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Why oil prices are at a record high

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General interest discussions, not necessarily related to depletion.

Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby Armageddon » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 19:10:55

Demand can outstrip supply, it will result in higher prices and shortages. . Consumption can't outstrip supply ( unless you have stockpiles to draw from ). Demand outstripping supply simply means there are more people wanting something than there is of that particular item. This happens every christmas for the gadget of the year.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby smallpoxgirl » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 19:46:13

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DantesPeak', 'W')ell demand can't exceed supply in the long term. But demand has exceeded supply for the last year or so, causing inventories worldwide to run down. What will happen is that we will reach a point where demand has overshot supply, and we could get something like a forced 5% drop in demand almost overnight.


Unless I slept through something important in high school econ, the idea is supposed to be that demand and supply are tied together by price. When demand is high, price goes up. When price increases, demand goes down, and marginal supplies become profitable so supply goes up. When demand=supply, the price should stabilize. With price controls of course, demand can keep going up unchecked leading to shortages.

If demand is exceeding supply, then it sort of begs the question of why isn't the price rising fast enough to keep it in check? "A forced 5% drop in demand", if I'm not mistaken, would be otherwise known as a price spike.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby Revi » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 19:51:03

I checked out Matt Simmons on the supply. He is scary as always, but very informative. We saw him at the screening of End of Suburbia in Rockland, Maine a couple of years ago. He was deadpan, but kept insisting that we needed to inventory the world's remaining oil and get a plan B. He understands what's going on...

Check out this piece on the sinking dollar. Roberts is great. He talks about the run up in the price of oil, and the fact that there isn't enough being discovered. He says buy agricultural stocks. I am thinking that the next thing I'm getting is a bit of agricultural land. (or a piece of good garden soil at least)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXhqYyOdBXo
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby Revi » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 20:11:12

Oil prices are at an all time high because everybody wants it, and there's not enough around. The dollar tanking doesn't help either.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby bonehead » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 20:20:04

Don't forget about one of the seven deadlies,Greed.I'm sure there's plenty of that going on too.It's human nature,after all..............
Gimme some demand destruction.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby DantesPeak » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 20:31:16

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DantesPeak', 'W')ell demand can't exceed supply in the long term. But demand has exceeded supply for the last year or so, causing inventories worldwide to run down. What will happen is that we will reach a point where demand has overshot supply, and we could get something like a forced 5% drop in demand almost overnight.


Unless I slept through something important in high school econ, the idea is supposed to be that demand and supply are tied together by price. When demand is high, price goes up. When price increases, demand goes down, and marginal supplies become profitable so supply goes up. When demand=supply, the price should stabilize. With price controls of course, demand can keep going up unchecked leading to shortages.

If demand is exceeding supply, then it sort of begs the question of why isn't the price rising fast enough to keep it in check? "A forced 5% drop in demand", if I'm not mistaken, would be otherwise known as a price spike.


That's about what I meant; I could have explained it better.

Demand, or more specifically consumption, is exceeding available supplies. When world inventories get to the point where they can't be run down anymore, I estimate consumption will exceed supply about 5% at that time. Once we reach the lowest levels of working inventories, consumption must snap back to available supply levels.

Of course, oil and product supplies are widely distributed and unequal throughout the world. All supplies won't run low at the same time/ So there will be a rapid price adjustment phase as various kinds of supplies run out, and there is a scramble to replace them.

I am not yet willing to say the real scramble has begun; the offical start will be when US gasoline or diesel supplies run below minimum operational levels on a nationwdie basis.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby threadbear » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 20:37:08

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DantesPeak', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mkwin', '
') Even a sudden 10% drop in US oil consumption would, however, only represent a drop of consumption of 2 million barrels or a little over 2% of global consumption. Hardly enough to bring the declining supply and demand back in line.


The price of oil at the American pump has yet to reflect the price per barrel. Seems like big Oil has more pricing power, at the refinery and marketing level, than previously thought. But that's a whole other rant.

Once gasoline hits 5 bucks a gallon, American consumption will drop much much more than 10%. You'll be looking at a 30% drop, followed by another 20% drop, that will keep gasoline in a range of 5 to 7 dollars per gallon, provided the dollar doesn't swan dive too much further.

