I just found out about PO tonight and had a long phone conversation with my wife about it. WOW! I consider myself intelligent and well educated, but it all makes sense. My wife agrees and we are now planning for the future. I am fortunate that we have money, so if the worst case senario does happen, we will survive.
I work in Alaska on the pipeline for the big 3...Exxon, BP, and C-P. My employer is a non-profit owned by the North-Slope oil producers to maintain the pipeline to Valdez and move the oil from Prudoe Bay to the tankers in Valdez. I have always believed that since everyone needs oil, my life would be secure. Man am I wrong.
Even the charts showing future oil production in Alaska rely heavily on future technology to increase our recoverable oil. But that technology won't be available until someone invents it. (Sometime around 2015, according to BP). Even then production will only last till about 2035 at the most. We are gearing up for a natural gas pipeline that should run from Prudoe Bay and through the Canadian Pipline to the midwest sometime around 2010. But that still holds to the same theories as PO. People will try to shift to using other non-renewable sources and they will run out shortly after.
There is a wealth of knowledge her that I must read through and learn and I look forward to sharing my thoughts and views with all of you.
PeakOil is You
Oil Company Employee on TAP
Oil Company Employee on TAP
by tarzan271 » Sat 29 Jul 2006, 03:29:16
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tarzan271 - Wood
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Re: Hello from an Oil Company Employee.
by Jack » Sat 29 Jul 2006, 07:28:03
Welcome to the board!
With your background in the industry, I'm sure you'll make an important addition to the dialog.
With your background in the industry, I'm sure you'll make an important addition to the dialog.
![[smilie=new_popcornsmiley.gif]](https://udev.peakoil.com/forums/images/smilies/new_popcornsmiley.gif "new_popcornsmiley")
- Jack
- Light Sweet Crude
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- Joined: Wed 11 Aug 2004, 03:00:00
Re: Hello from an Oil Company Employee.
by EnergyHog » Sat 29 Jul 2006, 08:21:29
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('tarzan271', 'I') just found out about PO tonight and had a long phone conversation with my wife about it. WOW! I consider myself intelligent and well educated, but it all makes sense. My wife agrees and we are now planning for the future. I am fortunate that we have money, so if the worst case senario does happen, we will survive.
I work in Alaska on the pipeline for the big 3...Exxon, BP, and C-P. My employer is a non-profit owned by the North-Slope oil producers to maintain the pipeline to Valdez and move the oil from Prudoe Bay to the tankers in Valdez. I have always believed that since everyone needs oil, my life would be secure. Man am I wrong.
Even the charts showing future oil production in Alaska rely heavily on future technology to increase our recoverable oil. But that technology won't be available until someone invents it. (Sometime around 2015, according to BP). Even then production will only last till about 2035 at the most. We are gearing up for a natural gas pipeline that should run from Prudoe Bay and through the Canadian Pipline to the midwest sometime around 2010. But that still holds to the same theories as PO. People will try to shift to using other non-renewable sources and they will run out shortly after.
There is a wealth of knowledge her that I must read through and learn and I look forward to sharing my thoughts and views with all of you.
I work in Alaska on the pipeline for the big 3...Exxon, BP, and C-P. My employer is a non-profit owned by the North-Slope oil producers to maintain the pipeline to Valdez and move the oil from Prudoe Bay to the tankers in Valdez. I have always believed that since everyone needs oil, my life would be secure. Man am I wrong.
Even the charts showing future oil production in Alaska rely heavily on future technology to increase our recoverable oil. But that technology won't be available until someone invents it. (Sometime around 2015, according to BP). Even then production will only last till about 2035 at the most. We are gearing up for a natural gas pipeline that should run from Prudoe Bay and through the Canadian Pipline to the midwest sometime around 2010. But that still holds to the same theories as PO. People will try to shift to using other non-renewable sources and they will run out shortly after.
There is a wealth of knowledge her that I must read through and learn and I look forward to sharing my thoughts and views with all of you.
If someone with a Mechanical Engineering degree that has worked in the automotive industry for about 10 years wanted to move to Alaska, what are the odds that this person could find a decent paying job with an oil company?
Welcome to the peak oil forums. And by the way, if you're not already aware you should probably take a look at the peak economy we are entering partially as a result of peak oil (oil backs our money and effects the price of everything). Simply holding onto your cash or stocks/bonds/mutual funds will not be enough to get you by. If you want the full explanation, just let me know.
