Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe

Chapter 25: Earth Resources

Problem of the Week

Crude Oil Supplies – How long with they last?

Earth’s energy resources are classified as either renewable or nonrenewable. An example of a renewable resource is wood. Wood is renewable because trees can be planted, managed, and grown continuously to supply such items as building materials and paper. Examples of nonrenewable resources are fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil. Nonrenewable resources require long periods of time to form, and once used, there are no more reserves.

Fossil fuels are used to supply energy for many of our daily activities, such as producing electricity and transportation. The daily worldwide use of oil is approximately 64.2 million barrels. Multiply that by 365, and the yearly amount totals 23,443,000,000 barrels. One barrel holds 42 gallons.

Now, Check This Out:

If you click on the map of the world at http://www.bp.com/centres/energy/world_stat_rev/oil/reserves.asp, you will see the distribution of known, or proven, oil reserves as they are distributed worldwide. Proven oil reserves are generally considered to be the amounts geologists have discovered and petroleum engineers can pump out of the ground and into production. As we drill deeper and locate more deposits, this number could change. Because fossil fuels like oil are nonrenewable, the reserves are gone once they have been used up. It will take millions of years to form additional reserves.

Problem:

If there is no change in the rate at which we consume oil worldwide how long will these reserves last?

*Note: On the map, the unit is given in thousand million barrels. This is equivalent to billion barrels in the United States, so read 64.4 thousand million barrels as 64.4 billion barrels.

How many years of proven oil reserves are left?

Discussion Topics:

As you contemplate the information you have calculated, there are many positive and negative aspects to consider. We are definitely ready for a change in the resources we use to produce energy. Think about the following questions:

• Where are most of the proven oil reserves? How is this a political concern at this time?


• Will the current rate of oil consumption increase or decrease in the future? Why? How will this affect how long the oil reserves will last?


• How old will you be when the current proven oil reserves run out, and how might this affect your life at that time?


• Consider how long it takes oil to form, and how long it takes for these oil reserves to be used.