Another Peak Oil Fad, Part 1

For 70 years, environmentalists have predicted the world would see diminishing supplies of oil after reaching a peak in production. The peak never occurred and the peak oil fantasy has been put to bed, at least for the foreseeable future, by the emergence of large quantities of unconventional oil as the result of fracking.

Now, environmentalists are suggesting there will be a demand peak instead of a supply peak, where supply outstrips demand.

The Economist magazine devoted two articles and three full pages to this new fantasy. Reading the articles, one could picture environmentalists salivating over a peak in demand, with the demise of the major oil companies, such as Exxon-Mobil, when prices collapsed.

This new fad may be a consolation prize, where, if fracking can’t be stopped, environmentalists can take solace in the pending demise of the major oil companies.

There is one problem with this new fad … it won’t happen.

There may be periods of imbalance in supply and demand, but what’s new about that?

The new fad flies in the face of both the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts of growing demand.

The EIA forecasts world demand will grow from 87 million barrels per day (Mb/d) to 112 Mb/d in 2040¹. The IEA has a similar growth forecast.

 

This infers a growth in supply of 25 Mb/d in 2040. Where will this increase come from, especially if supply is to outstrip demand, as the demand peak fad requires?

Let’s do a back of the envelope analysis to see where we are headed until 2020, and then think about the period 2020 to 2040.

North America, 2020 vs 2013:

 

The increase in supply primarily comes from unconventional sources in the U.S. and Canada, while. Mexico’s output is likely to decline slightly. This represents an increase of about 0.7 Mb/d each year, about the same as over the past few years.

The decrease could come from LNG replacing diesel fuel for long haul trucks. This is a more aggressive forecast than others have made. Citigroup, for example, forecasts 0.3 Mb/d displacement of diesel by LNG in 2020.

While the Economist magazine made much ado about improved gasoline mileage, the improvements will largely be offset be population growth².

Persian Gulf Countries, 2020 vs 2013:

 

 

The increase in supply will primarily come from Iraq with a slight increase from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is producing around 11 Mb/d and is hard pressed to increase by much more than a 1 Mb/d. Saudi Arabia also has a serious domestic problem in providing services to its growing population, which will increase demand.

Iraq’s ability to increase oil production is problematic, but is given the benefit of the doubt in this back of the envelope analysis.

Iran, Kuwait, UAE will see only slight increases in supply, offset by increased demand.

 

North Africa, 2020 vs 2013:

 

 

Libya will be hard pressed to maintain current output. Events in Egypt are likely to lead to less supply while demand increases.

 

Europe, 2020 vs 2013

 

Europe, including Russia, will see some slight increase in oil production, primarily from Norway, with Russia hard pressed to maintain current output due to large infrastructure problems.

Europe’s rejection of fracking will prevent any improvements in both oil and natural gas supply, with the possible exception of the UK which may accept fracking.

Europe’s CO2 disease is impeding growth and corresponding increase in demand. Europe’s economic malaise may have given rise to the new peak oil fad where supply outstrips demand.

 

Rest of World

While the sum of these estimates would indicate a surplus of supply, it’s necessary to look at the rest of the world in Part 2 to arrive at a conclusion.

 

Notes:

1. ExxonMobil forecasts 113 Mb/d in 2040.
2. Population growth of 0.9 percent per year with concomitant increase in number of vehicles. Mpg improvements from today of approximately 25 mpg to 48.7 mpg in 2025, an 8% annual improvement.

 

 

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