Apocalypse

Nightly, local and national news programs discuss the rising fuel costs in America and around the world. One local news program I viewed last night reported that oil prices in Utah are consistent with the current national average; around $3.20 per gallon. Reasonably, the drastic rise in the cost of oil is blamed on the decrease in supply (I only took one economics class during my educational career,however I remember my professor talking about the importance of a successful balance of supply and demand). What happens when the demand for a resource is significantly higher than the supply on hand? In addition to this inequality in supply and demand, the supply of oil is unlike other products we have come to rely on; it is irreplaceable.

Besides the personal burdens each of us may feel due to these prices, economics experts are declaring the supply and demand imbalance a serious cause for global alarm. I recently rented a documentary titled "OIL APOCALYPSE" from Los Angeles-based filmmaker Martin Kent. In the film, Mr. Kent calls for "a wake up call," about the world’s energy crisis. saying, "My hope is that upon seeing this film, everyone will be inspired to become an energy activist -- instead of sitting back and hoping that the scientists and leaders will somehow pull everything together and fix this in the eleventh hour. The time to act is now." He presents a terrifying sequence of possible scenarios. The film warns that we are fast approaching the breaking point, when the imbalance could destabilize the economies and infrastructures of virtually every nation on the planet.

(For more information on "Oil Apocalypse" or Martin Kent, view his website www.martinkentproductions.com)

One of the energy experts appearing in the documentary was author Richard Heinberg. Mr. Heinberg is a respected American Journalist who is known for his works on the subject of peak oil. Peak oil is defined as "the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum production is reached, after which the rate of production enters its terminal decline. If global consumption is not mitigated before the peak, an energy crisis may develop because the availability of conventional oil will drop and prices will rise, perhaps dramatically."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil

According to Heinberg and other industry and economic experts, peak oil is no longer a worry of the distant future; it is now. I was shocked to hear predictions of $300 barrels of oil (national news headlines recently reported the price rising about $100 per barrel). Below is an interview posted on YouTube of an interview with Richard Heinberg (parts one and two).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHXdS9XYVs8&eurl=http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85156

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osbQ9UHMAvY&feature=related

Clearly this is a problem. Are there any solutions? According to "Oil Apocalypse" there may be. The film refers to a "plan B" stating a coordinated system of alternative energies (laid out in his film), could replace our addiction and dependence on oil, if society mobilizes quickly to make it happen.

It’s long been known that oil is a finite, non-renewable resource, that pollutes the environment, and now mankind is coming to realize that it is also most likely causing climate change.

What are our noble Big Oil Giants doing in preparation? I searched press releases from every major website and found that they all had two things in common. One, the problem was presented as less pressing or severe. Two, just like Chevron, all claim to be doing their part in the search for an oil replacement.

In a press release on ConocoPhillips' website, I found the more interesting of the possible solutions: "In April 2007, ConocoPhillips announced its alliance with Tyson Foods, Inc. to produce the next generation of renewable diesel fuel from beef, pork and poultry fat. The alliance will create a transportation fuel that contributes to America’s energy future, helps address climate change concerns, and helps supplement the traditional oil-based diesel fuel supply. The company also said it will establish an eight-year, $22.5 million research program at Iowa State University dedicated to developing technologies that produce bio renewable fuels."

http://www.conocophillips.com/social/engagement/Conversation+on+Energy/2007+Public+Outreach+Tour/Event+Highlights/San+Antonio/sanantonio-community.htm

Sounds interesting. Could their record in this matter be cleaner (or greener?) than that of Chevron?

So far I haven't found any incriminating evidence to prove either way. The project is still running and findings may not be available for at least three years. According to an article titled "Bioprocess For Monomer From Cellulosic Materials", on a website devoted to green technology, the study looks promising.

http://www.greentechnolog.com/2007/04/

I will continue to look into it. Being the skeptic that I am however, I forecast that the world's energy problems will take much more than the chicken fat to solve.

I Want to be an Oil Tycoon When I Grow Up!

Did you know that there is a PC video game that came out in the second half of 2006 titled Big Oil? Below is the description provided to "gamers" interested in purchasing the game online.
Description: BIG OIL leads you into times of the oil industry pioneers. Start your career in one of the historical scenarios or face the challenge of modern times. Found your very own company and lead it to the biggest oil emporium on earth.

Would this game be the equivalent of Monopoly for future oil tycoons? Do you think that a video game about Big Oil would show the industry in a positive light?

Since I am not very experienced in video games. I thought I would rely on the reviews of others with more experience in the video game world.

Reviewed by: Greg Mueller Reviewed on 9/7/06
Game Release date: 7/31/06 "Crude oil is some nasty stuff even in virtual form, as evidenced by the ugly mess that is Big Oil: Build an Oil Empire, the latest economic strategy game from Tri Synergy. You might hope that a game that puts you in the role of an oil baron would attempt to capture the excitement of striking oil and making it big or negotiating high-stakes business contracts for mind-boggling sums of money around the world. Instead, Big Oil lends the sensation of trying to coax a sluggish tanker with an inebriated captain at the helm through an endless gauntlet of piercing icebergs. This game is slow, ugly, and poorly designed, and it isn't entertaining in the least... Big Oil is a failure in almost every regard... There are dozens of better economic strategy games available for the PC, most of which will probably end up costing you less than Big Oil. No matter how much you thirst for a taste of the Texas tea, you'll want to avoid this game."

After sifting through hundreds of online reviews, I have come to the conclusion that even in the fantasy world, Big Oil isn't fun or entertaining. The game may have tried to make light of a very serious industry... and failed. I don't think that the video game masterminds could erase the fact that Big Oil is "nasty" and an "ugly mess". Even the gamer in his review above, pointed out the driving force of the Big Oil Industry... Money, lots of it.

Did the part where the reviewer described the "sluggish tanker with an inebriated captain at the helm" remind the rest of you of any occurrence in particular? That's right, the Exxon Valdez disaster. If I remember the details of the disaster correct, wasn't the captain of the involved oil tanker intoxicated at the time?