Growing Oil

[One_more_turn]

Big oil can kill it by spending more on exploration, finding more reserves, and pumping more oil. Then the oil supply grows quicker than demand, and the oil price crashes， making those bio, solar, wind unprofitable again.

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by One_more_turn
Big oil can kill it by spending more on exploration, finding more reserves, and pumping more oil. Then the oil supply grows quicker than demand, and the oil price crashes， making those bio, solar, wind unprofitable again.

well i wish they would hurry up and do that then. I could stand to see a massive oil price plunge sooner rather than later.

[pchang]

ChevronMonsanto

Chevron has already dropped the Texaco part. It is not coming back.

[Colon™]

Wiki says: "The EU plans to add 5% bioethanol to Europe's petrol by 2010. For the UK alone the production would require 12,000 square kilometres of the country's 65,000 square kilometres of arable land assuming that no biofuels are created using waste produces from other agriculture."

How do I know switching from fossil to biofuel will not require an expansion of arable land unparalleled in history?

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by Colon™
Wiki says: "The EU plans to add 5% bioethanol to Europe's petrol by 2010. For the UK alone the production would require 12,000 square kilometres of the country's 65,000 square kilometres of arable land assuming that no biofuels are created using waste produces from other agriculture."

How do I know switching from fossil to biofuel will not require an expansion of arable land unparalleled in history?

just convert existing agricultural land to biofuel crops and make up the difference in foodstuff production with more efficient GM crops.

problem solved.

[Colon™]

So GM crops can multiply yield by a factor of 5?

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by Colon™
So GM crops can multiply yield by a factor of 5?

or maybe even higher!

[King of Rasslin]

The topsoil isn't going to stand for it. We need to cut down the population NOW with contraception before the lack of oil-based pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers starves off most of us.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by One_more_turn
Big oil can kill it by spending more on exploration, finding more reserves, and pumping more oil. Then the oil supply grows quicker than demand, and the oil price crashes， making those bio, solar, wind unprofitable again.

There are two problems with this analysis: China and India. Their economies are exploding. I heard a few years ago, that when China's standard of living rises to the level of Mexico's, the cost of gasoline will double. Well, the cost of gasoline has doubled, but China has yet to reach Mexican levels.

For the short term, we do need more fuel supplies. If doesn't matter if it comes from Lancer's tuba-tuba seeds, from Brazil's sugar-powered ethonol, or from cow poop. (I saw a news story recently on an experimental project which turns cow poop into a fuel usable in the experimenters' hybrid car. It gets 40 m.p.g.)

We also need more refineries. Right now, the lack of refining capacity is what is driving prices up.

Was it Sloww who added more fuel-efficient cars. The hybrid breakthru is a good thing but it's not a long-term remedy.

Over the long term, we need a totally different non-global warming solution. I vote for fusion, with its electricity being used to run cars. But tragically, the first commercial fussion plant isn't expected before 2020.

[One_more_turn]

Originally posted by Zkribbler


There are two problems with this analysis: China and India. Their economies are exploding. I heard a few years ago, that when China's standard of living rises to the level of Mexico's, the cost of gasoline will double. Well, the cost of gasoline has doubled, but China has yet to reach Mexican levels.

That's the scary thought. China per capital oil consumption is like 1/40 of the US. The potential for future increase is tremendous.

Over the long term, we need a totally different non-global warming solution. I vote for fusion, with its electricity being used to run cars. But tragically, the first commercial fussion plant isn't expected before 2020.

That's why I actually love high oil prices. Even with $3 per gallon gas, hardly anyone in the venture capital circle is investing in new energy technologies. According to the latest Red Herring issue, most venture money still goes to info tech and bio tech, and only 5% goes to energy sector. I think we need sustained high gas prices (higher than today) for people to get off their butt and become serious about new energy.

If the oil price crashes now, it would kill the entire emerging solar, wind, and alternative energy industry. Very bad in my opinion.

[Lancer]

Add a surcharge to the price of a car based on its fuel efficiency. The less the mpg the greater the charge. Make it big, then use the $ to eliminate the income tax. BIG. Use some of the money to fund alternative fuels and technologies.

There, I've solved the world's problems. Time for a nap.

[Zkribbler]

[As Lancer's innocently sleeps, a convoy of trucks, moving vans and and Abram tanks rumbles ominously toward his house, the drivers determined to end this proposal before it reaches the Legislature...by violence if necessary. ]

[DaShi]

Why can't we just get our oil from teenagers, like everyone else?

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by King of Rasslin
The topsoil isn't going to stand for it. We need to cut down the population NOW with contraception before the lack of oil-based pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers starves off most of us.

the fastest way to cut population seems to just be to educate women. That also happens to be the fastest way to make your country rich.