Conventional Oil Effects

Improved Essays
In under one-hundred years, society is steering itself back towards another great depression era. The underlying cause is the end of conventional oil, which will detrimentally effect the world economy. Conventional oil is a category which encompasses raw petroleum, natural gas and its condensates. These oils and gasses all assume a noteworthy part in forming the present society, as oil and gas are utilized for all heavy machinery, cars, plastics, to generate power and other equipment. With a sudden depletion or deficiency of a necessity society will collapse. The sources of the unconventional oil are tight deposits, oil shales, oil sands, and coal liquefaction. At current oil extraction rates, the peak oil extraction rate will be reached. …show more content…
Alternative energy production is possible for electricity and power. Humanity has already created solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear and many others as a way of getting power. In addition, batteries can be used to store that power and energy for long period of time. Also the power and energy created from the aforementioned are all renewable resources. However, it cannot replace oil completely in the production of mechanical equipment and other areas. So the only feasible solution would be to create all the future machinery using batteries and make hybrids to use less oil. That way oil could be preserved for a longer period of time; until a long-term and possible solution is created. Furthermore, conventional oil causes a lot of pollution which will have long-term effects on Earth. Thus, an alternative would not only benefit society, it would help the environment. Investing in alternative energy would lead to innovation and profits if a solution is created. Already alcohol is an alternative for fossil fuel and it is created from feedstock’s, and requires the use of whole crops. However, it would require the already limited food supply to be used for oil. Coal could be gasified as an alternative as well, however it will have very high pollution emission. Converting foods into an alternative will decrease the amount of food available but will give people enough time to find a long-term solution. With the support of renewable resources a short-term solution is possible but a long-term one is not. Therefore, all people need to continue to work and find a solution as it continues to grow with more people being

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    It is important for the taxpayers of the United States to consider the options of the oil drilling industry. Supported by the prior research and evaluation, the continuation of conventional oil drilling throughout the United States will not only improve its economical and environmental futuristic aspects, but will ensure the survival of the United State’s global dominance in the oil industry. OPEC has faced severe drops in profits from the competition of booming private American oil companies flood oil onto the market, and this will only get worse with time as the currently rich oil producing nations’ pockets run dry. Fracking is deemed an economical solution for today’s oil economy, but in its actuality, it is only a temporary…

    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hydraulic Fracking Effects

    • 1210 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In today’s world, the public’s attitude towards environmental awareness has changed, for more people are now aware of the harmful effects being done to earth because of the failure to caring and failure to find alternative solutions that will lessen the damage. One of the issues people are trying to find an alternative solution to is Hydraulic fracturing, which is commonly known as “fracking.” The process of hydraulic fracturing can be viewed as possessing both positive and negative effects on the environment and people. The positive view of hydraulic fracturing includes the idea that it is lessening the reliance on coal. Which has help the United States prosper in meeting demands for natural gas. A negative side to this drilling process is…

    • 1210 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Out of Gas by David Goodstein addresses a plethora of different environmental issues mostly surrounding oil and the oil industry. Throughout the eight-part book Goodstein reminds the reader each time to keep an open mind, explore environmental dilemmas, and become active in the fight to find an alternative energy source. The eight main points in this book are understanding the opportunities and limitations the future holds for alternative energy resources, Hubbert’s Peak, America’s excess use of gasoline, the earths increase in inhabitable environment, entropy, finding an alternative energy solution, and the lack of people willing to address these issues.…

    • 588 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to Alison Riddell of Stanford University, production of oil, coal and natural gas is expected to rise by double. Additionally according to Alison Riddell, in 1997 the world produced 130 quadrillion btu of energy from oil whereas now every year we use 11 billion tons of oil in fossil fuels (ecotricity.co.uk). The problem with fossil fuel gasoline and production is that it is not renewable and our supply is very limited. Therefore we are running out of enough to supply the globe. This will then increase demand and prices will raise creating a huge economic crisis. Burning fossil fuels is not sustainable but we depend on it the most to supply industries, cars and many more. In 2011 our use of fossil fuels accounted for 82% of our world’s primary energy use (globalization101.org). The remaining percent was accounted for things like solar energy and wind energy, etc. Though there are multiple alternative fuels we could be using, specifically…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    William O Brochta Summary

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages

    He claims that, “we must focus our emphasis on finding alternative energy sources, making them cheaper and more efficient, and converting ourselves off of fossil fuels as quickly as possible.” This will provide a sound point by displaying a view by an individual that works to help the Earth as well as his views on what the community should do together to promote alternative energies . He continues to say that even if this goal was achieved, the problem of climate change would still be an issue and the only way to truly stop it is to change the behavior of humans, which will support the idea that the cost of producing other sources of energy will outway the benefits, he states that the costs will indeed be expensive. However, the costs of still using oil in people’s everyday lives will have a greater effect on the world as a whole. He concludes that “ We cannot even foresee the future costs of climate change”, and that “the true cost of oil is astronomical.” O’Brochta also touches on the economic effect of new energy sources saying the number of jobs will be huge and lists the everyday negative effects of using oil, such as,“Climate change, greenhouse gasses, disruption of habitat, and rising sea levels.” These statements and opinions will help prove why using alternative sources of energy as soon as possible is extremely…

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Continued reliance on fossil fuels only prolongs an inevitable end. An alternative resource to fossil fuels will arise when we have no other option, and we will shift our dependence. This inevitability is encouragement for prompt action. Since moving away from fossil fuels will happen, sooner action equates to more of the environment protected. The strength of the fossil fuel industry can only be overcome with support from the government. The government must shift the focus for non-renewable energy, to a sustainable plan. The government must support and encourage innovation in renewable energy sources starting…

