what do you think the world will be like when the oil fields are dry?

[RoninLB]

I heard there's a scam going on to sell China a piece of the Tar Sands in Canada. The deal reminds me of the Jap's buying Rockefeller Ctr in NYC.

The Tar Sands is a very expensive place to mine oil afaik. I figure that they'll invest 30B in infrastructure after ownership, screw up the business, and sell it all at liquidation prices or 10% of replacement cost. Also, afaik, China has a lousy history on this topic besides the last debacle that everybody knows about.

all above is a prejudicial rant.

[competentone]

The energy in the universe is infinite; we won't be running out of it anytime soon.

[928ram]

Whatever a BTU is

I think you nailed it; (British Thermal Unit??).



I may have posted this before; somewhere I read recently that each of the new Jeep Liberty Diesels (which sounds like a good way to go SUV) built leaves the plant with a full tank of locally produced, soybean based, diesel fuel. I want to say the plant is in Indiana.

I don't know who produces the product, how much, whether it's a profit/loss; but I do know this country alone can produce alot of soybeans (BTW, one of the few products making a profit in trade with China). Add some genetic engineering, the needed volume to make it more cost effective, already works with present infrastructure; home-grow fuel.

[Eric 951]

Just as some others pointed out:
Phase 1--when supplies are getting real low--V8s will disappear, most police will be stuck with 6-bangers--except for Pursuit Specials on Methane--and the last of the V8 Interceptors will be modified with a part-time blower.
Scooter jockeys will proliferate.
Phase 2 will introduce hoarding of refineries and the Lord Humungous' rule.
Phase 3 will bring a new wave of alternative fuel supplied by pig*****--which ironically will be methane again, so long as there is a smart/arrogant midget to run things.
Phase 4--well a script is complete but filming has not yet begun, so we won't know untill 2006.

[ronin]

we'll never run out of oil


discuss

[tcar]

As we speak, China is drilling near Rifle, Colorado. They brought in their own rigs and workers... did not hire local people. Bit of an uproar about that.

They're shipping in more rigs as we speak.

[M.D. Holloway]

They ain't after our oil, theys be after our women and whiskey!

I seez we throws um a Texas necktie and take the lot for a drag around town...

[ronin]

yyyouuuuu racisssst piiiggggggg! and besides, they're in Colorado

[M.D. Holloway]

good point, dem librls will stand around and pour'm a cup of capaccino, chat up the trees and try to get them into a time share.

Won't see none of dem in Texas, we done sold out to da a-rabs down here!

[bryanthompson]

An arab, a chinaman, and LubeMaster walk into a bar...

edit: a chinese guy, there. hope no one's offended

[ronin]

I'm offended. but you knew that

[M.D. Holloway]

as long as their buy'n I ain't offend'd!

[bryanthompson]

This offends me:

GENEVA (Reuters) - The winter hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica appears to have grown from last year but is still smaller than in 2003, when it was at its largest, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday.

How stupid do they think we are?

[ronin]

well, I don't them about know, but I'm not as think as you stupid I am

[kach22i]

Originally posted by IROC
Here's an interesting article that deals with this subject:

http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_16693.shtml

Mike

Quote from article:

The American economy of the mid-twenty-first century may actually center on agriculture, not information, not high tech, not "services" like real estate sales or hawking cheeseburgers to tourists.

But by then suburban sprawl will have eaten up all the good land.

[David]

We won't run out of oil for at least 100 years or more and coal for 500 years.

BTW, the stone age didn't end because we ran out of stones.

[ronin]

like I said, we'll never run out of oil

[Wrecked944]

I am reviving this thread because I just learned that Germany pioneered the use of synthetic gasoline during WWII. Apparently they made it out of coal. We already know that used cooking oil can be used to power a diesel motor with no engine modifications (a pelican member named Dean does this right now). A friend of mine just bought a used Mercedes turbodiesel and we plan to make biodiesel in my basement (and I will be documenting the project on this forum).

So right there we have a readily available fuel source that requires no modification to the vehicle. I am curious if anyone knows the current state of synthetic fuel production and if any of the fuels (aside form biodiesel) can be used without engine modifications.

BTW - I don't think running out of oil is terribly relevant. I honestly believe removing petroleum products from our economic structure is a vital national security goal. Of course, it can also make us insanely wealthy if we pioneer the technologies. So for the long term, I'm not so sure that cost is important. When we calculate the cost effectiveness of an energy solution, the price of constant warfare and uncertainty has to be factored into oil. The very idea of being so dependent on other countries (friendly or otherwise) for our economic security is utterly unacceptable IMO.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by RoninLB
I heard there's a scam going on to sell China a piece of the Tar Sands in Canada. The deal reminds me of the Jap's buying Rockefeller Ctr in NYC.

The Tar Sands is a very expensive place to mine oil afaik. I figure that they'll invest 30B in infrastructure after ownership, screw up the business, and sell it all at liquidation prices or 10% of replacement cost. Also, afaik, China has a lousy history on this topic besides the last debacle that everybody knows about.

all above is a prejudicial rant.

I heard an interview on the subject, theory is that China is looking to buy some interest because they feel this is the best way they can learn the technology. Expensive lessons.

[MikeCT]

The dead will rise from the grave to feast upon the flesh of the living... I'll be ready.