We are running out of OIL!!

[OS]

Originally posted by: K1052

Germany wasn't just experimenting with synthetic fuels, they were producing them in significant quantities. There was no other way to make up for the lack of supply. The synthetic fuels are made from coal. Germany had large coal reserves that could be easily mined.

The good news for the U.S. is that we have vast reserves of coal.

I don't think the doomsday prediction would come true. There would be decades of rising prices and lots of time to find economical alternatives. The possible financial gain for the company that finds a solution would be irresistible.

Also, my understanding is that now we can make synthetic petroleums from biomass sources, which completely cuts out the need for fossil supplies.

 

[labrat25]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: alpha366i
is it true that Fusion is not working out?

yeah a commercial reactor has been ~50 years away for the past 20 years.

it's a lot more complicated than everyone thinks and we (the US govt) keep on deciding not to fund it...

 

[sillymofo]

Hey, what about the hydrogen thingy? Aren't they doing that already? I think the only reason the technology not bring released is because the posse in Texas are making tooooo damn much money off the blood, oops, I meant oil. Why do you think they got that presidency in 2K?

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: K1052

Germany wasn't just experimenting with synthetic fuels, they were producing them in significant quantities. There was no other way to make up for the lack of supply. The synthetic fuels are made from coal. Germany had large coal reserves that could be easily mined.

The good news for the U.S. is that we have vast reserves of coal.

I don't think the doomsday prediction would come true. There would be decades of rising prices and lots of time to find economical alternatives. The possible financial gain for the company that finds a solution would be irresistible.

Also, my understanding is that now we can make synthetic petroleums from biomass sources, which completely cuts out the need for fossil supplies.

Yea, I am pretty sure it can be done. The problem I see with biomass is that you would need to grow huge areas of feedstock to be able to produce enough oil. We already know where the coal is, how to best extract it, and can do it independent of weather or other concerns.

There is some interesting work being done in many areas of energy production. The main problem, as others have said, is a lack of consistant funding by government and private industry.

 

[jurzdevil]

if we had flying cars by 2000 like we were promised than there would never be a problem.

 

[Adul]

i cant wait

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: galvanizedyankee
As China then India develops an appetite for oil, anything can happen. Lots of folks live in those two countries

Russian oil fields are rich in reserve but poorly developed and managed. No country can out inept the Russians

China has a vast amount of coal. That is an out for them to develop lubes and fuel from.

I worked in the oil industry for 3 1/2 years. The word was Antarctica has oil that will rival the middle east but its covered by 1200' of ice. When the world is starving for oil the environmental guns will be disarmed.

My $.02 anyway.

No one gives a damn about Antarctica anyway.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: K1052

Yea, I am pretty sure it can be done. The problem I see with biomass is that you would need to grow huge areas of feedstock to be able to produce enough oil. We already know where the coal is, how to best extract it, and can do it independent of weather or other concerns.

There is some interesting work being done in many areas of energy production. The main problem, as others have said, is a lack of consistant funding by government and private industry.

Thats true, like you said, US has coal to last a long ass time. I have seen estimates of hundreds of years.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: K1052

Germany wasn't just experimenting with synthetic fuels, they were producing them in significant quantities. There was no other way to make up for the lack of supply. The synthetic fuels are made from coal. Germany had large coal reserves that could be easily mined.

The good news for the U.S. is that we have vast reserves of coal.

I don't think the doomsday prediction would come true. There would be decades of rising prices and lots of time to find economical alternatives. The possible financial gain for the company that finds a solution would be irresistible.

Also, my understanding is that now we can make synthetic petroleums from biomass sources, which completely cuts out the need for fossil supplies.

Yea, I am pretty sure it can be done. The problem I see with biomass is that you would need to grow huge areas of feedstock to be able to produce enough oil. We already know where the coal is, how to best extract it, and can do it independent of weather or other concerns.

There is some interesting work being done in many areas of energy production. The main problem, as others have said, is a lack of consistant funding by government and private industry.

What about that startup that can turn almost quite literally anything into oil?

Has there been any news from them lately? It could've been incredibly industry-changing....

 

[oboeguy]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: OS
I wonder if this will make synthetic oils and synthetic gasoline mainstream. During WW2, supposedly germany was experimenting with production of synthetic petroleum products, even fuels. Sure it will be expensive, but atleast we'll still have petroleum products.

Germany wasn't just experimenting with synthetic fuels, they were producing them in significant quantities. There was no other way to make up for the lack of supply. The synthetic fuels are made from coal. Germany had large coal reserves that could be easily mined.

The good news for the U.S. is that we have vast reserves of coal.

I don't think the doomsday prediction would come true. There would be decades of rising prices and lots of time to find economical alternatives. The possible financial gain for the company that finds a solution would be irresistible.

Well said. I'm an environmentalist, to be honest, but I have to agree. The shame is that no company is very serious about getting that alternative to work NOW.

 

[Eli]

If gasoline ever goes above 5$ a gallon, I'm going to convert an old late 70s 2 door civic to ethanol & erect a 2.5 gallon/day still in the back yard.

 

[AntMan530]

wow...that explains the 15 cent increase in like two weeks. i remeber i was getting a gallon for like 155? Now its like 1.75 or 180.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: AntMan530
wow...that explains the 15 cent increase in like two weeks. i remeber i was getting a gallon for like 155? Now its like 1.75 or 180.

Heh.