    • 935 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Embargo's Energy Crisis

    • 1351 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Up until 1950 the United States had been able to supply its own energy needs, but in less than 25 years it became apparent that this was no longer the case. Unfortunately, each year Americans consumed 5% more, doubling the demand for oil in 12 to 14 years, while coal production remained at 1940 levels, crude oil production dropped. During the 1950’s,…

    • 1351 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This energy is found deep buried under the ground and is used abundantly by manufactures for the creations of a diversity of objects but it is also essential for our survival in our modern society. The negative outcome of its exploitation is the thinning of the ozone layer provoking the climates changes. However, one of Canada's provinces is well known to be an important producer of oil. From reports, Alberta produced on its own more than ??? barrel a day and ???? barrel in total in 20???. Looking at the exploit form the past few year, journalists can undoubtedly predict the increase of the production. Some have made the assumption that by 20??? the total production will be equal to ??? barrel. Unfortunately, the extraction of this substance requires more than a simple drilling. Here we are talking about refinement because this oil is held inside tar sands. Therefore, we need to use at least three water barrels to create a single one of oil. The water, after utilization, is contaminated with toxins such as heavy metals, cyanide, benzene, naphthenic acids, etc … and without a proper follow-up; these chemicals will cause a serious harm to the environment. Eventually, when the fuels have been extracted and refined, the oil will be sent through pipelines to cargos where they will be heading to others continents or it will be…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    American Oil Spills

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the year 1859, something happened in the state of Pennsylvania. Colonel Edwin L. Drake made a major discovery. He struck oil, and the world has never been the same since. The oil industry is an important part of the world.…

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    People were frantic trying to stop barrels oil that were gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, covering wildlife, and poisoning water in thick, unescapable oil. It took over 80 days to just stop the leak caused by an oil pipe explosion in 2010. Michael Klare, (2010) states the leak is “something that would not have occurred with proper corporate oversight” (p.1). Four years later, the government, organizations, and volunteers are still trying to clean up the millions of barrels that were dumped into the Gulf of Mexico. Oil is a source of energy that goes up in demand every day as the supply depletes. As diggers take higher risks to find oil in more dangerous places, the more serious the consequences will become unless a new way of obtaining energy…

    • 780 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Unsustainable fossil fuels have been in controversy in the more recent years. The world’s population is constantly growing and changing with that the need for more energy grows as well. Right now, the main way to fulfill the need of these growing populations come from the use of fossil fuel. One major problem. Fossil fuel is unsustainable, and the need is overcoming the what the earth can create and produce. It is a matter of time when there is going to be a scarcity of fossil fuel. This is also putting a dent in on our ecosystems and the environment. Many counties are in the process of finding ways to produce an ecofriendly and sustainable energy. It is essential for progression, to remove the usage of fossil fuel and have other means to produce energy.…

    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ethanol Vs Gasoline

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The United States uses over 18 billion barrels of oil every day. This means in turn that a country with just 4.5% of the world's population, is using about 20% of the world's oil. The United States only produces 8 million barrels of oil per day, which is the foundation of the nation's great dependence on foreign oil. One of the largest uses of oil is for gasoline in cars, which can be completely gotten rid of as a whole, There are currently multiple alternatives to fuel cars as opposed to gasoline. There are the alcohol fuels, these include ethanol and methanol, there is compressed natural gas, and there is electricity. These alternatives can all be more beneficial than gasoline. All cars in that are manufactured and sold in America should have the capability of using some form of fuel alternative to gasoline, and all service stations in the…

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Production from modern shale oil reservoirs is done typically through hydraulic fracturing in horizontal wells. Although this discovery has led to a massive increase in production in areas that were otherwise thought to be unprofitable, there is still an enormous amount of oil left in the reservoirs. It is estimated that oil recovery is less than 10% from shale oil reservoirs. 1 Of that 10%, is it estimated only 1-2% of the reserves are recoverable. With numbers so low, it is incredible that these reservoirs still manage to be profitable. Today, there are currently no enhanced oil recovery techniques in use that are known to the public for producing from these shale reservoirs. Current estimates show that “7.3 billion barrels of [unproduced] oil” (Sayed, Al-Muntasheri, Liang 165) currently exist in tight and oil shale reservoirs in the United States alone. More than 100 billion barrels of unproduced oil exist globally. These numbers accentuate the fact that energy generation from nonrenewable resources is far from over.…

    • 692 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Issues In Beyond Oil

    • 1075 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The world we live in is changing daily. Fossil fuel consumption has to be reduced, before our planet can begin to repair the damage man has caused. “It is estimated the world uses 87.8 million barrels of crude oil a day” (Friedman 195). “In 2000 it was estimated that the US consumed nearly 20 million barrels of oil a day, which is about 5% more than similar nations” (195). Oil consumption demand is going to increase as long as the supply can meet the demand. Once the supply is depleted, the prices will only increase. “It is predicted that oil consumption will peak by the year 2019” (Deffeys 7). Crude oil when burned emits gases like carbon monoxide. These gases are harmful to humans and the environment. Crude oil will eventually run out if it continues to be used at the rate it is now. Crude oil comes…

    • 1075 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Oil Research Paper

    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The world will eventually run out of oil. We may find a replacement, but it will be a while from now. We all should realize the importance of…

    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays

Related Topics