Donate Bitcoin

Donate Paypal


PeakOil is You

PeakOil is You

THE Matthew Simmons Thread pt 3 (merged)

General discussions of the systemic, societal and civilisational effects of depletion.

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby shortonsense » Thu 09 Apr 2009, 09:18:24

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TonyPrep', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonsense', 'T')his is the guy [Matt Simmons] who said the Saudi's were toast, right?
No.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonsense', '5') years ago?
No.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonsense', 'H')e read some papers, somewhere, and decided that they told him the Saudi's couldn't do what they then went and did for half a decade?
No.


Must be another guy then.
User avatar
shortonsense
Permanently Banned
 
Posts: 3124
Joined: Sat 30 Aug 2008, 03:00:00

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby Roy » Thu 09 Apr 2009, 09:50:34

I think his predictions that haven't panned out -- some call it doomsaying -- have tarnished his credibility somewhat.

I don't question his credentials or that he is right in principle in much of what he says, particularly with regard to his assertions that oil related infrastructure worldwide is worn out or badly in need of maintenance.

I'm not saying he should know exactly when things are going to happen, only that he should tone down the "everything is going to go tits up tomorrow" talk.

That's all.
Roy
Expert
Expert
 
Posts: 1359
Joined: Fri 18 Jun 2004, 03:00:00
Location: Getting in touch with my Inner Redneck

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby seahorse2 » Thu 09 Apr 2009, 10:30:59

My layman's take? Oil/gas use has dropped very little for the individual car driver commuting here and there, and thus, traffic seems the same.

The big drop in oil usage is attributed to the housing crash. It takes a lot of energy to build a house. From start to finish, energy cutting the trees, energy transporting those trees to lumber mills, energy processing those trees into lumber, energy transporting that lumber to the box stores, energy taking that lumber to the job site, energy to put it up. That's just lumber and not ever pvc pipe and joint used in a typical house. Housing has been crushed and with it one of the biggest industries in the US, thus the drop in oil demand. Traffic is the same for the commuter, but an entire industry, very energy intensive, was crushed.
User avatar
seahorse2
Expert
Expert
 
Posts: 2042
Joined: Mon 18 Oct 2004, 03:00:00

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby TonyPrep » Thu 09 Apr 2009, 15:34:29

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Roy', 'I') think his predictions that haven't panned out -- some call it doomsaying -- have tarnished his credibility somewhat.
Which predictions are you referring to?
User avatar
TonyPrep
Intermediate Crude
Intermediate Crude
 
Posts: 2842
Joined: Sun 25 Sep 2005, 03:00:00
Location: Waiuku, New Zealand
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby rangerone314 » Thu 09 Apr 2009, 15:59:25

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 'W')hat you seem to be saying seahorse2 is that demand is not elastic (and there will be no demand destruction). If anything the unemployed will have more reason to drive around and use up petroleum. Looking for jobs, "getting out of the house" etc.


Our country is dependent on oil in someways like a diabetic is dependent on insulin.
An ideology is by definition not a search for TRUTH-but a search for PROOF that its point of view is right

Equals barter and negotiate-people with power just take

You cant defend freedom by eliminating it-unknown

Our elected reps should wear sponsor patches on their suits so we know who they represent-like Nascar-Roy
User avatar
rangerone314
Light Sweet Crude
Light Sweet Crude
 
Posts: 4105
Joined: Wed 03 Dec 2008, 04:00:00
Location: Maryland
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby TheDude » Thu 09 Apr 2009, 16:07:50

YOY the Western US drove more in January. The crimp in demand is primarily from industrial use it seems.

I agree with Roy that Matt should can it, as in his predicting imminent nationwide shortages post-Ike due to refinery outages. Or he was sincere and didn't realize how much finished product import capacity was on tap. But even then he should know that PADD 5 wouldn't be affected by the SE's situation, unless the KM pipelines crossing the SW shipping fuel to AZ/NM were shut down - which wouldn't necessarily be a problem for Washington or Oregon.
Cogito, ergo non satis bibivi
And let me tell you something: I dig your work.
User avatar
TheDude
Expert
Expert
 
Posts: 4896
Joined: Thu 06 Apr 2006, 03:00:00
Location: 3 miles NW of Champoeg, Republic of Cascadia

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby TonyPrep » Thu 09 Apr 2009, 16:17:57

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'I') agree with Roy that Matt should can it, as in his predicting imminent nationwide shortages post-Ike due to refinery outages
Did he actually predict that? He usually talks about probabilities, given certain scenarios. However, he did make a bet about oil prices a few years down the line but I can't think of a specific prediction he made for a time now passed.
User avatar
TonyPrep
Intermediate Crude
Intermediate Crude
 
Posts: 2842
Joined: Sun 25 Sep 2005, 03:00:00
Location: Waiuku, New Zealand
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby threadbear » Thu 09 Apr 2009, 18:59:12

It was Richard Simmons, or Gene Simmons, not Matt Simmons. Which goes to show you, you should never rely on aging rock stars or cry-baby fitness gurus for vital geologic or economic info. I think we've ALL learned a very important lesson! :lol:
User avatar
threadbear
Expert
Expert
 
Posts: 7577
Joined: Sat 22 Jan 2005, 04:00:00

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby shortonsense » Thu 09 Apr 2009, 20:38:11

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TonyPrep', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'I') agree with Roy that Matt should can it, as in his predicting imminent nationwide shortages post-Ike due to refinery outages
Did he actually predict that? He usually talks about probabilities, given certain scenarios.


