New oil discoveries

[zjrog]

From the LA Times about a new discovery, using new techniques.

And a NY Times story about this years surprising increase in discoveries.

And while *I* find these of interest, it doesn't mean to me we have unlimited resources/reserves. I see this sort of news as a little more time to get a better handle on the new and emerging technologies to get us OFF oil.

[dcb]

There are people though who believe in the oil fairy.
As well as those who would not celebrate new sources for atmospheric carbon.

[pgfpro]

Originally Posted by dcb

There are people though who believe in the oil fairy.
As well as those who would not celebrate new sources for atmospheric carbon.

I thought the earths center is filled with an endless gooey core of oil?
Not true???

[Old Tele man]

Originally Posted by pgfpro

I thought the earths center is filled with an endless gooey core of oil?
Not true???

...uh, from my observations it seems more like "...the politicians center is filled with endless gooey core of _____" (fill-in the blank as appropriate)

[solarguy]

The abiotic theory of oil production, which implies essentially limitless oil supplies, is based on crap.

Ooops, did I say that out loud?


Anyway, I'm hoping for a soft landing to peak oil, where we get incrementally better at finding and extracting the remaining dino petro, and (rapidly) incrementally better at conserving and alternative energy sources.

Otherwise, we are in for a rough scenario.

Finest regards,

troy

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

I heard recently that we are only finding 1 new barrel of oil for every 4 barrels we use. Obviously, this is not sustainable; and obviously we are running out of oil sooner rather than later.

[zjrog]

Originally Posted by solarguy

The abiotic theory of oil production, which implies essentially limitless oil supplies, is based on crap.

Ooops, did I say that out loud?


Anyway, I'm hoping for a soft landing to peak oil, where we get incrementally better at finding and extracting the remaining dino petro, and (rapidly) incrementally better at conserving and alternative energy sources.

Otherwise, we are in for a rough scenario.

Finest regards,

troy

I have a geologist acquaintance that has thoughts on the abiotic theories. Endless and limitless? No, not at all. But he has seen capped, dry wells checked after 20 years with oil in them. He doesn't want to tender any further thoughts in that regard though.

With more discoveries, of course, buys more time. But there are still plentiful reserves that we aren't allowed to touch. My thinking is to access these resources to be completely independent of foreign petroleum. To me (a retired Navy guy), it comes down to national security, ensuring our enemies don't profit from us. But hey, what do I know...

[dcb]

Originally Posted by zjrog

...he has seen capped, dry wells checked after 20 years with oil in them...

Yup, and the oil level in my engine goes up if I wait 5 minutes after shutting it off, its amazing

[bgd73]

The oil stuff doesn't bother me. the chemistry is known, just make the darn stuff like a tree farm.

To ponder making something accidentally gamma ray'd nuclear unintentionally before someone figured out how to make oil helps put the silly chore into perspective.

did you ever read where urethane top coat on cars originated?

the goo from an alcohol brewery...

lets get wasted, figure out the rust problems later.

[solarguy]

In 1983 I worked in the Texas oil field on a workover rig. That's like a mini oil drilling rig whose sole purpose is to rehabilitate old wells that are pooping out. There are a lot of tricks to increase production on older/depleted oil wells. One of the best, if you can afford to wait, is to stop pumping it for a decade. Most oil bearing formations are something like a sponge. As you pump out the oil, you deplete the local formation, and oil from further out slowly leaks/oozes/migrates/flows in to "refill" the pumped out area.

None of that requires the use of the abiotic oil theory to explain.

All other things being equal, the faster you pump a formation, the more "damage" you cause and the less you will be able to extract in the long run, all other things being equal, which they never are.

Finest regards,

troy