Will a sufficient source of energy be invented before the end of oil?
458331
The source does not need to be invented, only the method of actualization.
285073
Jacarta Monkey has the right answer. He gets the points for saying it first.\n\nFor as long as the Earth exists it will contain fresh water and hydrocarbon fuel (notice I re-defined these a bit to be more specific), since both are continuously being replenished by biomass and the hydrologic cycle. People will stop drilling and mining hydrocarbons as soon as it becomes uneconomical, which is way before the Earth runs out. The deadline on all of the Earth's resources is about 3-5 billion years from now when the sun expands and destroys the entire Earth. Until then, only poor people will run out of fuel and water, because only humans are greedy enough to purposefully deny basic resources to other living creatures because they can "own" them.
1056073
It is a real concern, but whenever someone makes a prediction about when a country of the world will reach peak oil output, they do so with what then is considered a researve.  As the cost of a barrel of oil increases, sources for oil that were once not considered a researve then become on because at that cost it is economically viable to recover it.  With the recent spike in oil prices, North America can now clasify the tar sands in Canada and the oil shales in Colorado oil researves, and that being the case, it is estimated that in the US alone, we now have more economically recoverable oil then Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest exporter.  As the price continues to increase, other marginal sources will become economically viable.  Sooner or later, we will reach a point where there simply isn't enough oil available for any price, but that is still a ways off yet.  I believe that before we reach that point, oil will be more expensive then alternate fuel sources.  Through simple economics, I believe that people will begin using these alternate fuels simply because they are less expensive.  I believe that the high cost of oil will spawn invention and inovation into the energy sector, and I believe that has already begun.  We are working on increasing production of biodiesels and ethenol, and there is increased research into fuel cells and electric autos.  I think the future lies in hydrogen burning technology personally.  We already have engines that burn Hydrogen, but we're still working on the fuel tank dilema.  So, for a long answer, I believe that there is and will be time. I'm looking foward to being put out of buisiness.
118034
I agree with you, unfortunately the oil industry has a lot of money and well you know how that goes. Currently there are several research and development programs going on relating to alternative energy sources. Examples are Methane, ethanol, and hydrogen.  Keep you fingers crossed that one of these experimental energy resources hits pay dirt.
58240
Solar and wind power as well as corn and other crop based fuels.\n\nDon't worry, we will survive!
411815
No.If there was we would use nuclear energy.It is not and never was a workable energy source because of the hazards and waste.
976711
Actually there are several alternative fuel sources available.\n\nHydorgen, natural gas, pure ethanol, biodeisel, etc. Even electric cars!\n\nAs long as the big oil companies have so much power, you won't be seeing any of these alternatives used by the masses.
365479
At some point (are we already there?) we will hit what is called peak oil, meaning we will pump more oil that year than was ever pumped or will ever be again.  Then, unfortunately, things will get scary as we are compteting with India and China for oil.  What happens if China makes a move on the oil fields in the middle east?  Are we going to go to war for it?  This doesn't have to come about if our government actually plans for this by funding research into alternative fuel sources.  We can't wait for government, though.  We can change the way we live - enough with the SUVs, turn your heat down, ride (God forbid, if you're an American!) your bike to the store, ect.  Small changes can actually add up if we all do it...or even if 10% of us do.  The key is starting now...not when its already a crisis.
978481
Barring a nuclear winter or other catastrophic event, we'll still be around, polluting, smoking, and drinking.  Humans are pretty hardy creatures, and have lived through plagues, Ice Ages, etc.  While we are using our resources at an exponential rate, I do think this will necessitate some of the newer technologies already in the works.  We'll use fossil fuels until we can't any more, but there's always other forms of energy.  Right now, its too expense to implement mass change across the globe, but soon we won't have a choice, and I can't fathom that we as people (who have been around for hundreds of thousands of years) would suddenly fail to adapt.  That's what we were meant to do- to populate this planet.  \n\nSo no, unless a catastrophe of unheard-of magnitude strikes us, we'll still be around.  People for centuries have said the end times are upon us.  I'm still waiting....
881664
Yes. Consider "oil supply" or "Oil reserves" if appropriate.\n\ncc
93927
It's really not a matter of whether you believe in peak oil or not. It is just a matter of fact that anytime you are using a natural resource at some point you will have used up half of all that is available. As to when that half way point will occur, we have to wait and see. As is usually the case, we will not know exactly when it has happened until we can look back at the historical data.
478495
If someone does then they haven't told me.  As for self sustaining energy, the second law of thermodynamics forbids any such thing from existing.
8552
In many cases water is pumped into the wells in order to get the oil out.  I just hope we have a smooth transition from oil to solar and wind power, before we blow ourselves up with nuclear plants.
674682
it is a very important question and it return to future .we know  that in future all types of energy as oil will finish and nuclear energy will instead to other energy .and some country that are holder of this type of energy doesn't like other country can produce nuclear energy and will be dependent to them  .
524062
Don't know, can't get it to download.\n\nHydrogen, wind, geothermal, differential barometric pressure, intermittent laser-induced fusion, biomass and seawater temperature differences are also possibilities for an energy revolution.
299625
This country needs to start becoming more self sufficient when it comes to oil supplies.  We have vast oil reserves both in Anwar and other places in the USA.  Sooner or later we must lose our dependency on fossil fuels completely but until then we at least need to end our dependency our foreign oil.  We stopped drilling during the 70s because of concerns with the environment.  Our technology has advanced enough now that I am sure we could drill and refine oil with out destroying our country.
842740
On current estimates we have now reached the peak of oil production. That means that we will not be able to sustain the current levels of extraction for much longer. Established Oil fields such as Texas and North Sea (Brent) are now coming to the end of their life, with perhaps 20 years of oil remaining. New offshore developments especially offshore Brazil, offshore Nigeria and Java (Brunei & Malay) have longer, probably 60 years. Research is being heavily funded by the large oil companies to develop more advanced extraction methods (pumping down carbon dioxide or water) to release the remaining oil from older fields, which may extend the life of some of these reserves but by a range not exceeding 5% of the reserves remaining. New offshore and onshore fields are currently being sort, offshore Cyprus and regoins of the wider Middle East. I have an optimistic outlook to the reserves of oil. Many predict ranges of 40 to 100 years of current usage being sustainable. That, however, doesn't take into account the 'cusp' that we rest upon with regards to China and India's industrial revolution, which may tip the balance.