[telegraph.hill]

Does anyone know when fossil fuels are actually predicted to run out? Or have yet new reserves been found? Is there any actual figure given?

I'm not sure if there is any clear geological estimate of the remaining reserves of oil and gas.

[peachy]

I think the prediction is between 40 and 70 years based on our current consumption rate. Quite a range. However, to think that the fuels could potentially run out within my lifetime is quite sad.

And I'm sure it's hard to predict or to get a general consensus considering how many variables there are to consider. And so many future variables that we may not be aware of.

I don't know if this is a new reserve, but they're wanting to drill on the coast of bc for oil. However, as mentioned, I don't know if they already knew about this reserve already.

[Raptor235]

yeah very hard to predict these numbers... there is so many changing variables and evolving technology from day to day that it's almost impossible to do...

[workinman]

i read that many scientist believe that peak oil production has already happen or will happen in 2007... they say that most of the 'easy' oil wells are about finished and most of the oil left will be much more energy intensive to get to and extract from the earth

[peachy]

You know, now that you mention the peak production...2007 does ring a bell. Hard to believe that in our lifetime that fossil fuels could possibly run out!

[coco_mees]

Post Carbon Institute (www.postcarbon.org), featured in End of Suburbia (endofsuburbia.com) has GREAT easy-to-read information on Peak Oil. Their web site states:

"The concept of Peak Oil was proposed by M. King Hubbert in the 1950s. All oil fields are observed to peak and decline in output; the same process happens with entire nations. Global oil production will peak at some point as well, after which a steady decline in global oil production will occur."

To answer the question:

"Forecasts for the timing of Peak Oil range from essentially now until around 2030. Currently only about 1 barrel of oil is being discovered for every 5 or 6 extracted, and according to ChevronTexaco, 33 of the 48 significant oil-producing nations worldwide are experiencing declining production."