Author Topic: what happens when there is no more gas?  (Read 5466 times)

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Offline DavePhipps

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what happens when there is no more gas?
« on: December 31, 2009, 07:37:14 PM »
From what  I've been reading lately, the worst case is we run out in 10  years best 50 years. Do we start running ethanol in our bikes or convert them to electric?

Along this same line of thought what will happen to our economy? Middle East will run out of money. Importing manufactured goods from china will be too expensive. Food prices will go up due to transportation costs. People that commute to their jobs 30-60 miles away will have a hard/expensive time getting to work. Any thoughts on this subject?
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Offline mlinder

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2009, 07:42:16 PM »
You're asking about fossil fuels. Sure, they might, sometime, become completely depleted.

That doesn't mean we aren't capable of creating combustable liquid or gas from organic material.

I mean, hell, look at 'Beyond Thunderdome'.

Lord knows we create enough refuse. Time to start turning it into energy.
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Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2009, 07:58:35 PM »
Uh, OK, I thought you meant "what happens when you run out of gas?" and the obvious answer was, "well, you push it......" ::)

But seriously, like Mark says, there'll always be something to run your engine on, during the war (WW2, where we whooped the Krauts, the Wops and the Japs so bad that they'll probably never recover culturally or financially..........) people fitted "gas producers" (basically a fire burning charcoal which produced a flammable gas) on the backs of their cars, and apart from the odd fiery death, life went on. ;D   
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2009, 08:01:58 PM »
I just read an article about a HUGE oil reserve somewhere near Montana, apparently it is the single biggest oil reserve on the planet but they are playing politics with it, you know , we will get more for it if we wait.... >:(  I will see if i can find it.  Its called the Bakken oil reserve

Quote
America is sitting on top of a super massive 200 billion barrel Oil Field that could potentially make America Energy Independent and until now has largely gone unnoticed. Thanks to new technology the Bakken Formation in North Dakota could boost America’s Oil reserves by an incredible 10 times, giving western economies the trump card against OPEC’s short squeeze on oil supply and making Iranian and Venezuelan threats of disrupted supply irrelevant.

In the next 30 days the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) will release a new report giving an accurate resource assessment of the Bakken Oil Formation that covers North Dakota and portions of South Dakota and Montana. With new horizontal drilling technology it is believed that from 175 to 500 billion barrels of recoverable oil are held in this 200,000 square mile reserve that was initially discovered in 1951. The USGS did an initial study back in 1999 that estimated 400 billion recoverable barrels were present but with prices bottoming out at $10 a barrel back then the report was dismissed because of the higher cost of horizontal drilling techniques that would be needed, estimated at $20-$40 a barrel.

It was not until 2007, when EOG Resources of Texas started a frenzy when they drilled a single well in Parshal N.D. that is expected to yield 700,000 barrels of oil that real excitement and money started to flow in North Dakota. Marathon Oil is investing $1.5 billion and drilling 300 new wells in what is expected to be one of the greatest booms in Oil discovery since Oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938.

just type into google..bakken oil reserve near montana....there is plenty of info there..

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3868


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Offline bill440cars

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2009, 08:08:40 PM »


       Sure, we should be somewhat concerned about this, but this isn't the first time that there has been concern about running out of gas. I've heard it several times, in MY lifetime and there are others who have heard it more than that. Like has been said, something will be done to take care of it. Besides, Lord only knows how much is out there, that hasn't even been touched (like also has been mentioned). 

       Wonder if the SOHC4s could be converted to Mopeds? ::) Just kidding ya there. ;)
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Offline mystic_1

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2009, 08:16:09 PM »
There will be fossil fuels available for a long time to come, just at an ever-increasing cost.  We've just exhausted the easily accessible reserves.

Still, time to start using something different.

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Offline mlinder

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2009, 08:18:14 PM »
I'm going to find a way to use my powers of deductive reasoning and logical though process to propel myself through a vacuum.
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Offline ofreen

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2009, 08:21:47 PM »
The gas "shortage" in 1973 brought about by the OPEC oil embargo freaked a lot of people out.  There were all kinds of doomsday scenarios put forth.  According to the conventional wisdom of the time, by now we should all be huddling in the cold and the dark, quivering while the wolves circled outside the cave.  Oh yeah, and don't forget the glaciers advancing from the north and south because of the new ice age they figured we were heading into back then.  

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Offline DavePhipps

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #8 on: December 31, 2009, 08:36:56 PM »
Things may not be as bad as some say, but at the pace I'm going, I will get  my 550 running just as we run out of gasoline. Also the thought of fermenting and distilling my own moonshine fuel is quite appealling to me.

