The Oil Drum

176 comments on "Peak Oil" - Why Smart Folks Disagree - Part II

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garyp on April 2, 2007 - 1:06pm

I think what's needed is one picture, immediately understandable by the non-expert, that brings everything together in one place.

It needs to include:

Predicted future production levels
Fake reserves
Net energy concerns
Exportland concerns
Geographical dependence
Technological levels and potential improvements
Alternatives

One image, preferably not just a graph. Concentration would probably be on the 'gap' between demand and supply - not absolute barrels of oil.

There is relatively little chance that most people will read complex arguments or seriously consider what will happen in 5 years time - unless they grasp it implicitly from the beginning. That goes double for engineers in the thick of it - they have a track record of not being able to see the wood for the trees.

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Gail the Actuary on April 3, 2007 - 5:39pm

My Oil Quiz is intended to be a step in this direction.

I posted this a week or so ago, so quite a few have already seen this.

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