Curmudgeon said:
Sure that might make oil more expensive but so what?

Well the so what is that if the oil gets to be more expensive than we
can afford it might as well not be there.
I keep hearing people say but technology will solve the problems and
gain access to the stranded oil. Unfortunately the techniques that are
usually given as new techniques have been in use for years.
Over the years they have managed to get recoverable oil from about 25% to 35%.

Our biggest problem will be in a world scramble to get supplies, will
we will be elbowed out of the market.
That could happen suddenly and would deny us the gradual transition time.

I have heard stories about there being plenty of oil everywhere.
One was that they have capped wells all over the outback.
At the current prices if there was anything worthwhile down there it
would be pumped up. It is part of the conspiracy theory regime in
company with 9/11 and similar legends.

I would like to know something of the politics involved in the Rundle oil production, & it's closure.

It was proven economic at A$70 a barrel, but the oil companies theoretically refused to buy it. The fact that it disappeared without even a ripple is surprising to say the least. I wonder if it is being held as a strategic reserve.

What ever the case, there is enough known oil under the Barrier reef at it's southern end to run Oz for 40 years. When the stuff really hits the fan, even our greenies will be screaming to extract it. That is of course, if we still have any say over what happens in our country.

I wonder who funds the Sustainable Transport Coalition? Who ever it is they would do well to make their claims a bit more realistic, if they want anyone other than the fringe to take them seriously.

Thank you that, Ben Rose.

It is a usefull aid to understanding the grave threat to Australias energy security .
Indeed , motorists must pay more to cover the real costs of their impacts. The reforms you propose will benefit taxpayers by encouraging more efficient transport and to pay for the expansion of bus, train and bicycle networks.( and I suggest electric bicycles and electric scooters)

Some, inacurate comments have been made on this list about peak Oil.

1. the energy watchdog (IEA Oct 1010 ) lifted its forecast for world oil consumption but played down fears that prices will top 100 US dollars a barrel. Global demand was expected to reach 86.9 million barrels a day in 2010 and 88.2 million barrels a day in 2011. The forecast, came with news of record Chinese imports in September 2010 of 5.52 million barrels/day.

2 . recent natural catashropies In Japan reduced their demand for oil . Political chaos in Lybia ended its oil exports and destroyed some oil wells .

3. Add this to Iraqs failure to develop it oil resourcess means that that the price of oil could reach US $ 150 . in Oct 2010 Iraqi oil minister, Hussein al-Shahristani announced an upward revision to the country's known capacity from 2.4 million barrels per day to 12 million bpd in seven years. Disputed by oil executives meeting at the Oil & Money conference in London (Oct 2010 ) as relying on the assumption of Iraqs political stability and well security. Iraqs future oil production in the next decade rests onshore resources which remain largely undeveloped.

4. Saudi Arabian leaders are so worried that demand for oil could peak in the next decade that they have callied for an economy that includes investment in renewable energy.

5 . The Production of much more gas by fracking deep rocks beneath the ground and retrofitting the worlds car fleet to use gas are 10 or more years away. Fracking rocks will contaminates ground water and threatens food production in most Australian states.

A number of organisations have expressed concern about oil production levels.
The German military think tank.
The US army.
The IEA and EIA.
Total Oil Company
Shell Oil Company
The British government has become nervous about future supply.
A number of others but the latest one is;
The IMF has produced a document World Economic Outlook in part of
which it discusses peak crude oil.

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/pdf/text.pdf

Most discussion such as we have here however do not take into account
what is known as the Export Land Factor.
The calculations that do, paint a very much worse future picture.
It takes into account that exporting countries will keep using as much
oil, or increasing amounts, eg Saudi Arabia, even while their total
production declines. Because of this their export quantity decreases
faster and faster than their depletion rate.

Yes Hasbeen, if indeed there is oil along the barrier reef I wonder
if there would be enough to make it worthwhile.
Certainly the first time the greenies have to queue for five hours to
get 20 litres of petrol, they will be demonstrating in the streets
with "Drill Baby Drill" signs.
Likewise the first time the power goes out in the middle of cooking
dinner they will be in the streets demanding nuclear power tomorrow !

As the IEA put it crude oil will never again exceed 76 million barrels a day.

Thanks for informed contributions by Bazz, Pest, Taswegian and Popnperish and others. Particularly good information on peak oil. Gives me faith that many (a majority?) are seeing the problems we face with these issues.

I do not have time or energy to argue with 'flat earthers'. I do recognize your right to express your opinion but it would be helpful if you would stick to the subject - the unsustainablity of current transport systems. Though it's off the subject, I will comment, Curmudgeon, on 'fracking'. You do not appear to be aware of the damage this is doing to aquifers in the US - a film was done on it recently - 'Gas Land'. You should see it. Coal seam methane is also a relatively small and short lived resource - nothing like the oil we've consumed in 50 years. Google the ASPO website and get some real information of peak oil / gas. You should also look at NASA, NOAA AND CSIRO websites, with key information such as the 'hockey stick' climate - CO2 graphs.

We have a choice - do we go with the most polluted, congested thrd world countries such as Indonesia, along with USA, Mexico and Canada and subsdize fuel? Or do we look to the enlightened European and other countries who have decreased reliance on cars? They did this by reforming taxation to stop encourging / subidizing destructive transport behaviours. Their fuel taxes cover the real costs (explained in my article) of ineffcient over-use of cars and wastage of motor fuel.

One pertinent question - who funds STCWA ? Nobody - the committee is all voluntary and mainly professionals working on energy, city planning, carbon accounting and peak oil. We all have cars but don't use them much. Some such as myself could in the past have been described as 'fuel heads'. However, on learning the truth I have seen the urgent and imperative need for change.

So Rosie, not only misinformed, but by your last post, arrogant with it.