If worse comes to worst, these don't seem too bad for a commuter

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« Last Edit: December 31, 2009, 08:47:47 PM by davephipps »
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Offline edbikerii

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2009, 08:47:33 PM »
Ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, LPG, whatever.

"Scarce oil" is a very popular theme to get people concerned over, though.  Been coming up for as long as I can remember.  The emotional & political appeal is very great, if you can manage to convince people to ignore how plentiful and cheap oil has proven to be.

We'll be just fine with or without oil.  We survived 8 million years before it was "discovered", and we have energy production and conservation technologies now that were completely unimaginable just 60 years ago.

Hell, if the world could survive on whale blubber for hundreds of years, then maybe liposuction will be our energy future!
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Offline bucky katt

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2010, 12:02:23 AM »
i'll just start distilling my own ethanol ;D
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Offline Peterbylt

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2010, 02:08:14 AM »
The easy answer is switch to ethanol. That requires a carburetion change.

Otherwise I guess we will just have to grow and crush a whole new crop of Dinosaurs.

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Offline bucky katt

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #12 on: January 01, 2010, 02:44:00 AM »
a change in the seal and hose materials and enlarging the jetting, you can then run a buttload more compression and/or advance. i have a couple spare sets of carbs.............this might be an interesting experiment if i get bored.
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #13 on: January 01, 2010, 02:47:31 AM »
The easy answer is switch to ethanol. That requires a carburetion change.

Otherwise I guess we will just have to grow and crush a whole new crop of Dinosaurs.

Peter

Ethanol isn't the answer hydrogen is, it is the most abundant fuel source on the planet and is almost zero emissions.....Ethanol is still poison when burnt and it takes up huge amounts of land that should be used for growing food......very poor choice of fuel..

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Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #14 on: January 01, 2010, 02:58:26 AM »
And the good thing is, you can make your own Hydrogen generator now!  ;D
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So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

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Offline demon78

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #15 on: January 01, 2010, 05:59:50 AM »
Well, dig up a copy of PE Irvings "Tuning for Speed" there are tables in it with jetting changes for alcohol if nothing else it's a starting place.
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Offline MRieck

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #16 on: January 01, 2010, 06:15:42 AM »
I just read an article about a HUGE oil reserve somewhere near Montana, apparently it is the single biggest oil reserve on the planet but they are playing politics with it, you know , we will get more for it if we wait.... >:(  I will see if i can find it.  Its called the Bakken oil reserve

Quote
America is sitting on top of a super massive 200 billion barrel Oil Field that could potentially make America Energy Independent and until now has largely gone unnoticed. Thanks to new technology the Bakken Formation in North Dakota could boost America’s Oil reserves by an incredible 10 times, giving western economies the trump card against OPEC’s short squeeze on oil supply and making Iranian and Venezuelan threats of disrupted supply irrelevant.

In the next 30 days the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) will release a new report giving an accurate resource assessment of the Bakken Oil Formation that covers North Dakota and portions of South Dakota and Montana. With new horizontal drilling technology it is believed that from 175 to 500 billion barrels of recoverable oil are held in this 200,000 square mile reserve that was initially discovered in 1951. The USGS did an initial study back in 1999 that estimated 400 billion recoverable barrels were present but with prices bottoming out at $10 a barrel back then the report was dismissed because of the higher cost of horizontal drilling techniques that would be needed, estimated at $20-$40 a barrel.

It was not until 2007, when EOG Resources of Texas started a frenzy when they drilled a single well in Parshal N.D. that is expected to yield 700,000 barrels of oil that real excitement and money started to flow in North Dakota. Marathon Oil is investing $1.5 billion and drilling 300 new wells in what is expected to be one of the greatest booms in Oil discovery since Oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938.

just type into google..bakken oil reserve near montana....there is plenty of info there..

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3868


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That's correct Mick....well over 2 trillion barrels of sweet crude. More oil than can be found in the entire Middle East.
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Offline tramp

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #17 on: January 01, 2010, 07:36:04 AM »
read an article last year about oil not being a fossil fuel
it is a natural occuring process othwerwise there were not enough bio material from millions of years ago to keep us in oil today
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Offline MCRider

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #18 on: January 01, 2010, 09:17:08 AM »
The gas "shortage" in 1973 brought about by the OPEC oil embargo freaked a lot of people out.  There were all kinds of doomsday scenarios put forth.  According to the conventional wisdom of the time, by now we should all be huddling in the cold and the dark, quivering while the wolves circled outside the cave.  Oh yeah, and don't forget the glaciers advancing from the north and south because of the new ice age they figured we were heading into back then.  