Fortunately, I remember the 70's and early 80's. It was sooo slooooooowwwww. Play an Alvin and the Chipmunks single on an old stereo at 45 rpm--that's today. Now play it on 33 revolutions per minute--that's the late 70's, early 80's. Now take it to 17 rpms. That's what the future is going to look like. A lot of people hanging out, not doing much....slow...... They sure won't be driving. Hell, they'll have trouble staying awake, after the cheap oil and caffeine frenzied life they're accustomed to is terminated.

The slowdown is going to be global, so count on demand plummeting, in tandem with supply, or outpacing a drop in supply.


Well demand can't exceed supply in the long term. But demand has exceeded supply for the last year or so, causing inventories worldwide to run down. What will happen is that we will reach a point where demand has overshot supply, and we could get something like a forced 5% drop in demand almost overnight.

However this has nothing to do with some worldwide oil/gasoline conspiracy you keep alluding to.


Opec is not conspiracy, it's a cartel. Refiner's cooperating to keep their margins thin, for political reasons--that's cartel policy too. Gasoline price is based on a number of factors--not just geological depletion. It's an election year, big Oil refiners are going to keep gasoline prices as low as they can.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby Armageddon » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 20:41:18

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DantesPeak', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DantesPeak', 'W')ell demand can't exceed supply in the long term. But demand has exceeded supply for the last year or so, causing inventories worldwide to run down. What will happen is that we will reach a point where demand has overshot supply, and we could get something like a forced 5% drop in demand almost overnight.


Unless I slept through something important in high school econ, the idea is supposed to be that demand and supply are tied together by price. When demand is high, price goes up. When price increases, demand goes down, and marginal supplies become profitable so supply goes up. When demand=supply, the price should stabilize. With price controls of course, demand can keep going up unchecked leading to shortages.

If demand is exceeding supply, then it sort of begs the question of why isn't the price rising fast enough to keep it in check? "A forced 5% drop in demand", if I'm not mistaken, would be otherwise known as a price spike.


That's about what I meant; I could have explained it better.

Demand, or more specifically consumption, is exceeding available supplies. When world inventories get to the point where they can't be run down anymore, I estimate consumption will exceed supply about 5% at that time. Once we reach the lowest levels of working inventories, consumption must snap back to available supply levels.

Of course, oil and product supplies are widely distributed and unequal throughout the world. All supplies won't run low at the same time/ So there will be a rapid price adjustment phase as various kinds of supplies run out, and there is a scramble to replace them.

I am not yet willing to say the real scramble has begun; the offical start will be when US gasoline or diesel supplies run below minimum operational levels on a nationwdie basis.


Any guess to when the US runs below MOL ?
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby DantesPeak » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 20:47:09

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Armageddon', '
')Any guess to when the US runs below MOL ?


In 2008.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby DantesPeak » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 20:54:52

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '
')Opec is not conspiracy, it's a cartel. Refiner's cooperating to keep their margins thin, for political reasons--that's cartel policy too. Gasoline price is based on a number of factors--not just geological depletion. It's an election year, big Oil refiners are going to keep gasoline prices as low as they can.


It's not election time in the US, and presidential elections are still far away.

Anyway, the time for debating various aspects of PO is nearly over - we're going downhill from here, like it or not. Light sweet crude oil peaked out in 2005, with negative permenent effects on the supplies and availability of gasoline and diesel.
It's already over, now it's just a matter of adjusting.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby threadbear » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 21:10:28

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DantesPeak', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '
')Opec is not conspiracy, it's a cartel. Refiner's cooperating to keep their margins thin, for political reasons--that's cartel policy too. Gasoline price is based on a number of factors--not just geological depletion. It's an election year, big Oil refiners are going to keep gasoline prices as low as they can.


It's not election time in the US, and presidential elections are still far away.

Anyway, the time for debating various aspects of PO is nearly over - we're going downhill from here, like it or not. Light sweet crude oil peaked out in 2005, with negative permenent effects on the supplies and availability of gasoline and diesel.


Whoa boy. We haven't begun to debate. It's important to be clear about the degree of threat we're facing here. I agree that we have likely reached geological peak, but here's a question. If it turns out that the situation has been made much worse by political manipulation, and inaction, what's the biggest threat, peak oil, or rampant corruption and abuse of power?

As far as the elections not being a factor here--if prices creep up too high, that's a huge campaign issue, guaranteeing screams for windfall profit taxes. High gasoline prices , in tandem with an economic meltdown will also encourage the nuclear industry to wrestle concessions and subsidies out of govt. to build more and more nuke plants. Big Oil could be flattened, put right out of business.

These weren't such big issues before, so the spread between gasoline price and oil price was much wider. Now, the refiners will be doing everything in their power to keep prices as low as possible.

