NPR.org – Experts Ponder Peak of Global Oil Production

Morning Edition, May 2, 2006 – Six years into the 21st century, the United States and the world remain heavily dependent on the fuel that powered the last 100 years: oil. President Bush has gone so far as to call that dependence an “addiction.”

With crude-oil prices hovering at or above $70 a barrel, more people are looking for alternative sources of energy. Others are asking how long existing sources will last.

…Forecasts for the future of oil production around the globe can vary widely. The Energy Department and energy analyst Daniel Yergin share an optimistic outlook that sees output continuing to increase for the next decade and beyond.

But author and analyst Matthew Simmons thinks that 10 years down the road, oil producers will be struggling to maintain today’s production levels.

NPR