What do you think will happen to the world when the oil runs out?

Answer 1

If we find cheap alternatives, we'll switch to them (probably before oil runs out). If we don't, then we'll switch to expensive alternatives (like solar energy, or whatever). The standard of living might get slightly lower, but life will go on. Also, we'll switch before oil runs out entirely, at whatever point it gets to be so rare that it's more expensive than the best alternative.

Answer 2

First and foremost we will be frustrated we ignored research regarding other forms of energy and failed to take action. There may be a return to coal burning (i.e in China, where lots of their energy still comes from coal- hence the haze in the air) until we are able to fully incorporate a clean and sustainable form of energy. In terms of driving culture- driving would become a supreme luxury and we may even seen people puncturing holes in other people's gas tanks to steal gas (Tucson local news last week). Any remaining oil that has ben converted into gas for cars will of course be some astronomical price. Hopefully this won't occur in the winter otherwise numerous homes would be freezing. Without sufficient warning, there will probably be a few days of chaos as well (looting of hybrid cars anyone?). This is a great question I always wish people thought about this more often. I believe Ireland is running low on oil and is expected to exhaust capacity by 2012 or so.

Answer 3

The sooner we run out of oil, the sooner they'll find something else. Not many people now know it, but during WW II, all the trucks and taxis in Australia ran on methane gas because the Japs had a pretty effective sea embargo on 'em. Oil shipments couldn't get through. Methane is distilled from manure, literally from crap. As such, it's an endless renewable resource. That's what everyone wants, right? And you know damned well that if the Aussies could do it 60 years ago, we could do the same thing today. Like I said, the sooner we run out, the sooner they'll find something else.

Answer 4

I don't think we will run out for a long time, because as the supply of oil is depleted the laws of supply and demand will make oil products so expensive that just the wealthy will be able to afford it.With high proces the demand will drop, and the supply of oil will last for a very long time resulting in 99.9% of use being cold and hungry while the other.1% will be warm, fat and happy. Econ 101

Answer 5

The supply will not run out. It will continue to get more expensive until it is more technically and economically feasible to use some alternative.
That will be done before all supplies are exhausted.
It will take more than fifty years for that to happen.
Predictions are difficult due to added pressure on the supplies created by China and India. Literally billions of people and they all want automobiles. And they don't regulate pollution.
I worry more about political upheaval. The oil supply problem will aggravate that too. (But that is another issue.)

Answer 6

Our civilization will become more primitive. There is no alternative to petroleum on such a massive scale. Whether it happens in 70 years or 200 years, it will happen.
Liberals are certainly looking for fixes. Conservatives oppose fixing it. They agree with the answer by "regerugged" above.
They won't be alive anymore, so they don't care about oil depletion or global warming.

Answer 7

There'll be oil for a long time for there's places that refuse to have their oil taken from the ground. We'll find new resources to accomplish the same things. You'd be mindblown by all of the companies out right now making Fuel Cells and New things you'll hear about in a few years to replace our energy sources. Unless you're in business, then you're hearing about them now.

Answer 8

I don't think the world will ever run out of oil. Perchance that happened, alternative fuels will have been developed in its place.

Chow!!

Answer 9

I think the government will stop paying farmers to let fields lay dormant(because there is a surplus of Corn and/or Cotton) I think they will then let farmers plant more corn and we can use it for fuel.
Worse case scenario is No one drives anywhere. We go back to the horse and wagon. Best case scenario we will have an alternate fuel source.

Answer 10

If no viable alternative has been found by the time that happens, here are some words to describe the situation:

chaos, mayhem, riots, death, bloodshed, anarchy, war, starvation, genocide, plunder, violence, and hatred.

Nice thoughts, huh?