Has "Peak OIl" peaked?
#51
Pedaled too far.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: La Petite Roche
Posts: 12,851
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
The point is that they didn't. In Roman times, and again after the dark ages, they used more wood than they could replace and clear cut most of the trees.
The real lesson to see here, is that they seemed to react in a similar way to how we are now. They used it up and looked for lower quality alternative fuels rather than conserving and looking for ecological methods.
__________________
"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
#52
Sophomoric Member
Well, it doesn't really work that well in practice. It takes a long time to grow a tree, so you're not going to sustain much industry by burning wood. Maybe a couple sawmills in an entire county? But what about the GM plant down the street from me? It wouldn't run long on wood, even in a heavily forested state like Michigan.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 378
Bikes: Schwinn Trailwise, Surly Pugsley
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Well, it doesn't really work that well in practice. It takes a long time to grow a tree, so you're not going to sustain much industry by burning wood. Maybe a couple sawmills in an entire county? But what about the GM plant down the street from me? It wouldn't run long on wood, even in a heavily forested state like Michigan.
#54
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 22
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
From what I gather, the way to go if you want to grow fuel wood sustainably is to obtain very fast genetics suitable for coppicing (i.e they will grow back rapidly from the stumps.) There are some hybrid willows and poplars that are very fast growing and resilient. They also grow readily from cuttings, much simpler and faster than growing tree seedlings to a size where survival rates will be reasonable.
#55
In the right lane
Thread Starter
Well, it doesn't really work that well in practice. It takes a long time to grow a tree, so you're not going to sustain much industry by burning wood. Maybe a couple sawmills in an entire county? But what about the GM plant down the street from me? It wouldn't run long on wood, even in a heavily forested state like Michigan.
From what I gather, the way to go if you want to grow fuel wood sustainably is to obtain very fast genetics suitable for coppicing (i.e they will grow back rapidly from the stumps.) There are some hybrid willows and poplars that are very fast growing and resilient. They also grow readily from cuttings, much simpler and faster than growing tree seedlings to a size where survival rates will be reasonable.
#56
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 22
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Coppicing would have been practiced in England over the time period you described and evidently it wasn't enough to prevent the switch to coal. The recent development seems to be superior genetics. I really have no idea whether coppicing with today's genetics would have been able to supply Europe's energy needs through the industrial revolution but I suspect not. I was mostly responding to the person who said that it takes a long time to grow a tree. Apparently the rotation between harvests with this stuff can be as short as 2-5 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_rotation_coppice
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_rotation_coppice
#57
Sophomoric Member
No, it wouldn't last long as GM is an international power house. Which brings things right back to what I've been saying all along---we are going to have to return to a much smaller world, centered around small local areas and industries that serve those areas. The huge corporations all are built on the basis of cheap oil and when that cheap oil becomes expensive, or hard to get, they are going to either have to find a new cheap source of fuel (doesn't seem likely) or go extinct.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: New madrid Mo
Posts: 163
Bikes: diamondback outlook turned commuter/ bike packer And a tour easy recumbent for on road touring
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Adjusted for inflation, gas prices right now are high, but not as high as most people think. I agree with your reasons for being carfree. Fuel expenses are variable--when prices are high you can drive less or get a more efficient car. The other prices you mentioned are more or less fixed, and you can't do much to change them. this is what roody said i say if you buy another car more efficeant you are creating another bill and if you only drive to and from work than you cant drive less so there you have a no win scenario
#59
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,303
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times
in
372 Posts
I cannot find the reference, but the general consensus seems that we reached the peak of conventional oil production between 2006-2008. There is also an article out about the cost of getting and processing oil. In the 1950's the ratio was better than 3:1 today it is much closer to 1:1, in other words, it costs nearly as much to get oil out of the ground as to what it is worth. The investment to get to much of the "new" oil supplies is staggering and cost prohibitive.
Aaron
Aaron
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex
Posts: 5,058
Bikes: 2013 Haro FL Comp 29er MTB.
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1470 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 45 Times
in
35 Posts
Much like chicken little we discovered the sky was't falling just yet.
As Fracking Rises, Peak Oil Theory Slowly Dies
As Fracking Rises, Peak Oil Theory Slowly Dies
#61
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#62
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
Much like chicken little we discovered the sky was't falling just yet.
As Fracking Rises, Peak Oil Theory Slowly Dies
As Fracking Rises, Peak Oil Theory Slowly Dies
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#63
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex
Posts: 5,058
Bikes: 2013 Haro FL Comp 29er MTB.