My point is, the oil companies had far more pricing power in the past than you and your cronies pouring over the entrails of infrastucture and supply would entertain--and that was accomplished by what you affectionately call "conspiracy" and what most other people call, "business as usual".
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby Graeme » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 21:52:37

$100 oil: the terrible truth

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')ll the evidence suggests we are rapidly approaching "peak oil", the point when global production goes into terminal decline for geological reasons. The industry consensus is that world output, excluding that from the Opec producers, will peak in about 2010. It is also widely agreed that Opec has grossly exaggerated the size of its reserves, meaning that global output must also peak soon.

Oil executives have traditionally avoided talk of geological constraints - no doubt mindful of the value of their share options - but now even they admit the industry is in difficulty. A growing number believe output will never exceed 100m barrels per day, compared with 86m today. At present rates of growth, demand will hit that ceiling within about a decade.


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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby threadbear » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 22:25:59

How can anyone say that govts will be blindsided by energy shortages? Am I crazy? Does anyone else see what's abundantly clear to me, here? The corporatocracy will squeeze every last cent they can out of diminishing oil supplies, people will start to panic, and then they will have the "grass roots, eco-mandate" they desire, to build nuke plants. Saves them a lot of hassle with protesters and NIMBYs. If people are freaked out enough, they'll have a further mandate to build the plants using tax dollars along the lines of Public/Private partnerships.

This is what makes me laugh about a lot of peakers. They honestly think the greedy, malignant bastards that run the world aren't all over the peak problem like a wet blanket? Come on!

Check out the date of this article. Do you think maybe the U.S is headed in the same direction? I do.


BBC--Tony Blair on nukes-November 29, 2005

The government is to announce a review of energy policy, including nuclear power, after being urged by business leaders to tackle the UK energy crisis.

Concerns have been growing over future power supplies and rising gas costs.

The BBC's Nick Robinson said despite the prime minister's support, no decision has yet been made on Britain's nuclear future.

Tony Blair's spokesman said: "The prime minister's view is that we need to look at all the options and everybody knows that is what we are going to do."

He said it was important to look at it in terms of the UK's energy security and also "in terms of climate change".


HAVE YOUR SAY
More modern nuclear power stations are certainly the way ahead for many reasons
Roger Cope, Burton upon Trent

Send us your comments
Experts respond
Government Chief Scientist Sir David King told the BBC that a "fresh look" was needed at the situation but denied that any firm decisions had been made ahead of the review.

"My advice has been clear for some time, but I don't believe that decisions have been made, " he said.

Earlier he had urged the government to "give the green light" to more power stations.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4454468.stm
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby Twilight » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 22:26:50

Great article, thanks for linking. No point buying the paper tomorrow. :lol:

I'm liking this. I'm hoping the Guardian has the interest to grab hold of this issue and pursue it with even a quarter of the intensity with which the Independent has been banging the climate change drum.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby Graeme » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 22:28:40

John Browne on the Future of Energy

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')irst, there is high fossil fuel prices—caused by the coincidence of strong demand and several factors on the supply side, not least a dramatic increase in oil and gas production costs and disciplined OPEC policymaking. Second, there is growing concern about energy security. Fears about short-term supply disruptions and Peak Oil are greatly exaggerated.

But oil and gas resource concentration is real and is leading to geopolitical friction, as some countries use their energy riches as an instrument of foreign policy.


But then on page three he says:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')s businesses become ever larger and more international, they are increasingly coming into contact with some of the world's most challenging issues. Climate change, poverty, human-rights abuses, the depletion of natural resources.


oops

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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby Twilight » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 22:46:48

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', 'H')ow can anyone say that govts will be blindsided by energy shortages? Am I crazy?

Because they are people like you and me, threadbear. They got qualified in one thing the same as everyone else, but unusually, their jobs depend on giving everyone they address the impression they have a grip on the subject of the moment. An obsolete finance degree here, a classics degree there, a headhunted trade union activist elsewhere... and most of them are asked to do a different job every couple of years. Pretend you care about healthcare. Now pretend you care about the environment. Now pretend you care about agriculture. Ooh, here comes another reshuffle. Come on, do you think you could be promoted over your earned competence to a strategic level in one economic sector after another, and be worthy of those roles? I hope not. They improvise and they fuck up, regularly.

