Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Extend the Age of Oil

bloomberg.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 136 posts

Re: Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Extend the Age of Oil

#21

Post by maxerickson »

Igglyboo wrote: post #18
jotm wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While also figuring out how to make fossil fuel safer for the environment. Don't get me wrong, solar/wind and especially nuclear are great, but it's gonna be a loooong time before we're completely rid of gas, coal and oil. There's so much of it and they're all so energy-dense and/or cheap that humans are gonna use them either until our planet turns into Venus or we figure out ways to reduce/eliminate those emissions.…

Another thing people seem to forget is that plastic requires oil. It's relatively easy to move from gas to electric cars, I don't know of an alternative for plastic production however.

For at least "important" uses of plastic you can make it from plants. I haven't looked to see how the volume of plastic consumed compares to, say, the corn crop though.

Re: Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Extend the Age of Oil

#22

Post by briandear »

venomsnake wrote: post #6

Seems that nobody is getting peak oil right. The rise of the North Dakota shale is the confirmation of that theory. Also Saudi Arabia is doomed. The kingdom will be collateral damage in the poaching war (its not hot, its not cold) ... to hit russia, the US is doing its best to bring Iran back online. US is self sufficient so they don't fear supply crunch, Europe is moving fast with renewable energy ... and we have ni…

The U.S. is not self sufficient at current production. The U.S. produces almost 9 million barrels a day and uses almost 19 million. The U.S. could be self sufficient but the permit restrictions on shallow water drilling as well as other political issues make self sufficiency a ways off. As far as Europe and renewables, I think the perception is far more positive than the reality. Windmills and solar provide a very small part of Europe's energy. Russian natural gas is by far the most important energy source. France has had good luck with nuclear but the anti-nuke crowd is rather robust, limiting expansion.

Re: Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Extend the Age of Oil

#23

Post by bkeroack »

venomsnake wrote: post #6

Seems that nobody is getting peak oil right. The rise of the North Dakota shale is the confirmation of that theory. Also Saudi Arabia is doomed. The kingdom will be collateral damage in the poaching war (its not hot, its not cold) ... to hit russia, the US is doing its best to bring Iran back online. US is self sufficient so they don't fear supply crunch, Europe is moving fast with renewable energy ... and we have ni…

The concept of peak oil is fine (almost self-evident), just the timing has been off. Theories are easier than predictions.

Re: Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Extend the Age of Oil

#24

Post by pjc50 »

Igglyboo wrote: post #18
jotm wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While also figuring out how to make fossil fuel safer for the environment. Don't get me wrong, solar/wind and especially nuclear are great, but it's gonna be a loooong time before we're completely rid of gas, coal and oil. There's so much of it and they're all so energy-dense and/or cheap that humans are gonna use them either until our planet turns into Venus or we figure out ways to reduce/eliminate those emissions.…

Another thing people seem to forget is that plastic requires oil. It's relatively easy to move from gas to electric cars, I don't know of an alternative for plastic production however.

It's not a large fraction of the oil market. It's also less bad from a CO2 perspective as it ends up ""sequestered"" in landfills and oceans.

Re: Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Extend the Age of Oil

#25

Post by melling »

danieltillett wrote: post #2

... and why do we have to follow? The sooner the world moves away from oil the better.

Haven't we been moving away from oil for at least 40 years, since the U.S. oil crisis in the 1970's? Carter put solar energy in the White House. Are we on the 100 plan to move away from oil?

Re: Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Extend the Age of Oil

#26

Post by Svip »

briandear wrote: post #22
venomsnake wrote: post #6

Seems that nobody is getting peak oil right. The rise of the North Dakota shale is the confirmation of that theory. Also Saudi Arabia is doomed. The kingdom will be collateral damage in the poaching war (its not hot, its not cold) ... to hit russia, the US is doing its best to bring Iran back online. US is self sufficient so they don't fear supply crunch, Europe is moving fast with renewable energy ... and we have ni…

The U.S. is not self sufficient at current production. The U.S. produces almost 9 million barrels a day and uses almost 19 million. The U.S. could be self sufficient but the permit restrictions on shallow water drilling as well as other political issues make self sufficiency a ways off. As far as Europe and renewables, I think the perception is far more positive than the reality. Windmills and solar provide a very sm…

Indeed. Europe is still heavily reliant on coal and petroleum. Anti-nuclear crowd is incredibly robust and they are limiting expansion in numerous places. Windmills, solar and hydro are not capable of replacing fossil fuels without the help of nuclear, unless we want to cover all of Europe in windmills and solar panels.

But we are moving in the right direction, but Europe is not doing as well as we like to pretend.

Re: Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Extend the Age of Oil

#28

Post by josefresco »

seivan wrote: post #20
josefresco wrote: post #12

Does a documentary or any in-depth information exist for the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology? I found the details of this university fascinating. FTA: Heavily armed guards on land and at sea protect the facility, where unveiled women study and work side by side with men, undisturbed by the religious police who patrol Saudi cities. Research there is aimed at scientific and commercial breakthroughs u…

The irony, when necessary, islamic laws don't apply because you need to do scientific break throughs.

I love how science exists on a plane seemingly above religion and money. It seems that most leaders when behind closed doors, understand the value of education, science and the benefits it has to society long term. Even those flush with money, understand that sustainability long-term is dependent on attracting and fostering the top minds from around the world and within their own borders.

Re: Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Extend the Age of Oil

#29

Post by ldonley »

seivan wrote: post #20
josefresco wrote: post #12

Does a documentary or any in-depth information exist for the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology? I found the details of this university fascinating. FTA: Heavily armed guards on land and at sea protect the facility, where unveiled women study and work side by side with men, undisturbed by the religious police who patrol Saudi cities. Research there is aimed at scientific and commercial breakthroughs u…

The irony, when necessary, islamic laws don't apply because you need to do scientific break throughs.

It's sad isn't it? The Islamic world was the pinnacle of scientific discover for the past millennium.
Post reply on HN