From: Carrol Cox <cbcox-AT-rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu>
Subject: M-TH: Report on Oil. March Scientific American
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 12:48:37 -0600 (CST)


The *Scientific American* which arrived today (March 1998) has the
following in its Table of Contents (I have not looked at the articles
yet).

Special Report: PREVENTING THE NEXT OIL CRUNCH
      Global production of oil from conventional sources is likely to peak
      and decline permanently during the next decade, according to the 
      thoughtful analyses. In these articles industry experts explain why
      and describe technologies that could cushion the shock of a new
      energy crisis.

THE END OF CHEAP OIL by Colin J. Campbell and Jean H. Leberrere
      Forecasts about the abundance of oil are usually warped by
      inconsistent definitions of "reserves." In truth, every year for
      the past two decades the industry has pumped more oil than it
      has discovered, and production will soon be unable to keep up with
      rising demand.

MINING FOR OIL by Richard L. George
      Tarry sands and shales in Canada alone hold more than 300 billion
      barrels of petroleum, more than Saudi Arabia's reserves. Some
      companies can now extractr that oil economically, while addressing
      environmental concerns over open-pit mining. [!!??]

OIL PRODUCTION IN THE 21ST CENTURY by Roger N. Anderson
      Tracking the flow of underground crude, pressurizing dead wells and
      steering drills horizontally will open reserves under the deep
      ocean

LIQUID FUELS FROM NATURAL GAS by Safaa A. Fouda
      Liquefied as gasoline, mecthanol or diesel fuel, natural gas can
      buffer the coming decline in crude oil. Technological improvements
      are making this conversion cheaper and more efficient.

===================================================
Correct me if I am wrong: so far under capitalism the promises of "no
environmental damage" from any form of resource extraction have *never*
been fulfilled?

Carrol



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