Peak Oil Essay

3351 Words7 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Energy crisis

Danielle Andersen Colin van Ree Government Period 2 Due: 5/23/14 Peak Oil I. Introduction In ancient times Babylonians used oil as mortar, Native Americans used oil as a topical medicine, and, before electricity, oil was used to create light. Mankind has been dependant on oil as a resource for generations. It has influenced growth, warfare, and technological advancement, but what if mankind were to run out (Alois)? The possibility of this eventuality was first vocalized by M. King Hubbert who introduced the notion of “peak oil.” When global oil production “peaks” it reaches its greatest output level and then permanently declines (Hubbert). There is much debate as to whether this “peak” exists, has already been passed, or will be passed in the near future. Despite the debate there is one undeniable fact; there is a finite amount of oil since it is a non renewable resource. Considering a sudden systemic collapse of all oil production seems unlikely, oil will probably be replaced gradually. This loss of oil could be positive; possibly less CO2 would enter the atmosphere and global warming may be stalled. However, the success of this transition away from fossil fuels will be largely dependant on the ability of developed nations to manage their time. If the US, or any other nation, is going to be successful, they need to start now. II. Background Information Oil is a significant, non renewable resource that is found underground and extracted through technological processes (Grubb). Consumption rates of the substance have never been higher. Oil remains to this day a vital aspect of production in industries like plastics, fertilizers, and asphalt. World oil consumption presently rests around 83 million barrels per day (... ... middle of paper ... ...gy can successfully replace oil. Just as oil will not run out overnight, its replacement will be equally gradual. The success of this transition is largely contingent on time management. Presently, there is no nation privy to a miracle solution. A bulk of available alternative energy sources are not self sufficient, and require oil to jump start their production. Solar panels, while a step in the right direction, are built in factories, shipped in trucks, flown in planes dependent on oil. Oil needs to be conserved, reserved solely for uses that will benefit future generations, such as creating green energy products. As long as there exists a shadow of a doubt as to the inevitability of peak oil, the existence of debate serves not only as an obstacle, but as a cause for hope. When everyone is forced to acknowledge the peak oil issue, it may very well be too late.

Show More
Related

  • The Keystone Oil Pipeline Project

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    Almost every single nation in our world today, the United States included, is extremely reliant on oil and how much of it we can obtain. Wars have been started between countries vying for control of this valuable natural resource. The United States as a whole has been trying to reduce its reliance on foreign oil and has had some success, especially with the discovery of the Bakken formation and projects like the Keystone Pipeline.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Education For Alaska

    639 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nevertheless, at the end of the day, oil is not a renewable source and we will all stand aside and wonder what is next for the state of

    Read More

  • Responses to the Oil Crisis in the US

    1067 Words  | 3 Pages

    People need oil for daily life and work. Since World War II, oil has caused many serious problems in the United States and throughout the world. Remarkably, economic and social problems were heightened by the emerging energy crisis. By 1974, the United States gained a third of its oil by importing from the Middle East. James Oakes, et al.

    Read More

  • America’s Dependence on Foreign Oil

    1087 Words  | 3 Pages

    The United States has had several scares throughout its history in terms of oil, most turn out to be over exaggerations of a small event. However, these scares highlight a massive issue with the U.S. and that issue is the U.S.’s dependence on foreign oil. Why does it matter that our oil should come from over seas? In a healthy economy this probably wouldn’t be as relevant, but the U.S.’s economy is not exactly healthy at the moment. There are 4 things that I would like to address: what the problem is, how it affects us, what some solutions are, and what solutions I feel are best.

    Read More

  • Gas Replacer Persuasive Speech

    439 Words  | 1 Pages

    Our dependency in foreign oil is reflected in our pocket and every time we visit the gas station. We are a war, a tyrant or natural disaster away from a $5 gallon gas. The Gas Replacer will liberate you from the fear of when, and not what if, we’ll have a gas crisis. The price of biofuel is more constant than gas, and there are little surprises, because we can control the source of production.

    Read More

  • Biofuel Proposal

    1405 Words  | 3 Pages

    The consequences of the United States’ reliance on oil have brought together the nation’s leaders in ways that few issues have in decades. The call for action to deliver advanced biofuels and efficient flex-fuel vehicles now comes from national security experts and business leaders down to consumers. They have all come to the conclusion that as each day passes, more of the nation’s wealth is lost and complacency thwarts critical national policy changes that are urgently needed1. The advantages of biofuels are widespread. First and foremost, the United States must move away from traditional oil consumption. Oil is the largest sole contributor to our trade deficit. Records state that more than $1 billion a day in funds are sent to oil exporting countries1. Compounded with ongoing conflicts in the Middle East as well as other oil producing nations, this has left America indebted to much of the world. By transitioning from fossil fuels to biofuels, the United States can liberate itself from foreign dependence.

    Read More

  • Oil Spill Essay

    2575 Words  | 6 Pages

    BUSM3886 Business and Government in the Global Context Individual Essay Assessment. The oil spill had serious consequences for the ecosystem, it was found that the Gulf octant (the area of the oil spill from Deepwater Horizon) contained 8332 species of plants and animals. In the main taxonomy of animals at all depths of disaster, there are 1461 mollusks, 604 polychaetes,1,503 crustaceans, 1,270 fish, sea turtles, 218 species of birds and 29 species of marine mammals (Gulf of Mexico biodiversity Applications Deep Horizon oil spill MM Thomas C. Shirley, John W. Tunnell, Jr., Fabio Moretzsohn and Jorge Brenner, Harte Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi, Corp Three months after the oil spill, it was observed that the water contained 40 times more (PAH) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons than its previous contents. PAHs are often associated with oil spills, carcinogens, and provide different threats to the health of humans and marine life.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech: Solar Power

    1587 Words  | 4 Pages

    Significance: The United States must face the fact that the world is running out of oil and with today’s rising oil prices, economic and political instability in regions where the United States gets the majority of its oil, this country must begin looking into alternative means of energy to replace oil and end our dependence on foreign powers.

