[Sixstrings]

Was wondering the other day.. it seems like all our discussion is about peak oil as it pertains to energy -- but what about all the other things oil is used for? Plastics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, the list goes on and on.

One thing everyone pretty much agrees on is that the oil will literally "run out" one day. Yes, I know it's the decline that's the problem and it won't run out for good in our lfietimes -- but eventually, it will.

So that's what I was wondering about, what happens when it runs out for good. Is there any possible alternative to make plastics from? And drugs, pesticides, all that stuff?

And, does anyone know what percentage of oil goes to these non-energy uses? Is a shortage on the non-energy oil products not a problem until the far future, or will that happen sometime sooner on the downward slope?

[diemos]

Remember thermal depolymerization?

Organic feedstock can be converted into oil.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sixstrings', 'W')as wondering the other day.. it seems like all our discussion is about peak oil as it pertains to energy -- but what about all the other things oil is used for? Plastics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, the list goes on and on.

[TheAntiDoomer]

Fantastic as plastic gets organic
http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/gr ... 17tbs.html

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')n Altona company's innovative biodegradable packaging has made Marks & Spencer chocolate boxes guilt free.

A revolution in green packaging is being launched from a head office in Altona, as leading British retailer Marks & Spencer has announced that this Christmas its entire Swiss chocolate range will be sold in an innovative Australian company's biodegradable plastic trays.

[TWilliam]

I forget the source of the quote (read it years ago) but...

"Anything made from hydrocarbons can be made from carbohydrates."

[vtsnowedin]

Take a look at this chart from the EIA.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_p ... _pct_m.htm
Considering the percentage of oil consumption that is used in this category I would think that this is one of the last questions we will have to answer. What to replace highway and home heating fuel with is the first thing we need to be looking at.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '8')) Take a look at this chart from the EIA.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_p ... _pct_m.htm
Considering the percentage of oil consumption that is used in this category I would think that this is one of the last questions we will have to answer. What to replace highway and home heating fuel with is the first thing we need to be looking at.

[vision-master]

Is there any replacement for the non-fuel uses of oil? Yes of course. Figure it out boys.

[TWilliam]

The question here is whether or not we can make it more profitable than selling rich white women their own fat @sses back to them at $20 a bar...
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '[')img]http://exurbanpedestrian.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/tyler-durton-in-fight-club1.jpg[/img]

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '8')) Take a look at this chart from the EIA.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_p ... _pct_m.htm
Considering the percentage of oil consumption that is used in this category I would think that this is one of the last questions we will have to answer. What to replace highway and home heating fuel with is the first thing we need to be looking at.

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '8')) Take a look at this chart from the EIA.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_p ... _pct_m.htm
Considering the percentage of oil consumption that is used in this category I would think that this is one of the last questions we will have to answer. What to replace highway and home heating fuel with is the first thing we need to be looking at.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sixstrings', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '8')) Take a look at this chart from the EIA.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_p ... _pct_m.htm
Considering the percentage of oil consumption that is used in this category I would think that this is one of the last questions we will have to answer. What to replace highway and home heating fuel with is the first thing we need to be looking at.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', ' ')Could you not cut your driving by half if needed? couldn't any American if given a while to make the necessary adjustments.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', ' ')Could you not cut your driving by half if needed? couldn't any American if given a while to make the necessary adjustments.

[Ludi]

I'm just not buying it that most Americans will camp in City Park in order to keep their jobs. You have a lot more faith in our economy than I have. People don't seem to be adjusting very well to the crappy economy we have right now, I'm not convinced they will be investing in landfill mining and plant-based hydrocarbons when it gets even worse. But I guess, maybe, you don't think it will get worse with more expensive oil?

Dunno. Just not convinced is all. Wish I were. Just feeling kind of doomy today. It's probably this sinus infection I'm fighting (and nobody is showing up on my doorstep with free antibiotics).

[steam_cannon]

There is no great replacement, but oil for chemical purposes is a small slice of the pie and not a first priority thing to worry about. Oil will be available for chemical uses for a long time. Even if it's EROEI is 200% negative, it can still be mined for chemical feedstocks.

Though because it's already mined for energy with a positive EROEI, this subsidies the prices for many chemical feed stocks and makes plastics more affordable. So plastics and other chemicals will become more expensive and that is a problem. Fertilizer costs will continue to climb. But the biggest elephant in the room is "oil as fuel" since that's what it's mainly used for and the lifeblood that keeps society moving.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '.')..Lack of petrol meant the end of the war and the end of the Third Reich.
http://fossil.energy.gov/aboutus/histor ... story.html
http://www.americanforeignrelations.com ... power.html

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('steam_cannon', ' ')But the biggest elephant in the room is "oil as fuel" since that's what it's mainly used for and the lifeblood that keeps society moving.