I must first acknowledge that I have not read either of these books. I have produced leases, some with significant cumulative production numbers, past their "economic limits of production" so I know of the possibility of growing reserves. I also produce some leases which I bought to scrap which, with these higher prices, are making decent money. I do, however, realize that we are dependent on some sources for our energy needs which are, to say the least, shaky. Mexico's giant (super-giant?) Cantarall field/complex and Norway are prime examples of what we have to fear in the way of post-peak supply and suppliers.

My thought is that it makes little difference in the great scheme of things whether peak oil has already occured or occurs in a year, five years or ten years. We do not have the opportunity to replace those sources of energy in any case since the powers that be, meaning governments, do not have the cohones to step up and acknowledge the problem in a serious fashion. If we started now, and the oil peak would hold off for ten years, we could seriously mitigate the effect, but that is not going to happen.

Sorry if I misspelled cohones.

Chuck