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EnergyHog - Lignite
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Re: Hello from an Oil Company Employee.
by tarzan271 » Sat 29 Jul 2006, 10:39:37
Thank you. I understand that the when the price of oil starts to increase at a faster pace, my 401k and IRA are going to pretty pointless. When we cant use our infrastructure to move goods, prices will not only climb sharply, but coumpanies will fail leading to a massive stock market devaluazation. The dollar and stocks and bonds will be worth little. But, we can prepare for the worst by buying goods and supplies that will help in case of catrastrophy. I can buy more land and prepare with a well planned out shelter and stockpile to help my family.
Talking to my wife last night, she said we should buy a lot of land since that is what people might need to survive. But if it gets grime where the government colapses and people are starving, owning land will mean little. If I am starving I wouldn't give a rat's behind if someone had a deed. I would squat and protect my camp with a weapon. Needless to say, I think owning 1000 acres with the intent of capitalizaing on the bleek future is pointless.
I think it is much wiser to buy remote land that will be of adaquate size to protect, yet provide for my family. Shelter, storage, and supplies can be bought ahead of time and secured in case needed on my "homestead".
EnergyHog, I think you would have a good chance at finding a job. Your best bet would be to check the following companies websites for openings but try to contact their HR directly instead of submitting over the internet. Not many people have luck with online application submissions. BP, Connoco-Phillips, Alyeska, Veco, ASRP, Nabors, and Calista to name the ones that come to mind. Also, ask the HR of the first 3 if they also know of any companies needing engineers. Educated and experienced employees are the hardest to find up here and since you are an engineer, I think you have a good chance. Pay would probably be somewhere from $30-60 and hour, but if you find a field schedual position like I have, you would work 2 weeks on (14 days at 12hr days), then get 2 weeks off. Every 4 weeks I get 80 hr. straight time and 88 hours overtime, making my base pay actually about 1.3x for an urban schedual employee becuase of the time and a half pay. Also, when on shift they provide your food and housing.
I wrote too much to proof-read, so bear with me.
Talking to my wife last night, she said we should buy a lot of land since that is what people might need to survive. But if it gets grime where the government colapses and people are starving, owning land will mean little. If I am starving I wouldn't give a rat's behind if someone had a deed. I would squat and protect my camp with a weapon. Needless to say, I think owning 1000 acres with the intent of capitalizaing on the bleek future is pointless.
I think it is much wiser to buy remote land that will be of adaquate size to protect, yet provide for my family. Shelter, storage, and supplies can be bought ahead of time and secured in case needed on my "homestead".
EnergyHog, I think you would have a good chance at finding a job. Your best bet would be to check the following companies websites for openings but try to contact their HR directly instead of submitting over the internet. Not many people have luck with online application submissions. BP, Connoco-Phillips, Alyeska, Veco, ASRP, Nabors, and Calista to name the ones that come to mind. Also, ask the HR of the first 3 if they also know of any companies needing engineers. Educated and experienced employees are the hardest to find up here and since you are an engineer, I think you have a good chance. Pay would probably be somewhere from $30-60 and hour, but if you find a field schedual position like I have, you would work 2 weeks on (14 days at 12hr days), then get 2 weeks off. Every 4 weeks I get 80 hr. straight time and 88 hours overtime, making my base pay actually about 1.3x for an urban schedual employee becuase of the time and a half pay. Also, when on shift they provide your food and housing.
I wrote too much to proof-read, so bear with me.
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tarzan271 - Wood
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Re: Hello from an Oil Company Employee.
by lorenzo » Sat 29 Jul 2006, 13:49:30
Hi and welcome to PO, it's interesting to learn more from you, since you know the industry (I'm surprized you didn't have to sign some kind of statement saying that you are not allowed to talk about the Big Secret of oil depletion - or something like that). 
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('tarzan271', 'P')eople will try to shift to using other non-renewable sources and they will run out shortly after.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('tarzan271', 'P')eople will try to shift to using other non-renewable sources and they will run out shortly after.
Maybe, but what we already know is that they are shifting massively to *renewable* sources. You know, the stuff that you plant, and you can keep planting it for 3 centuries. Or the wind turbines you see popping up everywhere every day of the week. "Renewable".
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('tarzan271', 'T')here is a wealth of knowledge her that I must read through and learn and I look forward to sharing my thoughts and views with all of you.
Take your time, and I'm sure that, since you're probably an intelligent person (else you wouldn't be working for an oil related company), you will pretty soon find out that Peak Oil is real, but that there are many solutions to it, and that there will not be an energy crisis of any sort.
