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Old 08-31-2023 | 08:41 AM
  #42  
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rickair7777
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From: Engines Turn or People Swim
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Originally Posted by SonicFlyer
I don't pretend to know, but I agree that it's quite possible that the rate of use could of course exceed the rate of creation.

If it's a natural process from deep within the earth's core, that seeps its way up to the mantle, then it is indeed also quite possible that it is essentially infinite for our purposes. Meaning we may have possibly only just scratched the surface of the petroleum inside the earth (pun intended) and have centuries worth of petroleum available.

But the truth is no one knows for sure.
Ok, it's hypothetically possible that there could be very deep sources of abiogenic oil deep within the earth. Hypothetically, as in far out thought experiment, but no evidence that I've ever heard of. Is it possible to access it directly? Or are we talking temperatures where drill pipe melts? Can it be accessed economically? I seriously doubt it.

But I think it's all academic anyway, the world is shifting to renewables, or at least a lot of it. The developed world will pave the way with the technology, and the rest will slowly follow along due to political pressure, or possibly the price of crude. If much of the world stops most oil production, third world poop holes are going to have a hard time producing their own in hard-to-access locations requiring advanced and expensive technology.

If fusion technology makes some big advances, that will be the end of most oil demand. Still be some for niche applications, mostly related to chemical production vice energy. They could even go far with advanced fission energy, if they can get over some political hurdles.
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