This must be the right Simmons.

When asked if there was a solution, Simmons is quoted as having said,

"I don't think there is one. The solution is to pray. Under the best of circumstances, if all prayers are answered there will be no crisis for maybe two years. After that its a certainty."

He was quoted saying this in August, 2003.

We are now almost 4 years past his CERTAINTY, peak oil has happened twice and the crisis consisted of the return to happy motoring.

Somehow, I don't think you can hide bad predictions behind "probability" when the quoted author happens to be CERTAIN. Something about those two not mixing well.....
User avatar
shortonsense
Permanently Banned
 
Posts: 3124
Joined: Sat 30 Aug 2008, 03:00:00
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby TonyPrep » Fri 10 Apr 2009, 03:26:41

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonsense', 'W')hen asked if there was a solution, Simmons is quoted as having said,

"I don't think there is one. The solution is to pray. Under the best of circumstances, if all prayers are answered there will be no crisis for maybe two years. After that its a certainty."

He was quoted saying this in August, 2003.
Fair enough, though it depends on what he meant by crisis. We started to see the beginning of the oil production plateau in 2005, with production barely moving since then. That could be seen as a crisis, though most people seemed to ignore it, except to increasingly call for more production from the Saudis and the opening up of areas previously off-limits.

I hadn't read that quote before so maybe he's been a bit more circumspect since then. One incident, however, hardly blasts his credibility. If that were so, people like Dan Yergin would be unable to hold down a job and no economist would get invited on TV to explain the behaviour of the markets.
User avatar
TonyPrep
Intermediate Crude
Intermediate Crude
 
Posts: 2842
Joined: Sun 25 Sep 2005, 03:00:00
Location: Waiuku, New Zealand
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby mos6507 » Fri 10 Apr 2009, 10:17:01

mos6507
 

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby shortonsense » Fri 10 Apr 2009, 20:23:28

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TonyPrep', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonsense', 'W')hen asked if there was a solution, Simmons is quoted as having said,

"I don't think there is one. The solution is to pray. Under the best of circumstances, if all prayers are answered there will be no crisis for maybe two years. After that its a certainty."

He was quoted saying this in August, 2003.
Fair enough, though it depends on what he meant by crisis.


Of course. Undoubtedly when he said crisis he meant "prices will crash and we'll have so much oil that billion dollar tankers will be randomly cruising around as portable storage waiting for prices to rise enough to make it worthwhile to dock and unload their cargo's...hopefully within a year or two."

Come on Tony, do you really believe when he used the word "crisis" he meant anything remotely resembling what has happened?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TonyPrep', '
')
We started to see the beginning of the oil production plateau in 2005, with production barely moving since then. That could be seen as a crisis, though most people seemed to ignore it, except to increasingly call for more production from the Saudis and the opening up of areas previously off-limits.


So the crisis is lack of demand rather than lack of supply? That doesn't seem to be what peaking is all about, it strikes me that the very definition of peak

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil

"Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached"....precludes some notion of what demand is ( I DEMAND A MILLION DOLLARS!! ).

And I'll bet that climate changers think lack of demand, OR supply, is quite an EXCELLENT thing, certainly not a crisis in their eyes, if they had a choice they would probably CHOOSE it for the rest of us.




$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TonyPrep', '
')One incident, however, hardly blasts his credibility. If that were so, people like Dan Yergin would be unable to hold down a job and no economist would get invited on TV to explain the behaviour of the markets.


I think all the talking heads are full of crap. Simmons, Yergin, the IEA and EIA, the entire gang is suspect.
User avatar
shortonsense
Permanently Banned
 
Posts: 3124
Joined: Sat 30 Aug 2008, 03:00:00
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby Lolberg » Fri 10 Apr 2009, 21:44:31

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TonyPrep', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', 'I') agree with Roy that Matt should can it, as in his predicting imminent nationwide shortages post-Ike due to refinery outages
Did he actually predict that? He usually talks about probabilities, given certain scenarios. However, he did make a bet about oil prices a few years down the line but I can't think of a specific prediction he made for a time now passed.


1. The bet was for $5,000 with some journalist that oil would hit $200 before December 2012.

2. I in 2007 when the EIA would make predictions about future oil prices and they would get it wrong- consistently. They were ridiculed on this board for this and it was used to imply that they have no ability to forecast other things, like the timing of peak oil and potential future outputs. Well... now it seems that Simmons gets the price massively wrong. He didnt see $37 oil coming. Does this mean he is wrong about everything and should be ridiculed the way the EIA was? This is the thing I have noticed- people can be just as close minded as the people they criticize for being close minded!
Lolberg
Wood
Wood
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat 21 Mar 2009, 14:48:57
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby shortonsense » Fri 10 Apr 2009, 21:52:58

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '[')url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=akpmrbF4lZtQ&refer=europe]Simmons' 6-9 month superspike prediction is looking mighty unlikely of late.[/url]

The boy may be cryin' wolf again.