They will be blindsided by energy shortages, yes. They will ask for a briefing only when they realise they need one. As usual, only when they encounter a problem new to their experience, for which they need advisors. Not pre-emptively. As needed.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', 'T')his is what makes me laugh about a lot of peakers. They honestly think the greedy, malignant bastards that run the world aren't all over the peak problem like a wet blanket? Come on!


Those who understand, will run and hide. Those who have to ask, will be too late. Some may indeed try to change things. Their attempts are doomed to be half-assed, as they are working with a machine that doesn't want to know about it. Ironically it's the same predicament the peak oil awareness/activist types are in.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', 'C')heck out the date of this article.

Zero progress on the ground. Zero. The contrast between their sense of urgency and ambient inertia will be unlike anything they have ever experienced.

The British system, I would characterise thus: an elected official uncertain which advisor's words to heed, and advisors competing to convince a fool. You are wrong to be impressed by this.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby threadbear » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 23:11:26

You could be right, Twilight. My guess is you're wrong, obviously. I'll lay bets that within a year, you will be reading about nothing but nukes and the groundwork will have begun to construct hundreds of them, in Britain, and the U.S. I'll send you a fruitbasket of your choosing, if I'm wrong. Furthermore, I'll admit I'm a complete fruitcake.

Nuclear Spin:

Welcome to NuclearSpin
The site has been expanded and updated in time for the British government’s second public consultation on its proposal to build a new generation of nuclear power stations that was launched in May 2007.
NuclearSpin was originally launched in response to the British Government’s 12-week consultation on energy in 2006. Earlier this year, the High Court ruled that the Government’s plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations were “unlawful” and the way it consulted with the public over the decision was “misleading, seriously flawed, manifestly inadequate and procedurally unfair”. Now the British Government is trying again with a new consultation exercise. [1] [2]
As like last time though, it seems the British government has already made up its mind. Months before the first consultation Blair convened a secret meeting at Chequers where informed sources have said that nuclear was given the green light.
Now, The Observer newspaper is reporting that Blair’s successor, Gordon Brown, will also support a new generation of nuclear plants in the UK. [3] What makes this decision politically sensitive, is that Gordon Brown has close family connections to the nuclear industry. His younger brother Andrew Brown works for EDF Energy, the UK subsidiary of EDF, which is one of the leading companies pushing for a nuclear rebuild programme in the UK.
The Labour Government is also speeding up the planning process, making it easier for nuclear power plants to be built. Planning Minister, Yvette Cooper has already had to fight off criticism of "nuclear cronyism" due to her father's links to the nuclear industry too.
So it seems the government has yet again made up its mind to build new nuclear plants, before the public consultation. So what, you might ask, is the actual point of the consultation, apart from the government being seen to be going through the motions of consulting the people. It could be argued it is pure spin.
To help people make up their own mind, NuclearSpin has been updated and expanded.
There are new sections on countries and regions, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, the EU, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom and United States;

http://www.nuclearspin.org/index.php/Main_Page
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby Twilight » Fri 23 Nov 2007, 23:28:40

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', 'I')'ll lay bets that within a year, you will be reading about nothing but nukes and the groundwork will have begun to construct hundreds of them, in Britain, and the U.S.

Incorrect timescale.

In a year, I will be reading about nothing but nuclear power stations. However, groundwork will not begin until the next decade and the UK will be fortunate to assemble the resources for a dozen. There is a lot to be done first, with constant potential for setbacks. Unfortunately the alleged omnipotence of the elites does not stretch this far.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby DantesPeak » Sat 24 Nov 2007, 01:49:22

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '
')My point is, the oil companies had far more pricing power in the past than you and your cronies pouring over the entrails of infrastucture and supply would entertain--and that was accomplished by what you affectionately call "conspiracy" and what most other people call, "business as usual".


I don't know who you are addressing here, or why you think most of the posters represent the energy industry. Aaron has shown that it appears that many in the energy industry are reading posts here at PO.com, and some of them post here, but most are ordinary people or do not work in the energy industry now.

No doubt that the energy industry has succeeded in getting many favorable tax and other benefits - but no blessing for a national conspiracy to control gasoline prices.
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Re: Why oil prices are at a record high

Postby threadbear » Sat 24 Nov 2007, 03:04:20

DPeak, The seven sisters collude with each other and they collude with govt. If you don't understand the corrupting force of oil money on the judicial, executive and legislative branches of govt, it's not my problem, but it could become your's. A meaningful discussion about the severity of diminishing supply and how it will play out, is a non-starter if you don't understand the political process/abscess.
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