Can't believe the fuel has gone up again!!..I was wondering how much fuel in the world have we got left before it dries out completly..
I don't understand why us (member of the public) have been told to take it easy on the fuel while in the motorsport industry they are using it like mad take F1 for instance (what a pointless sport going round a track a million times)
Starman....
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F1 might be tedious and pointless going around in circles but what about Indy cars when they are on ovals?
There is enough oil in the world to see us out. China and Russia have large reserves that have not been tapped yet. There are also large deposits under the oceans but it is not economically viable to tap these (ie oil rigs can't reach them)
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When the oil dries out, we'll have to grow and harvest oil from algae. It'll also be cheaper than dino oil. We use dino oil for political reasons.
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So basically theres plenty more oil in the sea I suppose :-)
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Another good reason for Dubya to get control of Iraq....
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Starman
The changes in crude oil price have a relatively small effect on pump prices, as production costs are swamped by taxation. As for F1, I imagine it uses a miniscule proportion of the daily fuel consumption.
In respect of how long fuel will be available, it's not so much a question of what level of reserves exist, but what oil reserves are technically and economically available for extraction. Oil is free - it's extraction that costs money.
The first oil reserves exploited were those which naturally seeped from the ground, then shallow drilling in Pennsylvania found reserves which flowed naturally due to gas pressure from a hundred or so feet down. As these easily extractable reserves were depleted then deeper drilling became necessary, and more inhospitable areas were explored. The classic example is the North Sea which only became viable as oil prices rose. Any of these oil fields were only depleted to the limits of the available technology, and none have been emptied. Recently, it was announced that a small oil company, using very sophisticated directional drilling techniques, is to start work on the 'depleted' Argyll field in the North Sea.
So, it is perhaps no surprise that oil reserves have remained at 30 or 40 years. If any company had a 30 or 40 year horizon of resources, I suspect it would see no economic benefit in seeking to extend that horizon, and, as has been shown, it may be possible to return to the partially depleted field already abandoned. Other options are reserves such as 'tar sands', which are huge, but currently uneconomic.
The chances are, therefore, that increasing oil costs will enable the technology to extract oil from less accessible deposits, and to enable a greater proportion of the deposits to be extracted. Yes, it will eventually run out, but it would be a brave man who would put a date on that.
Regards
John
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I looked over alternative fuels a while ago. Biodiesel made from Rapeseed Oil seems fairly viable. Its something like 10% less efficient than regular diesel.
I think the figures that came up (cant remember whose or from where) were 1 hectare of Rapeseed would give you about 1300litres of biodiesel.John S wrote:
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And Gordon wants his feul duty on bio-fuel.
Grow your own rapeseed in your own field, process it and put it in your own vehicle and still pay duty.
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According to reports from Craig et al 1996: 159 there are more than 5000 years of shale oil reserves at present consumption rates.
By which time I suppose man's ingenuity will make it redundant.
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Has anyone got any experience or knowledge of the new Primera ? I have had a drive and it impressed me as being a very comfortable ride. Also, the CVT gearbox is very smooth, & the funky instruments promise hours of fun !!
But will it be a reasonably economical & reliable vehicle ? Any ideas on possible bad points ?
Hugh.
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Already mentioned that Filipino coconuts and sugar, of which there is more than anyone knows what to do with, AND they're renewable, can constitute up to 30% of regular fuel as currently consumed by automobiles. That's without any technological change in engines.
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Aircraft waste the most fuel.Wonder how much fuel the Red Arrows use during a display ?
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Why do you think we're sooo friendly to Saudi Arabia, (Execute your princess sir!). Altogether now. Because they've got the oil!!
It's not exactly rocket science is it.
Graham.
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I was in Ireland last week;Diesel 42p a litre;Tractor diesel 20p a litre.Kinell!
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Malaysia last week - 25p (yes 25p) per litre for unleaded. It was only 91 octane though. A return to the £10 tankful. The sun was shining too!
Sorry, didn't check the diesel.
Regards
John
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what are the income tax rates in the 2 countries?
the government is going to get its money one way or the other so does it really matter where it comes from? Also on a purely selfish note I do not do so many miles these days so think high tax on petrol is a great idea. For those who are worried that it will affect there businesses then the government should put a higher rate of VAT on petrol/diesel so that it can be claimed back (pretty much the opposite of the 5% VAT on household fuel).
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What about businessess such as mine which are VAT exempt. We cannot join so we cannot claim back VAT
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The old overhead cam Brazil built 1050cc FIAT engine was originally designed to run on alcohol. But since then Brazil changed its policy. Perhaps Mark (Brazil) can tell us more.
HJ
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Rich L
In addition to her many contributions on this theme over the past three months, Eleanor's post of 14 March also refers: "Hydrocarbon-burning engines looks good on paper, however to produce a years worth of vegtable oil for the average motorist annual mileage takes about 7 acres of farm land. Do the math and you will see problem".
HTH
DD
PS Eleanor - Shot any house martins yet this year?
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The question is answered properly at:
www.howstuffworks.com/question707.htm
Through research performed at Cornell University, 1 acre of land can yield about 3,225 kg of corn, which can be processed into 328 gallons (1240.61 liters) of ethanol.
7 acres will produce 2296 gallons of ethanol.
A normal petrol car will do 30mpg.
That means the average motorist does 68880 miles.
I just did the math.
If you use algae, instead of corn, I don't see the problem.
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Double Decker,
But we can get bio-diesel from old chip oil. Peep at this
www.veggievan.org/
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Alwyn
Green - maybe. Practical - No.
If even a minute proportion of the people who use petrol start queing outside the local chippie then his stocks will soon run out!
Regards
John
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How about alcohol fueled cars? Cheap very efficient burners (but probably a problem with the breath test).
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CM
No problem with alternative fuels lke alcohol. But a major change in fuel will need a production system, delivery system and vehicles optimised for their use. Given the global nature of the car, such a change is unlikely to occur in limited markets.
Alcohol typically comes from plants, so a major increase in the appropriate plants and a fuel production system is needed. This sort of thing won't happen overnight. It won't be adopted until there is a pressing need as the investment is significant, and even then it will probably need targeted fiscal policies to drive the change world wide.
Given that most of these alternatives are more expensive than oil, (ignore used chip oil etc - it will never be a global player) what is the appropriate strategy for the oil producing countries? Don't increase oil prices to a level that makes investment in the alternatives economic. Always maintain prices just below that level and so maximise your long term income.
Whilst there is work going on to change the way we use fuel (eg using petrol in fuel cells) don't expect a sudden world wide change in fuel.
regards
John
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As far as i understand it fossil fuel is not going to last forever. Companies like GM, who forsee an oil crisis, are already researching into Electric and Fuel-cell (hydrogen) vehicles.
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So therefore we all should be worrying about it....
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