The Beginning is Near!
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lorenzo - Intermediate Crude
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Re: Hello from an Oil Company Employee.
by tarzan271 » Sat 29 Jul 2006, 15:01:54
I will never talk about information that is not public. I am not in a leadership position, so all I know is what they tell everyone else. Although, I can use my observations, assumptions, research, and intuition to help me form some theories and possible conclusions. And I don't think oil depletion is a "big secret", but I feel people (such as myself) are ignorant of the outcome of oil depletion and the optimistic view of viable energy to replace our needs.
Alaska Oil Production
I was really optimistic about ethanol and how Brazil has become energy independant. I thought in the next 5-10 years we would see ethanol being produced near all major agracultural processing facilities. The waste and cellulose matter could be converted to ethanol. Corn or sugar beets won't work. We will never be able to grow enough for our energy needs, plus we would destroy our soil more than we already have. Ethanol will be the future in the short run, but our needs will quickly surpass our production. Countries like Brazil will be the furture of prosperity. Forward-thinking and flexible.
I have always believed a capitalist economy will fix itself via supply and demand and free market. But we have globalized our economy to relay on non-capitalist, shady countries and cheap oil. After PO, our economy will decline so fast that private enterprise will not have the time to develop solutions before our economy crashes. Eventually it will, but our current standard of living is bound to change in the near future and I believe will take at least 30-50 years to recouperate.
In a localized, self-sustaining economy we would be fine. Our great leaders have decided it is better to give us inexpensive goods so we can buy $39 DVD player and other crap we don't need. Because of this and our greed, we cannot support our own economy. We have lost almost all of our steel factories, timber, concrete, and manufacturing. It is cheaper to get it done elsewhere. We do have high paying technical jobs, but who the hell is going to care about the next version of Windows or the new iPod if they cant work or feed their families.
The so called jobs that American won't do, will soon be fought for. We are filling our work force with willing, hard wroking immigrants because we are too lazy to get off our fat asses and work. We would rather go to the movies, play a video game, or smoke a bowl than pursue the American dream by hard work. Immagrants are hungry and poor, so they will work. But when we need these jobs int he near future, good luck getting them back.
If you think you can continue to plant for 3 centuries with our increasing food and energy needs, you are mistaken. The middle east used to be Mesopotamia and the "Fertile Cresent". Look at it now. Look at the dust bowl in the midwest. Our commercial agriculture has far less nutrience in it htan it did 60 years ago. Just compare a free-ranged egg to a commercial egg. The commercial egg can barely be flipped in a pan without breaking and the yolk is much more plae compare to the firmness and deep yellow of a free-ranged egg. Since farmers are barely making ends-meet, they produce their land as much as they can. Yes they do rotate it and try to replenish the nutrience with ferilizers (i.e. oil), but the soil is much less fertile than it was in the mid-1900's. When the soil is less fertile, the crops have less nutrients, and that gets passed to our livestock and us.
Unfortunately I think a self-sustaining lifestyle or a totalitarian government are the only answer. I am a conservative Libertarian so I don't like my last conclusion. For me there is only one answer. I am 31 so by that time I will be done. All I care about now is my families future and well being. Hopefully we are all wrong, and the worst thing to happen being prepared with a nice self-sustaining summer cabin.
If anyone has any questions about the oil companies, I would be happy answer what I know. One big misconception is we set the prices or cut production. The commodities market and day traders in oil futures on Wall Street set the prices. We are pumping as fast as possible especially with oil at $75 a barrel. Wouldn't everyone want to sell more product when it is at an all time high? Of corse, but our production peaked on the North Slope around 1990 at 2 million BPD. Now we only pump 800k BPD. When they start the gas pipeline, crude production will almost stop due to the loss of ground pressure needed for the hard recoverable crude we now pump.
Damn, I going to go listen to some "happy music" to cheer up. Good day to all.
Alaska Oil Production
I was really optimistic about ethanol and how Brazil has become energy independant. I thought in the next 5-10 years we would see ethanol being produced near all major agracultural processing facilities. The waste and cellulose matter could be converted to ethanol. Corn or sugar beets won't work. We will never be able to grow enough for our energy needs, plus we would destroy our soil more than we already have. Ethanol will be the future in the short run, but our needs will quickly surpass our production. Countries like Brazil will be the furture of prosperity. Forward-thinking and flexible.
