The Cellar - View Single Post

06-24-2004, 04:39 PM

Here is a highly informative document put out, not by Michael Moore, nor by Rush Limbaugh, but by the United States Department of Energy:

http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/reser...ificancev1.pdf

Among other things this document states that the US imports 60% of its liquid hydrocarbon needs (so much for that cute little chart being bandied about on this thread). The DOE projects that US imports may double by 2025 and that the vast majority of imports come from the OPEC nations. (big surprise!)

The DOE then goes on to discuss the impact of oil shortfalls on the US economy, citing the events which occurred in this country in the 70's due to the oil embargo put in place by the OPEC nations. The embargo drove oil prices sky high which led to high inflation, high unemployment, and high interest rates; all at the same time. The DOE states that America's vulnerability to oil price shocks has become even higher in the interim since the 70's.

Here's what I mean when I say its about oil, stupid; not 9/11. And I quote:

"The Department of Defense has a strategic requirement to maintain secure sources of liquid fuels to mobilize its aircraft, naval fleets, and land vehicles at home and around the
world. Heightened concerns over domestic security intensify the need for the military to
ensure that secure fuels are available to protect the Nation, to support U.S. forces positioned overseas, and to project force when it is deemed necessary to protect America’s strategic interests and global commitments. To support this strategic requirement, the military pre-positions fuel supplies in the United States and around the world. As these stocks are drawn down, the military purchases replacement
fuels from global markets. If replacement fuels are not available in a timely
manner, military capabilities are at least temporarily diminished. Domestic sources for
military fuels must be re-evaluated in the context of rising import dependencies and increasing vulnerability to supply interruptions. Of direct importance are:
Supplementing decreasing domestic production
Maintaining fuel performance for the legacy fleet
Keeping fuel costs as low as possible during peacetime to facilitate training."

AS far as oil fields replenishing themselves, I have my doubts, but lack the background in geology to make an intelligent reply. I do know that here in the West, water aquifers do not replenish themselves, and their is great concern as continued population growth depletes these precious water resources in the Western states. The DOE does not seem to have been let in on the secret of oil fields resupplying themselves, either. Here is their comment: "About 80 percent of the oil produced today flows from fields that were found before 1973, and the great majority of these are declining."

I am no fan of "the sky is falling" hysterics, myself, but I do believe in a reasoned consideration of a problem from best case to worst case scenario. It is foolish, as well as ignorent to ignore impending difficultities and sing ourselves to sleep with lullibies about how life is fair, and the family dog will never die and we'll never grow old and God will keep squirting petroleum into oil fields everywhere. The morning will come when we awake to discover the lines on our face, the dog dead and gone years ago, the bully across the street has just unfairly beat us up for about the 600th time, and when we crawl to our car to go to the emergency room, it has no gas.

And quite frankly, I could give a flying fuck whether the US remains a world "leader" or not. We are a big country with plenty of natural resources still, if only we would be good stewards of what we have been blessed with. The American people are good, hard working people and can take care of themselves. Let's become self sufficient again, have a military strong enough to protect our own borders without traipsing off to some third world hell hole, and let the rest of the world be damned.

06-24-2004, 04:39 PM	#93
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	Here is a highly informative document put out, not by Michael Moore, nor by Rush Limbaugh, but by the United States Department of Energy: http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/reser...ificancev1.pdf Among other things this document states that the US imports 60% of its liquid hydrocarbon needs (so much for that cute little chart being bandied about on this thread). The DOE projects that US imports may double by 2025 and that the vast majority of imports come from the OPEC nations. (big surprise!) The DOE then goes on to discuss the impact of oil shortfalls on the US economy, citing the events which occurred in this country in the 70's due to the oil embargo put in place by the OPEC nations. The embargo drove oil prices sky high which led to high inflation, high unemployment, and high interest rates; all at the same time. The DOE states that America's vulnerability to oil price shocks has become even higher in the interim since the 70's. Here's what I mean when I say its about oil, stupid; not 9/11. And I quote: "The Department of Defense has a strategic requirement to maintain secure sources of liquid fuels to mobilize its aircraft, naval fleets, and land vehicles at home and around the world. Heightened concerns over domestic security intensify the need for the military to ensure that secure fuels are available to protect the Nation, to support U.S. forces positioned overseas, and to project force when it is deemed necessary to protect America’s strategic interests and global commitments. To support this strategic requirement, the military pre-positions fuel supplies in the United States and around the world. As these stocks are drawn down, the military purchases replacement fuels from global markets. If replacement fuels are not available in a timely manner, military capabilities are at least temporarily diminished. Domestic sources for military fuels must be re-evaluated in the context of rising import dependencies and increasing vulnerability to supply interruptions. Of direct importance are: Supplementing decreasing domestic production Maintaining fuel performance for the legacy fleet Keeping fuel costs as low as possible during peacetime to facilitate training." AS far as oil fields replenishing themselves, I have my doubts, but lack the background in geology to make an intelligent reply. I do know that here in the West, water aquifers do not replenish themselves, and their is great concern as continued population growth depletes these precious water resources in the Western states. The DOE does not seem to have been let in on the secret of oil fields resupplying themselves, either. Here is their comment: "About 80 percent of the oil produced today flows from fields that were found before 1973, and the great majority of these are declining." I am no fan of "the sky is falling" hysterics, myself, but I do believe in a reasoned consideration of a problem from best case to worst case scenario. It is foolish, as well as ignorent to ignore impending difficultities and sing ourselves to sleep with lullibies about how life is fair, and the family dog will never die and we'll never grow old and God will keep squirting petroleum into oil fields everywhere. The morning will come when we awake to discover the lines on our face, the dog dead and gone years ago, the bully across the street has just unfairly beat us up for about the 600th time, and when we crawl to our car to go to the emergency room, it has no gas. And quite frankly, I could give a flying fuck whether the US remains a world "leader" or not. We are a big country with plenty of natural resources still, if only we would be good stewards of what we have been blessed with. The American people are good, hard working people and can take care of themselves. Let's become self sufficient again, have a military strong enough to protect our own borders without traipsing off to some third world hell hole, and let the rest of the world be damned.