When Oil is Gone

Mass starvation is striking nations around the world. The death toll is steadily growing each day. The earth can no longer support the enormous population of the human race. Oil nations have depleted their reserves, and as an effect, agriculture around the world has rapidly declined, causing a worldwide famine. The human race owes much of its success to fossil fuels. The above scenario is only one possibility of the end of fossil fuels without taking proper preparations now. The depletion of earth's fossil fuels, most importantly oil, will effect how human beings travel, cook, heat their homes, grow food, and function in everyday life; fossil fuels contribute so much that when they are depleted normal, everyday life will be forever changed.

The causes of this dearth in oil are vast. All fossil fuels are non-renewable resources. Petroleum is no exception. It is formed from plants, animals and microloes. These organic materials decay, and after millions or even billions of years of heat and pressure, oil is formed. The word "petroleum" means rock oil, and it has come to be used for many purposes.

The rate of depletion grows with the passing of each year. Currently, the oil extraction rate is unsustainable; reserves are already being depleted (News Archives - Oil 3). The use of oil and other fossil fuels are directly interweaved in the success of the human population and the steadily growing increase in their use.

Two important causes of the steady increase are America's overuse and newly industrializing nations. America has five percent of the world's population, but they use 25 percent of the world's oil (Fuel Savings). Transportation burns two-thirds of U.S. oil and is the key to cutting oil dependence. Another cause of America's overuse is wasted energy from buildings. America's heavy dependence on oil is a major threat to economic security. The United States' trade deficit in oil is approximately 50 billion dollars each year. Since 1970, oil imports have been responsible for nearly 75 percent of the trade deficit.

America is not the only variable in the rise in oil use. Developing economies, like China, are also increasing the demand. China and other eastern countries are working to better their standard of living. Their enormous populations require high amounts of oil to adequately support them.

Even with these ever increasing demands for fuel, scientists and economists are unable to agree on how much is left. The Association for the Study of Peak Oil estimates max oil production around the world will peak in 2008 (Kelleher). Others estimate the peak to occur between 2010 and 2020 (Youngquist). While some estimate the peak to occur in the near future, others are more optimistic. John Felmy, chief economist of the American Petroleum Institute, argues that peak oil production is so far off that it can be seen as flowing indefinitely (Kelleher). Reasons for such optimistic views are that since the 1800s people have said oil would run out. For example, in the 1880s a standard oil executive sold off his shares fearing his reserves were on the verge of drying up. If there is an end to the debate, advanced oil-recovery technologies will find it. New technologies push peak oil further and further, but this will only increase the crisis when it runs out because of the steady increase in population each year. %3