I have always believed a capitalist economy will fix itself via supply and demand and free market. But we have globalized our economy to relay on non-capitalist, shady countries and cheap oil. After PO, our economy will decline so fast that private enterprise will not have the time to develop solutions before our economy crashes. Eventually it will, but our current standard of living is bound to change in the near future and I believe will take at least 30-50 years to recouperate.
In a localized, self-sustaining economy we would be fine. Our great leaders have decided it is better to give us inexpensive goods so we can buy $39 DVD player and other crap we don't need. Because of this and our greed, we cannot support our own economy. We have lost almost all of our steel factories, timber, concrete, and manufacturing. It is cheaper to get it done elsewhere. We do have high paying technical jobs, but who the hell is going to care about the next version of Windows or the new iPod if they cant work or feed their families.
The so called jobs that American won't do, will soon be fought for. We are filling our work force with willing, hard wroking immigrants because we are too lazy to get off our fat asses and work. We would rather go to the movies, play a video game, or smoke a bowl than pursue the American dream by hard work. Immagrants are hungry and poor, so they will work. But when we need these jobs int he near future, good luck getting them back.
If you think you can continue to plant for 3 centuries with our increasing food and energy needs, you are mistaken. The middle east used to be Mesopotamia and the "Fertile Cresent". Look at it now. Look at the dust bowl in the midwest. Our commercial agriculture has far less nutrience in it htan it did 60 years ago. Just compare a free-ranged egg to a commercial egg. The commercial egg can barely be flipped in a pan without breaking and the yolk is much more plae compare to the firmness and deep yellow of a free-ranged egg. Since farmers are barely making ends-meet, they produce their land as much as they can. Yes they do rotate it and try to replenish the nutrience with ferilizers (i.e. oil), but the soil is much less fertile than it was in the mid-1900's. When the soil is less fertile, the crops have less nutrients, and that gets passed to our livestock and us.
Unfortunately I think a self-sustaining lifestyle or a totalitarian government are the only answer. I am a conservative Libertarian so I don't like my last conclusion. For me there is only one answer. I am 31 so by that time I will be done. All I care about now is my families future and well being. Hopefully we are all wrong, and the worst thing to happen being prepared with a nice self-sustaining summer cabin.
If anyone has any questions about the oil companies, I would be happy answer what I know. One big misconception is we set the prices or cut production. The commodities market and day traders in oil futures on Wall Street set the prices. We are pumping as fast as possible especially with oil at $75 a barrel. Wouldn't everyone want to sell more product when it is at an all time high? Of corse, but our production peaked on the North Slope around 1990 at 2 million BPD. Now we only pump 800k BPD. When they start the gas pipeline, crude production will almost stop due to the loss of ground pressure needed for the hard recoverable crude we now pump.
Damn, I going to go listen to some "happy music" to cheer up. Good day to all.
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tarzan271 - Wood
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- Joined: Sat 29 Jul 2006, 03:00:00
Re: Hello from an Oil Company Employee.
by TorrKing » Sat 29 Jul 2006, 16:24:46
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('tarzan271', 'O')ur great leaders have decided it is better to give us inexpensive goods so we can buy $39 DVD player and other crap we don't need.
Capitalism and the greed you mentioned is what have done this. There will always be leaders to follow any call.
Opposite Lorenzo, I believe in a pretty much doom-scenario (not as bad as Heineken though). Reason says that there is too much that can go wrong for everything to go right.
The biofuel thing could be a solution, but in my opinion the world at any given time is supposed to store alot of carbon to avoid Global Warming. So I believe any oil-replacement to be a dead-end. It will only make our world even more populated and make the resulting die-off even harder.
The human population needs a major cull now, before it is too late. And that will happen. Some reasons for that are:
- There is no energy as easily utilizable as oil. Soon there will not be enough for all of us.
- Change will probably come too quickly for modern people to be able to adjust sufficiently. It takes time to learn how to farm or other ways to subsist.
- Natural disasters (occuring ever more frequently) are today remedied by richer countries offering aid. Soon, noone will be rich enough (at least since what really matters is food) to be able to help them all.
- Agriculture in it's present state is about as far off from sustainability as one could emagine. Where are the old-time, natural seeds and farm animals that is dependable without modern machinery, pesticides and logistics?
My advice to you: Find a really remote location in Alaska (woods, not tundra) and use your money to re-import wood bison from Canada and try to breed as big a herd as you can on the time left. Then you have done yourself and the local eco-system a favour.
Torjus Gaaren
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TorrKing - Tar Sands
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