Problem with petroleum is that it’s finite. When the “awl” is all gone, then what? Space, the “final frontier” or something else? Who knows.
At least the natural gas that comes up with it (the petroleum) isn’t being burned off anymore. Here in California we use that to keep us warm.
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What few have quite realized is that since the dawn of the oil age in 1850, only about 10% of the oil in the ground has been pulled up. The fracking revolution has enabled drillers to get at another 30%-$40% of the oil.
This represents an enormous amount of oil. There will be oil and gas aplenty for at least 100 years. The USA will likely become an oil exporter withing 10 years. This is very big on many different levels.
However, big oil likely has only about 2 decades of dominance before its replaced by electricity. On the one hand electric cars will gain the upper hand. In part they’ll do so because 4th & 5th generation nuclear power plants will produce electricity for 1/4-1/10 current costs.
Natural gas is still being burned off in quantity in the baaken and eagle ford. Here’s some pictures.
http://bit.ly/1hlYxwx
That said I do know that technology is being developed and complimented which will enable drillers to use natural gas to power their equipment. And other portable liquification plants which will enable drillers to store smaller quantities of natural gas.
Nuclear power plants generate/produce electricity. What fuel do they use to operate?