[Markos101]

I've managed to blag my way onto BBC World TV for Talking Point at 2-3pm GMT on Sunday, badgering the OPEC Secretary-General (former research director) Dr Shihab-Eldeen about peak oil.

I'm going to him the following questions I think:

[1] You mention heavy oils, oil shales, tar sands, etc. (which he will and did last time), are you aware these sources are harder to obtain and therefore deliver you less net energy and are therefore not feasible replacements to conventional oil?
[2] Are you aware that your estimate of peak at 2035 (which he said last time, ha ha ha!) is far more optimistic than many well-quafied and experienced geologists who say peak will occur within the next 5-10 years, or perhaps has already?

Then I might mention gas being used for fertilisers, our entire social dependence in terms of cities on oil, feel free to make any comments! Plus third world population explosion from 2 billion to 6.5 billion piggybacked onto industrial agricultire, what are the repercussions for both declining net energy into the economy, plus a possible peak in food production at the same time?

Mark

[Battle_Scarred_Galactico]

I hope you're not expecting any well thought out replies, he's just going to rehash the same old crap responses, I admire you for trying though. Good luck.

[Markos101]

I think with a good arsenal of facts we can show him up. Here's another one:

- Why are Saudi Arabia exporting oil, and using their profits from sales to import solar panels from the countries buying their oil?

...
Mark

[Battle_Scarred_Galactico]

He won't be able to answer any of it, OPEC are so full of Expletive deleted. it's coming out their ears.

[Bandidoz]

Nice one, please let us know how you get on!

Perhaps mention the light sweet stuff peaking in 2004, and the problems with refining the "toffee".

Also perhaps make the obvious but overlooked point that there will be less of the more expensive stuff - people seem to think that there will be the same rate of production of expensive oil.....

[dunewalker]

Markos101, Good job!

In your first question:

"1] You mention heavy oils, oil shales, tar sands, etc. (which he will and did last time), are you aware these sources are harder to obtain and therefore deliver you less net energy and are therefore not feasible replacements to conventional oil?"

I would suggest adding the greatly increased monetary costs involved
to emphasize the unfeasibility. Expensive oil can never replace cheap oil.

[Bandidoz]

What happened with this?

[Markos101]

Hi Bandidoz,

I was on the phone for an hour, and had 30 seconds left. Unfortunately some engineer guys in particular spoke for far longer than was expected, so they didn't have time at the end!

Nevermind, perhaps BBC Question Time will be covering this soon, and I'll get on there.

Mark