politicians have no control over this. And they BLAMES other candidates, and the truth is often "Other candidates" really have no control over.

For instance, I just learn the American Revolution treaty of 1783 that was signed by American and Great Britain in France that had affected today trade. I am not 100% clear on this one but from what it sounded like that United States agree in exchange for free trade, United states would in exchange do free trades with other country in peaceful way. If that is what I am reading correctly. We can not do much with outsourcing with China. I don't think China has any kind of treaty with us and it was their advantage against us. If this is the case, what can any presidents of the United States do?

There are a lot of laws that United States has agreed upon, we are stuck with it on International level.

Speaking of Biggest Oil Producer, if this is the case then we the United States are in for biggest advantage than anywhere in the world.

I am continue watching American history on History channels, a lot interesting information that we don't know and took for granted.
 
There is limitation exists, and you better believe it otherwise there will be surprise awaiting. At this time, we do not know how much oil we have left and yes there is X barrels left in there and the number for X is still unknown.

Foxrac said:
For me, I don't believe in peak oil and I'm seriously doubt that oil will be run out in 50 years.
Click to expand...
 
I think it is possible that Peak Oil is real.

But it won't suddenly turn off. There will always be some oil. What would happen is that the output will decline and the price will increase (reduced supply).

Officially, governments do not acknowledge Peak Oil. Not that I know of. That would cause world-wide panic.

The reason why there is more drilling in the US (in places like North Dakota), is because the price of oil per barrel has increased to the point where it is profitable to extract oil in places like ND. The remaining oil in the US is not easy to get to. It requires different drilling techniques. These techniques cost more, which is why the price of oil has to be higher, before there is an oil boom in ND.

We know that when the world economy finally gets back on track, the price of oil will go up. The reason is that in the 20th Century, it was mostly the West using oil. In the 21st Century, the rest of the world is using oil, too.

Every country is industrializing and increasing their standard of living. This increases demand for oil and it will inevitably increase the price. (With or without Peak Oil.)

I think it is quite likely that the government recognizes what is going to happen to the price of energy and oil in the future. I think that's why we are focusing so much on becoming energy-independent. It's because there is more demand for energy and the price will go up, and there's nothing the US can do about it, except become energy-independent.

(Not to mention that it is profitable to extract oil in the US and not have to drill in areas exposed to unstable governments and terrorism. The price is right, so why not drill in the US?)

There is also climate change issues and that's where green energy comes in. Personally, I'm a little skeptical of what green energy can realistically bring to the table, and I think we really need to adapt some of the new nuclear power technologies that are coming online. But that's a whole other ball of wax.
 
Whats scary part of oil peak is that once it hits (More likely the moment we know the actual remaining amount), the price of oil will go up. I can guarantee it. When that happens, China WILL be number one oil producer in the world. Its due to the fact that China government refuse to drill for oil.
 
diehardbiker said:
Whats scary part of oil peak is that once it hits (More likely the moment we know the actual remaining amount), the price of oil will go up. I can guarantee it.
Click to expand...

I think price will go up with or without Peak Oil. That's because more countries in the world are using oil and that consumption will increase in the future. It guarantees that the price will increase regardless of Peak Oil.

Peak Oil would just make it worse.

When that happens, China WILL be number one oil producer in the world.
Its due to the fact that China government refuse to drill for oil.
Click to expand...

I don't understand. How would China become the number one producer if they refuse to drill for oil?
 
Think harder, once the rest of countries ran out of oil and China still have the oil under their nose. Who is going to win?

Its like save the last for the best.


DeafBadger said:
I don't understand. How would China become the number one producer if they refuse to drill for oil?
Click to expand...
 
diehardbiker said:
Think harder, once the rest of countries ran out of oil and China still have the oil under their nose. Who is going to win?

Its like save the last for the best.
Click to expand...

Eventually oil is going to become obsolete for energy use. Eventually we are going to transition to some other kind of energy source. China had better not hold on to their oil for too long, or they won't have enough buyers.

