From: Andy Soos, ENN
Published December 2, 2010 06:42 PM
Published December 2, 2010 06:42 PM
http://www.enn.com/energy/article/42071
Environmental News Network
Environmental News Network
Summary
The time in which the global petroleum extraction is reached is called the peak oil. When it does reaches peak, there will not be much oil or coal production on Earth. Scientists assume that it'll hopefully begin 2020 which is the latest the peak can occur but there are some clues that the peak will begin sooner. If countries do not change the way they use oil heavily, then the world will run out of oil soon. There has been recent recorded analysis decline of coal production also, which is a fossil fuel that's another source on Earth that is being used worldwide. Research in Austrailia supports that the coal peak will occur from 2010 to 2048. China is afraid that its coal miners are using the reserves too quickly before the ecosystems can recover itself over a long period of time. If these factors continue, the world might aleady be in peak oil and peak coal. Chinese researchers think that the country will reach its peak in 2011 because it produces 40% of the world's coal production. Then United States (20%) in 2150. India (8%) and Austrailia (7%).
Heavy crude oil, oil sand, and oil shale are not part of the reserves but SEC has made a law to protect them too for the environment to be able to save more energy.
Opinion
I think there should be a policy over how much oil production should be allowed each year so that countries worldwide would not be getting close to reaching the peak oil or peak coal. We need those resources for us to survive and if people are willing to survive, they will think that it is a better idea to use less to use for later when we are more desperate. Since there have been researches going on in labs and universities, there should be improvements on solving how to conserve more of the Earth's natural resources that plays a big role in our ecosystem.
Question
1. What are some ways you can try to prevent peak oil or coal? Explain, why or why not?
2. What would happen to the world if we reached peak oil or coal?
3. Will the peak affect people economically? Why or why not?
4. If we were to give up on one of the two natural resources, which one is more important?
Explain, why or not?
It is not a surprise that this is happening. We are always in need of oil and coal, and we use it so much. It is really a shame that we are going to run out because we really need oil and coal. I hope we can figure out a way to use less oil and coal so we don't run out and can use it in the future.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to an article about crude oil, oil shale, and the oil and coal peaks in our world today.
http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2010-09-26/peak-oil-coal-sept-26
Since coal and oil are non-renewable, I am not surprised that the peaks will happen in the near future. Since these resources are important to daily life, we should be concerned.
ReplyDelete2)If we reached peak oil or coal, the world would struggle on what resources that it would have left for a while, but eventually we would find new and most likely better ways of supplying he things that coal and oil supply us. This gives me hope that even when we reach these peaks, we will fix our problems and keep moving forward.
I'm actually scared not to have any fossil fuels. Long time ago I knew this and thought about saving a lot of coal and oil in my basement, but I found out that was not realistic. To think that 40% of the coal production will not be here in 2011 is scary. Coal will become more and more expensive. Less BBQ's! I want my future generation to have family night BBQ and picnics, but that will become too expensive. How will we live without fossil fuel?
ReplyDelete1) We can prevent or slow down the process of reaching the peak by using less fossil fuels. We could use alternative fuel source like wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, etc. We can always invent a generator that generates energy without any pollution.
This is a link to a graph that shows the peak of fossil fuels. 1950-2070
http://www.beyondpeak.com/scenarios/becker1.gif
Opinion
ReplyDeleteIf it take oil and coal millions of years to produce, why are countries using a lot? Surely if we were to use as much oil and coal as there was being produce right now, surely we would not being using much. I think the countries should use a lot less if they are using too much. Surely we can't get the oil and coal to last forever, but we should at least aim to make it last long enough for us to find a new resource or create a different form of energy for everyone to get by on.
1. Some ways we can prevent the oil peak would be by giving countries with a high oil and coal usage, such as China, our technology. What that means is we could share with them ways to be more efficient with their coal and oil usage. That way we can slow down their usage and not only help the environment but the economy. If we don't help them, there will be a war over what is left. Ironically, it requires coal and oil for war so by fighting for what is left we are using it up as well.
This is a link to show how companies such as AT&T and Cisco are trying to be more efficient on products such as coal and oil.
http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/att-cisco-conduct-global-it-energy-efficiency-study-shell/2010-12-07