All I'm sure of is that things aren't likely to turn out like anyone thinks they will.

Yup, I remember the oil embargo, drove a truck for an auction for a while, spent some time in the ration lines.  10 years was what they were giving us back then. and here we are 35 years later with Goldman Sachs speculating on loaded oil tankers like poker chips.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125971361419772003.html

While i realize the current oil glut can be short lived, whenever the "peak oil" crowd gets the loudest, someone magically finds somemore.
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #19 on: January 01, 2010, 10:50:11 AM »
I just read an article about a HUGE oil reserve somewhere near Montana, apparently it is the single biggest oil reserve on the planet but they are playing politics with it, you know , we will get more for it if we wait.... >:(  I will see if i can find it.  Its called the Bakken oil reserve

Quote
America is sitting on top of a super massive 200 billion barrel Oil Field that could potentially make America Energy Independent and until now has largely gone unnoticed. Thanks to new technology the Bakken Formation in North Dakota could boost America’s Oil reserves by an incredible 10 times, giving western economies the trump card against OPEC’s short squeeze on oil supply and making Iranian and Venezuelan threats of disrupted supply irrelevant.

In the next 30 days the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) will release a new report giving an accurate resource assessment of the Bakken Oil Formation that covers North Dakota and portions of South Dakota and Montana. With new horizontal drilling technology it is believed that from 175 to 500 billion barrels of recoverable oil are held in this 200,000 square mile reserve that was initially discovered in 1951. The USGS did an initial study back in 1999 that estimated 400 billion recoverable barrels were present but with prices bottoming out at $10 a barrel back then the report was dismissed because of the higher cost of horizontal drilling techniques that would be needed, estimated at $20-$40 a barrel.

It was not until 2007, when EOG Resources of Texas started a frenzy when they drilled a single well in Parshal N.D. that is expected to yield 700,000 barrels of oil that real excitement and money started to flow in North Dakota. Marathon Oil is investing $1.5 billion and drilling 300 new wells in what is expected to be one of the greatest booms in Oil discovery since Oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938.

just type into google..bakken oil reserve near montana....there is plenty of info there..

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3868


Mick
That's correct Mick....well over 2 trillion barrels of sweet crude. More oil than can be found in the entire Middle East.

Yep, and he who has the Oil has the World by the Balls.   
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Offline Raul CB750K1

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #20 on: January 01, 2010, 11:16:22 AM »
There will be fossil fuels available for a long time to come, just at an ever-increasing cost.  We've just exhausted the easily accessible reserves.

Still, time to start using something different.

mystic_1

Correct. There are reserves already found, but not yet used, because the extraction cost is so high that it would be impossible to sell at a profit, at the actual cost.

When the easily-accessed reserves run out, we will start to use the hard-to-reach reserves and oil price will increase, that's it. We will get used to it as we have always done, and life will go on. I don't think it is reasonable to stop using fossil fuel just because someday it will run out. We will cross that bridge when we get to it.

Offline Alan F.

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #21 on: January 01, 2010, 11:52:42 AM »

Ethanol isn't the answer hydrogen is, it is the most abundant fuel source on the planet and is almost zero emissions.....Ethanol is still poison when burnt and it takes up huge amounts of land that should be used for growing food......very poor choice of fuel..

Mick

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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #22 on: January 01, 2010, 03:26:27 PM »
There will be fossil fuels available for a long time to come, just at an ever-increasing cost.  We've just exhausted the easily accessible reserves.

Still, time to start using something different.

mystic_1

Correct. There are reserves already found, but not yet used, because the extraction cost is so high that it would be impossible to sell at a profit, at the actual cost.

When the easily-accessed reserves run out, we will start to use the hard-to-reach reserves and oil price will increase, that's it. We will get used to it as we have always done, and life will go on. I don't think it is reasonable to stop using fossil fuel just because someday it will run out. We will cross that bridge when we get to it.

The oil reserves you refer to were expensive to get at with horizontal drilling when the world oil price was $10 US per barrel but now at 70+ a barrel it is easily profitable. The cost for extraction from the Bakken reserve is around 35-40 dollars a barrel, there is no excuse for not using this resource other than politics...

Mick
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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #23 on: January 01, 2010, 03:49:00 PM »
Personally I liked Castrol in my old hondas.  ;)

Offline DammitDan

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Re: what happens when there is no more gas?
« Reply #24 on: January 01, 2010, 04:26:52 PM »
Pfft, Montana is an ugly state anyway and it's not like anything actually LIVES there...  Let's drill the #$%* out of it because it's convenient!  ;)
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