Nobody wins by holding their supply back in the long run. In the short run, they could wreck havoc, like OPEC did in the 1970s, but in the long run, economies will simply find alternatives.
 
DeafBadger said:
I think price will go up with or without Peak Oil. That's because more countries in the world are using oil and that consumption will increase in the future. It guarantees that the price will increase regardless of Peak Oil.

Peak Oil would just make it worse.

I don't understand. How would China become the number one producer if they refuse to drill for oil?
Click to expand...

DeafBadger said:
Eventually oil is going to become obsolete for energy use. Eventually we are going to transition to some other kind of energy source. China had better not hold on to their oil for too long, or they won't have enough buyers.

Nobody wins by holding their supply back in the long run. In the short run, they could wreck havoc, like OPEC did in the 1970s, but in the long run, economies will simply find alternatives.
Click to expand...

The question about China become number one oil producer - not know because China, their country land does have a lot of oil shale oil, as USA, Canada and Russia.

The oil shale is getting more popular now because of high oil price allows oil companies to discover more oil and it cost more to invest with oil shale, but it will be more worth in the future because we are promoting the energy independent from import oil.
 
diehardbiker said:
There is limitation exists, and you better believe it otherwise there will be surprise awaiting. At this time, we do not know how much oil we have left and yes there is X barrels left in there and the number for X is still unknown.
Click to expand...

diehardbiker said:
Think harder, once the rest of countries ran out of oil and China still have the oil under their nose. Who is going to win?

Its like save the last for the best.
Click to expand...

That's very silly - China is drilling the oil shale right now.

The oil will not running out for very very long time, even after you die.
 
DeafBadger said:
I think it is possible that Peak Oil is real.

But it won't suddenly turn off. There will always be some oil. What would happen is that the output will decline and the price will increase (reduced supply).

Officially, governments do not acknowledge Peak Oil. Not that I know of. That would cause world-wide panic.

The reason why there is more drilling in the US (in places like North Dakota), is because the price of oil per barrel has increased to the point where it is profitable to extract oil in places like ND. The remaining oil in the US is not easy to get to. It requires different drilling techniques. These techniques cost more, which is why the price of oil has to be higher, before there is an oil boom in ND.

We know that when the world economy finally gets back on track, the price of oil will go up. The reason is that in the 20th Century, it was mostly the West using oil. In the 21st Century, the rest of the world is using oil, too.

Every country is industrializing and increasing their standard of living. This increases demand for oil and it will inevitably increase the price. (With or without Peak Oil.)

I think it is quite likely that the government recognizes what is going to happen to the price of energy and oil in the future. I think that's why we are focusing so much on becoming energy-independent. It's because there is more demand for energy and the price will go up, and there's nothing the US can do about it, except become energy-independent.

(Not to mention that it is profitable to extract oil in the US and not have to drill in areas exposed to unstable governments and terrorism. The price is right, so why not drill in the US?)

There is also climate change issues and that's where green energy comes in. Personally, I'm a little skeptical of what green energy can realistically bring to the table, and I think we really need to adapt some of the new nuclear power technologies that are coming online. But that's a whole other ball of wax.
Click to expand...

You are making a great argument - well done!
 
Interesting news coming within a week of shutting down 1.6 million acres of oil shale drilling....
 
first of all - there is a finite number of how much oil left. we dont have the technology to measure it.
second - I dont care where oil comes from - there is no reason to have a high priced oil.
third - we need to increase the amount of biofuel we grow and make. We need to get rid of the DAMN alcohol tax so we can have a larger percentage of ethanol so wee can stop using dino oil to mix with the ethanol to avoid the alcohol tax. I want the gas and diesel prices to go down so economy can recover and bring jobs back here in USA. we need it at 2 bucks a gallon or better. period.
fourth - we will always have a need for oil - we get so many types of distillates from oil after cracking it like grease, plastics. etc.
fifth - IF we become the largest oil producer- then I want the piece of pie for jobs associated with it. I am sick and tired of middle class jobs being gone or not sustainable.
 
Back
Top