The world has been burning more oil than it finds every year since 1981
Not true.
Proved reserves:
1981 - 649.130 Billion Barrels
1986 - 698.607 Billion Barrels
1991 - 998.745 Billion Barrels
1996 - 1,007.368 Billion Barrels
2001 - 1,028.132 Billion Barrels
2006 - 1,292.936 Billion Barrels
2009 - 1,342.207 Billion Barrels
International Crude Oil Proved Reserves
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/iedindex3.cfm?tid=5&pid=57&aid=6&cid=ww,&syid=1980&eyid=2009&unit=BB
The remaining reserves continue to climb because we find more than we use.