WORLD OIL PRODUCTION: PEAKING & ITS MITIGATION
TIME: September 13th, 2005; 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
LOCATION: Physics Building, Room 114 (directions below)
SPEAKER: Robert Hirsch, PhD Senior Energy Program Advisor
at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
link to bio
(.pdf) >
Dr. Hirsch will discuss the peaking of world oil production, which he describes as the world's first ever discontinuity in energy -- a sudden limit on the supply of a commodity that is essential to the functioning of the world economy. A number of experts forecast that peaking of conventional oil production will occur in this decade or the next. Given today's huge world oil consumption, Dr. Hirsch will argue that oil peaking will likely lead to worldwide oil shortages and oil prices far beyond today's levels, seriously impacting the economies of all nations. He will discuss how massive mitigation measures, implemented well in advance of the event, could greatly reduce the damage.
A recent report authored by Dr. Hirsch for the Department of Energy can be found here (.pdf) >
Slides from Dr. Hirsch's presentation can be found here (.pdf) >
