(2006-02-16) Deffeyes Peak Oil Update

Kenneth Deffeyes gives a Peak Oil update. An update using the 2005 data shows that we passed the peak on December 16, 2005... Ghawar, the supergiant Saudi Arabia oilfield, is producing increasing amounts of water along with the oil. When Matthew Simmons sent Twilight in the Desert to the printer, the water cut at Ghawar was around 30 percent. There are later reports on the Internet (home.entouch.net/dmd/ghawar.htm) of water cuts as high as 55 percent. Ghawar has been producing 4 million barrels per day; when the Ghawar field waters out, you can kiss your lifestyle goodbye... The Times reports that Solar Power today supplies one percent of US electricity; the hope is to double that to 2 percent by the year 2025. By 2025, we're going to be back in the Stone Age. Ethanol, Fuel Cell-s, and solar cells are not the only shimmering dreams. Methane Hydrate-s, Oil Shale, and the Yucca Mountain radioactive Nuclear Waste depository would be better off forgotten. There are plenty of solid opportunities. Energy Conservation is by far the most important. Initiatives that are already engineered and ready to go are Bio Diesel from Palm Oil, Coal Gasification (for both gaseous and liquid fuels), high-efficiency diesel automobiles, and revamping our food supply.