Whither the Oil Age? 150 years of black gold

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By David Biello in 60-Second Science Blog

The American age of oil began 150 years ago today. Or, if you prefer the phrasing of President George W. Bush, the U.S. addiction to oil can be traced back to the original pusher "Colonel" Edwin Drake who began producing oil from the first commercial well near Titusville, Pa., (about 100 miles north of Pittsburgh).

The rest is history—the automobile, plastics, modern agriculture and, of course, climate change. But it all started with the Colonel's 69-foot wooden well that ultimately yielded roughly 40 barrels a day. To put that in perspective, the world currently produces some 85 million barrels per day, which provide us with a full 40 percent of our energy.

The Titusville find kicked off the first oil boom (to be followed by similar booms in Texas, Saudi Arabia and, most recently, Brazil) and left us with the enduring legacy of Pennzoil as well as the corporate children of the oil monopolies created by capitalist titans like John D. Rockefeller.

Today, oil companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron are known, among other things, for using their influence to oppose legislative efforts to control the carbon emissions linked to climate change (oil burning is high up in the list of human sources of excess carbon dioxide). And oil inspires geopolitical posturing (for example, embargoes and wars) that shapes modern history.

What's especially intriguing today is that Drake was inspired to drill his well by the high price of whale oil—the lighting fuel of choice back at the time. That high price was a result of dwindling supplies, as aggressive whaling had pushed many species to the brink of extinction.

And now we're doing the same thing with oil. Massive consumption by the U.S. and Europe, combined with growing consumption in China, India and the rest of the developing world, seems to be straining existing oil supplies. Oil price shocks are one result, and perhaps the end of cheap oil, or even what some call "peak oil" (when historic supplies crest and start to decline). In any case, the next question is: who will be the Edwin Drake of the 21st-century energy economy?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/60-...f-bl-2009-08-27

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

We all use oil!!!!

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

We all use oil!!!!

maybe if steven stopped driving 100 miles a day for work we'd be better off

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

We all use oil!!!!

maybe if steven stopped driving 100 miles a day for work we'd be better off

Fo shizzle. We're both greener than he is!

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

We all use oil!!!!

maybe if steven stopped driving 100 miles a day for work we'd be better off

Fo shizzle. We're both greener than he is!

if i can count the trees on my property as a carbon offset, i've probably got 98% of vj beat.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

We all use oil!!!!

maybe if steven stopped driving 100 miles a day for work we'd be better off

Fo shizzle. We're both greener than he is!

if i can count the trees on my property as a carbon offset, i've probably got 98% of vj beat.

hey, no one said living in the jungle wasn't green.

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

We all use oil!!!!

maybe if steven stopped driving 100 miles a day for work we'd be better off

Fo shizzle. We're both greener than he is!

if i can count the trees on my property as a carbon offset, i've probably got 98% of vj beat.

hey, no one said living in the jungle wasn't green.

everyone knows kansas is as flat as a pool table!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

In the jungle, in the mighty jungle ...

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

In the jungle, in the mighty jungle ...

i worry about you sometimes. where's dr dean?

[almaty 19]

In the jungle, in the mighty jungle ...

i worry about you sometimes. where's dr dean?

i am fixing his daily shot of prolixin

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Near the village, the peaceful village ...

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

In the jungle, in the mighty jungle ...

i worry about you sometimes. where's dr dean?

i am fixing his daily shot of prolixin

i read that as protein........

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Idle villages breed idle minds. In idle minds dwell evil and perversion.

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

Idle villages breed idle minds. In idle minds dwell evil and perversion.

so is that why some villagers in india marry hills and dogs?

[NickD 203]

Even Henry Ford thought oil was a filthy fuel for automotive, he and his buddy, Thomas Edison spent ten years and ten million bucks of 1910 money trying to develop a battery for a clean machine. Only thing Edison came up with was a nickel iron battery that the Germans quickly grabbed to develop their U-boats where they thought they could win WW-I with a second try twenty years later for WW-II. Sulphuric acid batteries were far to dangerous to use in a confined space as hydrogen is given off when charging them.

So Henry had to resort to the HC burning dirty engine with hopes that something better came alone, a hundred years later and the same old #######. HC's are very harmful to our health and to make matters worse, besides cancer, lead was added to boost the octane rating, about 60 years of that stuff that mess up the brain. Makes some people very aggressive with poor judgment, but the aggressiveness makes them governmental and corporation leaders.

Major difference between a 60's vehicle and todays vehicles is with EPA regulations, an engine won't run with all that carbon buildup, but still the same old dirty fuel, only the repair bills are much greater. Black oil has a black history.