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1470 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 45 Times
in
35 Posts
Nice try Aaron but oil prices don't drop when oil becomes scarce. What is a barrel of crude today? 38 bucks. Jimmy Carter was wrong on peak oil in 76 and if the very idea of shale oil drives the prices down to 38 bucks seems like peak oil has lost its punch. Maybe some day but not today because the obverse of what you suggest would be true as well. If the price ever goes back up they would have the funding to frack again. At least Forbes points out the idea is in the critical care unit.
#64
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,303
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times
in
372 Posts
Yeah, that's kinda the whole point. As demand goes up, prices go up. Then more people produce more because they can make more money.
We've just seen that at $100 a barrel, more oil can be produced than there's demand for.
This whole peak oil theory was postulated in 1956, and predicted we'd be out of oil by 1970. It was wrong then, and it has been wrong every time its been raised since.
Eventually, the oil that can be economically produced will run out. But that's at least 53 years way on proven reserves. As history shows, unproven reserves will become proven, and better technology will make oil that wasn't economically feasible to recover, recoverable. So that 53 years in all probability will extend out more than a century.
And when oil prices do eventually rise, it makes other alternatives more cost effective, and the market facilitates a transition to those alternatives.
The problem with all these end of days theories is that are based upon linear extrapolation from the past.
In 1898, urban planners thought cities were going to collapse because at their then rate of growth they'd be covered in horse manure. By 1930, New York was supposed to be covered by manure up to the 3rd floor of buildings. Linearly extrapolating the past into the future doesn't work very well.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#65
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,303
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times
in
372 Posts
Some other notable failed predictions:
Great moments in failed predictions | Watts Up With That?
"it's tough to make predictions, particularly about the future."
Great moments in failed predictions | Watts Up With That?
"it's tough to make predictions, particularly about the future."
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#66
Sophomoric Member
However much oil is left, it's too much. And that goes for coal also. We need to leave all that **** in the ground.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
#67
Sophomoric Member
Some other notable failed predictions:
Great moments in failed predictions | Watts Up With That?
"it's tough to make predictions, particularly about the future."
Great moments in failed predictions | Watts Up With That?
"it's tough to make predictions, particularly about the future."
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
#68
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,303
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times
in
372 Posts
And the thought that human kind is going to be able to move away from oil, without catastrophe is more a belief in humanity based upon on a long track record of success than a prediction of a particular outcome.
I obviously don't know what the predominant source of energy will be 100 years from now, but then again I'm not postulating that I do.
The oil age will eventually end, and something will replace oil. I'm simply suggesting its going to happen from market, and technological forces, not some dire shortage.
After all the Stone Age didn't end from a lack of stones.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#69
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,303
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times
in
372 Posts
If we were at peak oil, carbon emissions would be a self limiting problem.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#70
Sophomoric Member
#71
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,303
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times
in
372 Posts
Just pointing out you can't have it both ways.
Oh no, we're running out of oil;
Oh no, we're not going to run out of oil.
Oh no, we're running out of oil;
Oh no, we're not going to run out of oil.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#72
Sophomoric Member
I wasn't having it both ways. I wasn't having it either way. I'm an agnostic when it comes to peak oil, and totally apathetic. I think it's a distraction and a waste of time, and it makes smart people look stupid. So I'm going to bow out of this zombie thread now.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
#74
Senior Member
The whole premise of Peak Oil is that it would get people out of cars and onto bikes, into mass transportation. Even if Peak Oil were occurring, or when it does, we've already seen the future: hybrid and full-electric cars. Peak Oil =/= the end of car culture.
#75
Banned
Hubbard's peak https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbert_peak_theory was about US domestic sources
the easy Liquid stuff to drill not too far down and so made the extraction costs Low.
Hitting $100+ a Barrel made expensive to extract oil profitable, Now the Per Barrel Price has quashed that ,
& places Like Williston ND less of a Boom town.
Now seeking to discover more is about Elevating the Share price of Your Stock ,by having more 'Reserves' on the books.
the easy Liquid stuff to drill not too far down and so made the extraction costs Low.
Hitting $100+ a Barrel made expensive to extract oil profitable, Now the Per Barrel Price has quashed that ,
& places Like Williston ND less of a Boom town.
Now seeking to discover more is about Elevating the Share price of Your Stock ,by having more 'Reserves' on the books.
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-25-15 at 09:23 AM.