The myth of finite resources:
Once upon a time, there was a widespread belief that a real but not fully defined maximum possible output of petroleum would one day occur, so-called “peak oil”. Using the technology of 1972, we would have arrived at that point already, but - SURPRISE! - it did not happen. Old ideas about the formation and distribution of resources have been knocked into cocked hats by a restless and relentless voyage of discovery into newer and more effective means of extracting and processing the raw materials from the sea and the earth below.
Turns out, only a very small fraction of all petroleum is formed as a result of “dinosaur soup” fermenting for millions of years beneath the layers of sedimentary rock overlying these deposits. There are a number of theories advanced as to how the deposits of petroleum may be formed by entirely abiotic means, and in fact, these conditions can be reproduced both in the laboratory, and now, in certain instances, on an industrial scale. And these are by means already known by technicians and scientists for decades now, so there is no lack of intelligent effort being applied, only lagging attitudes.
The very definition of “resources” varies, depending on the development of technology to take advantage of the extraction of the needed resource from the site where it is embedded. Once, uranium was a strange element that had the capability of glowing, but not much else was known at the time. Today, it stands as the gateway substance to truly powerful weaponry, or alternately, as a source of energy to run power plants. But uranium is by no means the ultimate energy source, and in fact, is rather scarce throughout the world, as compared to, say, thorium, which is both much more plentiful, and with proper adaptation, a more tractable and manageable source of atomic energy with which to run a power generation plant.
The point is, that with what appears to be a growing scarcity of one resource, may be in fact the inspiration to substitute another (and cheaper) resource that provides the same, or sometimes much more, benefit.
But if it isn’t cheaper for the user, it will not be adopted. Something that the “smart guys” cannot seem to comprehend. Right now, natural gas, or its main component, methane, would be a cheaper and better alternative to petroleum fractions for powering stationary power units and motor vehicles. Solar or wind generated electricity may never be competitive, so long as we have lots of the various and reliable sources of methane.
1) that the technology for discovering and recovering crude oil will never advance and
2) that we've already found all of the oil deposits that there are to be found.
‘....sources of methane......’
WE got plenty of methane it spews forth in unending cascade from the moufs of the eco-wackos....God bless em, though, for providing their countrymen with such an unlimited natural resource. And the best thing about it is...it’ll always be there for us since they never shut up....
Here’s some spew right now... i heard an enviro wacky on PBS tonight he astouned his listeners with this obvervation....’the earth’s resources are finite and unsustainable....want proof? .... ‘there is not enough metal on or in the earth to make a car for every chineese guy’ this i did not know...but it IS very funny for one to say that. Now there’s yer methane..right there..
I take it you’re not impressed with these groups either...
Peak Oil
Olduvai theory
The Revenge of Gaia
Nice comments - on-point and interesting. Thanks for sharing, alloysteel.