    Read More

  • Oil's Indispensable Role in Modern Society

    1512 Words  | 4 Pages

    Peak oil is pretty much like a bell curve, which is a line on a graph that goes in a constant up-and-down pattern. At the top of the bell curve is where peak oil is located on the graph and that means worldwide, half of the resource has been consumed, and that half of the resource that’s been lost will return some thousands of years from now. That’s too long for us to wait, not to mention that fossil fuels are the cause of the ongoing deterioration of the earth’s atmosphere. In the circumstance of oil or some other material like it, production will never increase above where it was at its peak, no matter how money is thrown into the resource. From an investigator’s point of view, if you are attempting to accumulate the pieces of a case’s motives and means, to comprehend what power drives what events, peak oil was nearly within the stroke of a razor’s edge, the solitary part which instigated everything to echo and seem sensible

    Read More

  • Oil Spill Response

    5767 Words  | 12 Pages

    " Oil is the life blood of our modern industrial society. It fuels the machines and lubricates the wheels of the world’s production. But when that vital resource is out of control, it can destroy marine life and devastate the environment and economy of an entire region…. The plain facts are that the technology of oil-- its extraction, its transport, its refinery and use-- has outpaced laws to control that technology and prevent oil from polluting the environment…" (Max, 1969). Oil in its many forms has become one of the necessities of modern industrial life. Under control, and serving its intended purpose, oil is efficient, versatile, and productive. On the other hand, when oil becomes out of control, it can be one of the most devastating substances in the environment. When spilled in water, it spreads for miles around leaving a black memory behind (Stanley, 1969).

    Read More

  • Oil Sands Essay

    598 Words  | 2 Pages

    Canada’s Oil Sands are found in Alberta. Habitat types found within this region are rivers, lakes, and their grasslands / forests area.

    Read More

  • Oil In China

    1321 Words  | 3 Pages

    China is on the quest to secure massive amounts of energy. This demand for this overall energy is based on the fact that China is the country with the most population on the globe and with a rapidly growing economy. According to Jenkins (2012), over the last 30 years the GDP has increased over 9 percent annually, which makes China the second largest global economy. China has out ranked Germany in becoming the world's number one exporter (Jenkins, 2012). The developments from this growth are an across the board effect on motorization, urbanization, and industrialization which is manifested in the extensive construction of infrastructures and the extreme popularity of automobiles. The results of these factors are energy concerns, both environmental and precautionary, and a rapidly increasing demand for oil, particularly as a fuel for automobiles. Linwei, Feng, Zheng, and Pei (2012) asserts that views on the future oil consumption of China varies with support for oil independence, a steady course of oil reliance, or the suggestion of development of a limited level of substituting alternative fuels. Because of their desperate need for energy, China is pouring monies and labor into the expansion of other countries hoping to secure entrance and access to resources. These opinionated differences are forcing decision makers to evaluate the situation again and continue to study the development and future trends of oil in China. Although China is a coal producing country and has increased its natural gas usage, its need for oil is great, especially since in 2011, the International Energy Agency reports China's oil consumption growth was responsible for 50 percent of the global oil consumption growth. The country is searching for alternati...

    Read More

  • Exxon Valdez Essay

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 2003 a blackout struck the United States and Canada. It caused over 50 million people to experience a loss of power for several days and cost an estimated 50 billion dollars in of expenses. The blackout occurred because a company called First Energy Corporation [FE] didn’t follow Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions policy’s, which were voluntary but not required by law. First Energy was responsible for over 50 billion dollars in damages and had to pay zero fines. I do not think that FE should have to pay any fines for the blackout but I do think that they should have to pay for the damage claims.

    Read More

  • Alternative Energy Resources and Human Dependence on Oil

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this regard, this research will try to address one of the most important environmental issues that we are: are alternative energy sources the answer to ending human dependence to oil? This is an important question because the reality of human dependence to oil is attested by the fact that countries all over the globe have to ensure energy security to sustain their economies and in case they fail, the threat of conflict becomes unavoidable (Moran and Russell, 2008). Furthermore, as of 2009, 85 percent of total primary energy consumption involves the use of fossil fuels – oil, natural gas and coal (Statistical Review of World Energy, 2009) and this is a big issue because oil is finite. In addition, the peril of global warming coupled with the probability of the increase in consumpt...

    Read More

  • alternatives to oil

    1947 Words  | 4 Pages

    Peak oil is a huge problem that is facing the United States in the near future. Gas prices will skyrocket forcing most people to become self-sufficient. In other words, people are not going to be able to depend on the supermarket to get food. No more dining out, or going to the movies or traveling for vacation. The United States alone consumes nearly 7.5 billion barrels of oil each year. It would practically be a miracle for an alternative to be found and compensate for the forty percent of energy that oil accounts for in this country, and similarly the world. Oil is an amazingly efficient resource. It is transportable, and diverse, but most importantly the profit from selling oil far exceeds the price of retaining and refining it. It is very unlikely that a similar alternative will be found in time.

    Read More

More about Peak Oil Essay

Open Document