1. OIL Patrick Logan 05/01/06 PHYS 0103

2. Summary Some history of oil Where oil comes from Oil peaking and speculation

3. America’s fascination with oil began before the 1850’s, with whale oil. It was used to light homes. People harvested oil that seeped through the ground and pooled on the surface. The demand for oil increased. In Titusville, PA in 1859, the first oil well was established.

4. Summary Some history of oil Where oil comes from Oil peaking and speculation

5. Oil comes from the ground. Crude oil is long strands of hydrocarbons derived from organic material. Because oil is lighter than water it rises to the surface through source rocks. Structural traps like synclines trap the oil allowing it to pool in reservoir rocks. Ultimately geologists and oil companies can find the tops of synclines and drill through to get the oil.

6. Hydrocarbons - ane Methane Ethane Propane Butane Pentane Hexane Heptane Octane # of carbons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

7. Summary Some history of oil Where oil comes from Oil peaking and speculation

8. Peaking oil We feel it at the pump but it affects the entire economy. Petroleum is also used to create or manage important things like: plastic high tech items: the construction of single 32 megabyte DRAM chip requires 3.5 pounds of fossil fuels computers: The construction of the average desktop computer consumes ten times its weight in fossil fuels food: Pesticides are made from oil national defense: EVERYTHING medicine: transportation, packaging

9. Running out? The issue is not one of "running out" so much as it is not having enough to keep our economy running. In this regard, the ramifications of Peak Oil for our civilization are similar to the ramifications of dehydration for the human body.

10. Summary Some history of oil Where oil comes from Oil peaking and speculation

11. Questions?