Global oil discoveries far from breaking even with consumption
Preface. According to Bloomberg (2016), oil discoveries in 2015 were the lowest since 1947, with just 2.7 billion barrels of conventional oil found globally (though Rystad calculated this differently at 5.6, nearly twice as much). Since the world burns 36.5 billion barrels of oil a year in 2019, we’re not even close to breaking even.
Rystad Energy (2019) in “Global discoveries on the rise as majors take a bigger bite” estimates barrels of oil equivalent, which includes both conventional oil and gas. Since oil is the master resource that makes gas, transportation, and all other goods and activities possible, I’ve taken the second number as the percent of oil in the BOE to come up with how much conventional oil was found. It falls way short of the 36.5 billion barrels we’re consuming. The pantry is emptying out, perhaps pushing the peak oil date forward in time as we continue to grow at 1% a year in oil consumption and put nothing at all back on the shelves. Peak Demand? Ha! Not until we’re forced to cut back from oil shortages.
2013 50:50 17.4 billion BOE 8.7 billion BOE oil shortfall: 27.8 billion BOE
2014 54:46 16.0 billion BOE 7.4 billion BOE oil shortfall: 29.1 billion BOE
2015 61:39 14.4 billion BOE 5.6 billion BOE oil shortfall: 30.9 billion BOE
2016 57:43 8.4 billion BOE 3.6 billion BOE oil shortfall: 32.9 billion BOE
2017 40:60 10.3 billion BOE 6.2 billion BOE oil shortfall: 30.3 billion BOE
2018 46:54 9.1 billion BOE 4.9 billion BOE oil shortfall: 31.6 billion BOE
This doesn’t include fracked oil, but the IEA expects that to peak somewhere from now to 2023.
What it means is enjoy life while it’s still good, and stock your pantry while you’re at it.
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Mikael, H. August 29, 2016. Oil Discoveries at 70-Year Low Signal Supply Shortfall Ahead. Bloomberg.
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