What percentage of the world's fossil fuels are remaining?

Question

It occured to me that we've used up a lot of oil, coal, and natural gas. What percentage is left? In other words, let's say that we had 100% of it 1,000 years ago. What's remaining? I ask this for several reasons:

1. We MUST find and effectively use an alternate energy source sooner or later.
2. It would be nice to break our dependence on foreign oil.
*** 3. If we were to have some worldwide disaster and end up back in the Dark Ages, or even the Stone Ages ... we might not have enough fossil fuels to get back to where we are today. ***

Could we end up being stuck in a primitive, Medieval type existence forever if we were to slip now?

Answer 1

There is a price factor in all of this. If oil prices were to reach $100 per barrel all sorts of new sources would become easily viable - oil from coal - tar sand deposits - shale oil. Reserves in North America alone are vast. It may be that 99% of the world's original fossil fuels are still available on this basis. In view of global warming environmentally friendly ways of using them will have to be found and some answers are being developed - the hydrogen economy and CO2 sequestration are elements in this.

We could be put back by war or economic collapse perhaps due to environmental disaster. Whilst some technological know how might be lost and people may have to live at a lower standard of living I can't myself see a reversion to a medieval type existence.

Answer 2

No one knows the answer. They recently found a huge new oil field which they say is one reason why gas prices recently dropped so substantially. This is why experts keep changing the date on when we'll run out -- it's all just estimations.

If we get bombed back to the middle ages but intelligence remains, we'll find a way to advance again. If there had never been oil, someone would have found a different way to fuel things. We just haven't had much incentive in the past century, because things were built for oil and oil was available.

Obviously, everyone's working toward alternative sources now. Check out a copy of "Popular Science" sometime and you're almost sure to see an article on some new fuel technology that's being developed.

Answer 3

I agree with your first and second reason, as far as the third, using up what resources we have will probably lead us into "Dark Ages." Despite our hopes, I don't believe it is guaranteed that we will find an alternative energy source to replace fossil fuels once they are gone, and civilization as a whole will decline.

Answer 4

Try researching The Club of Rome reports on global energy reserves. This is a European Union or NATO think tank established in 1968. The first report on energy sustainability was first published in 1972. I can't say if the information has been regularly updated. Look on their website www.clubofrome.org. also check Club of Rome in Wikidpedia.

Answer 5

well, they (Geologists) no longer refer to them as "Fossil Fuels" because there were not than many Dinosaurs to make that much oil,, a large reservoir of oil had emptied, and a few years later it was full again, go figure ?