Take a commodity in any semblance of a free market. ALWAYS claim that the price will go up. You will be right probably as often as you are wrong. ALWAYS claim that the price will go up, and during a price runup, such as oil early in 2008, you are golden!!

Of course, that which goes up, almost certainly will at some point come down. This concept of price being dependent on supply AND demand, is what flumuxes up the entire "peak oil will cause farmers not to be able to afford fuel, they won't farm, everyone else starves" angle, but it means that someone like Simmons can be golden during a runup, and whatever the alternative is when he gets bitten by the same basics. How someone with his resume gets caught out on something so basic leads me to believe that its a sham, he has a vested interest of some sort which is served when prices go up, or people can be CONVINCED by the likes of him that they will continue going up.

Call me crazy, but follow the money I always say.
User avatar
shortonsense
Permanently Banned
 
Posts: 3124
Joined: Sat 30 Aug 2008, 03:00:00
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby mos6507 » Sat 11 Apr 2009, 06:10:31

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonsense', '
')Call me crazy, but follow the money I always say.


"Simmons & Company is the only independent investment bank specializing in the entire spectrum of the energy industry."

There's your conflict of interest.

For that matter, Schiff has a conflict of interest, as he plugs foreign investment, right?
mos6507
 
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby shortonsense » Sat 11 Apr 2009, 10:21:55

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('shortonsense', '
')Call me crazy, but follow the money I always say.


"Simmons & Company is the only independent investment bank specializing in the entire spectrum of the energy industry."

There's your conflict of interest.


But of course. Thats just the obvious one, then we have the book sales, the ego feeding which must go on on the talking head circuit, the semi-righteous belief in a worthy cause, what it must feel like to think that you are the Pied Piper of your generation, doing good for all mankind, sounding the klaxon call to save the country/earth/solar system/universe.

How dare basic economic theory, the free market, Boone Pickens, or the changing behavior of Americans driving habits get in the way of ANY of those!

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '
')For that matter, Schiff has a conflict of interest, as he plugs foreign investment, right?


I can't say the value of what any particular stock broker says is particularly relevant to much of anything. I would think that watching about 5 minutes of Cramers show would cure anyone of that assumption.
User avatar
shortonsense
Permanently Banned
 
Posts: 3124
Joined: Sat 30 Aug 2008, 03:00:00
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby shortonsense » Sat 11 Apr 2009, 17:32:29

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '
')
On the other hand people do care about his book because it is an impressive piece of scholarly scientific research.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Amazon', ' ')Parts 3 and 4 contain [b]analysis of Saudi Arabia's oil and gas industry based on the technical papers published by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.


You'll forgive the actual reservoir engineers for having been forced to debunk Mr Simmons scholarly accounting experience.

http://www.ceri.ca/Publications/documents/GoE_Oct05.pdf

What was it that Mike Lynch said? If you want to know something about reservoir engineering, you don't ask an accountant? Seems like the "scholars" have already chipped in, but then, I don't confuse Amazons book review opinions with the actual professionals within a given field.

I don't suppose you can reference any engineering departments in the entire country which use Simmons work as scholarly reference in the classroom versus, say, the actual reservoir engineers who panned his book?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PStarr', '
')
Now I actually did read the book. Imagine that? I paid money, opened the pages, and sat back, read, considered, analyzed, questioned, and discussed the implications here and on other sites. Have You Shortonbrains, Mossie, or Lolberg?


So let me see if I understand this....now the validity of Simmons book is based on you having been lured into buying it, reading it, and deciding it was an accurate portrayal of scholarly work?

Versus the opinion of the actual experts in the particular field?

Call me crazy but I have to ask...do you have any particular credentials that allow you to make such a statement in dispute of recognized experts in the area?

You wouldn't happen to be a reservoir engineer, worked for a major oil company or consulting firm as one, taught it in a college or done anything else remotely similar within the industry which might give you a leg up on this actual engineer's opinion of Simmons work?

I have no objection to listening to all evidence on the topic, if you have more to add from your personal experience?
User avatar
shortonsense
Permanently Banned
 
Posts: 3124
Joined: Sat 30 Aug 2008, 03:00:00
Top

Re: Why Simmons is Wrong about Peak Oil

Unread postby mos6507 » Sat 11 Apr 2009, 18:08:14

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '
')Now I actually did read the book. Imagine that? I paid money, opened the pages, and sat back, read, considered, analyzed, questioned, and discussed the implications here and on other sites. Have You Shortonbrains, Mossie, or Lolberg?


Matt is fine when he talks in generalities about the future, but he's got to stop making very specific short-term predictions otherwise he's just as bad as Cramer. Even worse because Matt runs an investment firm himself so he is soliciting business directly for himself.
mos6507
 
Top

PreviousNext

Return to Peak Oil Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests