Jun-15 1 ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF LIQUID FUEL MITIGATION OPTIONS IN THE USA Presented at the “Time for Action: A Midnight Ride For Peak Oil” ASPO-USA World.

04/18/23 1

ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OFLIQUID FUEL MITIGATION

OPTIONS IN THE USA

Presented at the “Time for Action:

A Midnight Ride For Peak Oil”

ASPO-USA World Oil Conference

Boston, Massachusetts

October 2006

Roger H. Bezdek. Ph.D.

Management Information Services, Inc.

www.misi-net.com

04/18/23 2

• Economic Implications of Peak Oil

• Summary of 2006 U.S. Peak Mitigation Study

• Recent U.S. Oil Import Reduction Study Results

• Findings and Conclusions

• Questions and Caveats

• U.S. Government Progress on Peaking

Views are the author’s, except where noted

THIS PRESENTATION

04/18/23 3

No, we’re facing a liquid fuels crisisNo, we’re facing a liquid fuels crisis

04/18/23 4

World is Consuming More Oiland Finding Less

Past discovery by ExxonMobil

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1930 1950 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050

Bil

lio

ns

of

Ba

rrel

s

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Past

Future

Production

“GrowingGap”

04/18/23 5

When Will Peaking Occur? Different Approximations Lead to Different Forecasts

Forecast Source

December 2005 Deffeyes (U.S.)

2006-2007 Bakhitari (Iran)

2006-2007 Simmons (U.S.)

2009 - 2010 Skrebowski (U.K.)

2010 Campbell (Ireland)

Before 2010 Goodstein (U.S.)

After 2010 World Energy Council

2012 Weng (China)

2016 Doug-Westwood (U.K.)After 2020 CERA (U.S.)

2030 or later EIA (U.S) / Exxon Mobil

5 years

5-15 years

> 20 years

Already

04/18/23 6

What Might Happen at Peaking?

WORLD OIL DEMAND

grows each year in a

healthy world economy

WORLD OIL PRODUCTION

reaches a maximum &

then declines

Supply cannot meet

demand

• PRICES INCREASE

• SHORTAGES DEVELOP

Time

04/18/23 7

Learning from Two Oil Shortage Events

• BRIEF oil interruptions in 1973 & 1979 caused….

+ Inflation + Recession + Unemployment + High interest rates

• World oil peaking impacts could last for DECADES.

The world’s first forced energy transition.No quick fixes!

04/18/23 8

Oil PRICE INCREASES HAVE CAUSED U.S. RECESSIONS

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

1969

1971

1973

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Recession

OIL PRICE

(2003 $ per

barrel)

Over 30 years, four recessions followed oil price spikes.

04/18/23 9

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Remember the 1970s?Remember the 1970s?Stagflation. . . recession. Stagflation. . . recession. That was only a short-term disruption.That was only a short-term disruption.

04/18/23 10

20.021.0

22.023.24.025.026.027.028.0

29.030.031.032.033.034.0

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030

’06

Tcf

/Yea

r

’02’03

’04

’05

0

Forecasting Oil & Gas Supply Is Difficult! DOE EIA Forecasts of N. American Natural Gas Supply to U.S.

Looks good

Trouble!

4 years

U.S. EIA says no world oil problem before 2030.

04/18/23 11

Two Studies of Mitigation Options

Both studies prepared for the U.S. DOE, National Energy Technology Laboratory

February 2005 study (“Hirsch Report”)• Assessed world mitigation supply and demand options• Analyzed three mitigation scenarios• Derived policy implications for required mitigation timeframes

July 2006 study (“Bezdek Report”)• Assessed economic implications in U.S.• Estimated detailed impacts of four mitigation options• Derived policy implications for U.S.

04/18/23 12

2006 Study Objective & Approach

• Explore imported oil reduction and/or peak oil mitigation -- U.S. only

+ Time required to save & produce liquid fuels

+ Costs

+ Economic, fiscal, tax, & jobs impacts.

• Assumed crash program implementation to define a

best case.

• Adopted an unspecified starting date – “t0.”

04/18/23 13

Option Worldwide Study

U.S. - Only Study

Vehicle Efficiency

Coal-To-Liquids

Enhanced Oil Recovery

Gas-To-Liquids

Shale Oil

Heavy Oil/Oil Sands

Not Ready

Assumed ready

Physical Mitigation Options & Their Applicability

Small

U.S. an Importer

04/18/23 14

Implementation AssumptionsMitigation Technology Previous Assumptions

for the WorldAssumptions for the

U.S. in This Study

Vehicle fuel efficiency Ramping up to a 50% increase in vehicle fuel efficiency after 8 years

Same

Coal-to-liquids Five (5) new 100,000 bpd plants/yr. 4 years to build

Three (3) new 100,000 bpd plants/yr. 4 years to build

Enhanced Oil Recovery

World oil production increased by 3 mbpd after 10 years / 5 year delay

175,000 bpd each year after 4 years construction delay

Oil Sands/Heavy Oil 2.5 MM bpd of incremental production achieved 13 years from a decision to accelerate

None

Gas-to-liquids 1 mbpd achieved in 5 years None

Oil Shale None 3 new 100,000 bpd plants/yr. 8 year delay

04/18/23 15

Methodological Approach & Databases

• Well-Established Models

+ MISI economic model & databases

+ U.S. Commerce Dept. models

+ Census Bureau/BLS industry/occupation data

• Labor force data within each industry for 800 occupations and skills

• State and regional data

04/18/23 16

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Coal, Oil Shale, and Alternative Liquid Coal, Oil Shale, and Alternative Liquid Fuel PlantsFuel Plants

04/18/23 17

The Delayed Wedge Model

Prepare Produce

ImpactBarrels/ Day

0 10 20 30

Vehicle Fleet Fuel

Saved

Actual

Wedge Approximation

Time - Years

04/18/23 18

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Mil

lio

ns

of

Bar

rels

Per

D

ay

Vehicle Fuel Efficiency

Coal Liquefaction

Oil Shale

EOR

Years after Crash Program Initiation

U.S. Crash Program to Cut Imports

Source: Roger H. Bezdek, Robert M. Wendling, and Robert L. Hirsch, Economic Impacts of U.S. Liquid Fuel Mitigation Options, DOE/NETL-2006/1237, July 8, 2006.

04/18/23 19

Mitigation Impacts if Initiated in 2006(forecasts based on EIA projections)

Domestic Production

VFE

EOR

CTL

OSBalance of U.S. Consumption

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

millio

n b

arr

els

per

day


04/18/23 20

Mitigation Impacts if Initiated in 2016 (forecasts based on EIA projections)

Domestic Production

VFEEOR

CTLOS

Balance of U.S. Consumption

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

millio

n b

arr

els

per

day


04/18/23 21

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

CTL Oil Shale EOR VFE All 4 Options

Mill

ion

s o

f B

arre

ls P

er D

ay

Contributions After 20 Years of Crash Programs


04/18/23 22

CTL VFE EOR All

Jo

bs

- M

illio

ns

Jobs Created Annually in Year t0 + 20

Oil Shale

1.4

1.2

1.0

0.9

0.6

0.4

0.2

0


04/18/23 23

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$140

VFE Oil Shale CTL EOR

200

4 D

olla

rs P

er

Ba

rre

lCost of Each Mitigation Technology


04/18/23 24

Crash Programs Will Escalate Liquid Fuel Production Costs

Possibility 1

Possibility 2

Possibility 3

U.S. 20 year capital costs based on N plants = $2.6 trillion

$4 - 6 Trillion Cost (20 years)

Likely Due to Cost Escalation

th

04/18/23 25

The Mitigation Initiatives Will Create $100’s of Billions of Sales For Industries

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Bil

lio

ns

of

20

05

Do

lla

rs


04/18/23 26

Occupational Jobs Created bythe Mitigation Options

2%

3%

3%

10%

18%2%

2%

8%

3%

3%

2%

3%

2%

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

job

s

3%


04/18/23 27

The Mitigation Initiatives Will Create Billions of Tax Revenues

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

VehicleEfficiency

Coal toLiquids

Oil Shale Enahnced OilRecovery

Total

Bil

lio

ns

20

05

Do

lla

rs

Federal State & Local Total


04/18/23 28

Benefits to a State of a Small (30,000 Barrels/Day) Coal Liquefaction Plant

• Development & construction expenditures: $2.5 billion

• Annual O&M expenditures: $400 million• Direct development & construction jobs: 2,000 +• Development & construction payroll: $100

million• Annual direct O&M jobs: 400• Annual O&M payroll: $25 million• Total new jobs annually: 1,000+• Annual state & local govt. tax revenues: $10 -

$20 millionSource: Roger H. Bezdek, Robert M. Wendling, and Robert L. Hirsch, Economic Impacts of U.S. Liquid Fuel Mitigation Options, DOE/NETL-2006/1237, July 8, 2006.

04/18/23 29

Findings (1)

• Mitigation options can contribute significantly to saving and production of U.S liquid fuels

• It will take decades for significant impact• Costs will be in the trillions of dollar range

Cumulative 20 year impact would be:• Savings and production of 44 billion barrels of liquid fuels• Requirement for over $2.6 trillion of investment (minimum

estimate)• Over 10 million employment years of jobs created• Total industry sales of over $3 trillion occurred• Over $125 billion of industry profits accrued• Over $500 billion in federal government tax revenues accrued• Nearly $300 billion in state & local government tax revenues


04/18/23 30

Findings (2)

U.S. is endowed with needed geological resources, capital, labor, and management to undertake such an effort

Aggressive mitigation programs would have substantial benefits for U.S.:

• Enhanced energy security• Trillions of dollars of industry investment and sales• Hundreds of billions of dollars of industry profits• Rejuvenation of many U.S. manufacturing industries• Hundreds of billions of dollars of tax revenues• Millions of jobs• Elimination of most U.S. oil imports


04/18/23 31

PRES. BUSH: “REDUCE OIL IMPORT DEPENDENCE”FIRST THING TO DO: STOP DIGGING!

(forecasts based on EIA projections)

Imports held at 2005

level

Projected Production

Supply Gap

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

millio

n b

arr

els

per

day

04/18/23 32

If crash mitigation programs were initiated in 2006, it may be possible to stabilize U.S. oil imports by 2016

Mitigation options may reduce the total level of U.S. imports from current 13 mbpd to:

• 12 mbpd in 2016• 6 mbpd in 2025

However, this depends on crash mitigation being started in 2006. If delayed, oil import gap may not be closed for two decades. If implementation is delayed until 2011, mitigation options may change total level of U.S. imports from current 13 mbpd to:

• 15 mbpd in 2016• 12 mbpd in 2025

Thus, U.S. oil imports would increase from the current 13 mbpd and may not be reduced below that level until about 2025.


04/18/23 33

Interpretation of Study Findings

Controversy over interpretation; findings have various implications for ASPO and others:

• Costs and benefits of liquid fuel requirements• What is required to maintain “current energy regime”• Implications of maintaining “current energy regime”• What is required to change “current energy regime”• Time & $ required to transition to a “new energy regime”

How to get from “here” to “there – the new energy regime?” What is “there”? When is there: 2020? 2025? 2030?

Major finding: Problem is of enormous scale, will require decades to resolve, and will require $ trillions investment. No easy, “painless” solution

04/18/23 34

Growing Oil Shortages Will Induce Growing World “Demand Destruction”

Su

pp

ly

Supply & Demand in

Balance

Minimal Disruption

Recession Depression

Demand Destruction

04/18/23 35

What About “Demand Destruction”

• Is demand destruction the solution or the problem?

• It is always the “default solution:” Absent mitigation options, it will always equate oil supply with demand

• However, demand destruction is an euphemism for recession, depression, mass unemployment, etc.

• People – & governments – will not passively accept massive demand destruction and may opt for desperate alternatives

• Therefore, objective should be to use mitigation options to minimize and control demand destruction

04/18/23 36

Peak Oil Progress in the U.S.It’s a start

• President Bush: U.S. is “addicted to oil” & must reduce oil imports

• Studies and plans being developed by Federal agencies: Dept. of Energy, Dept. of Defense, Unconventional Fuels Task Force, DOE labs

• Studies and plans being developed by state governments, SSEB, Western Governors Association, other groups

• Many states have passed alternate fuel legislation & are issuing mandates & building plants

• U.S. Congress: Study mandated for GAO, Congressional Caucus formed, incentives legislation passed

• Independent initiatives: National Academy of Sciences, National Coal Council, National Petroleum Council

04/18/23 37

Concluding Remarks

• Earlier (2005) world peak oil mitigation study has provided estimates and guidance

• Experience: Peaking could come with little warning & sharp declines.

• The new U.S.-only study provides time, cost, industry, job, & skill estimates: Scale is enormous & poorly recognized.

• Definition of “Peak Oil” needs to be clarified – some analysts keep expanding the definition of “oil.”

• The U.S. Energy Secretary has talked of peak oil, & some U.S. government activities are underway. It’s a start.

04/18/23 38

THREE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The federal government should increase vehicle fuel efficiency standards and initiate substitute liquid fuels mitigation options.

2. State and local governments should encourage smart growth, telecommuting, mass transit, and other transportation fuel efficiency options and facilitate and expedite the siting of substitute liquid fuels plants.

3. All levels of government should educate the public to the fact that we face a serious liquid fuels problem that will require controversial and unpopular measures to reduce demand and increase supply.

04/18/23 39

It might happen again!

04/18/23 40

LOCAL CONTACT INFORMATION

While in Australia through July 6,

Dr. Bezdek can be contacted via ASPO Australia

Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas

www.ASPO-Australia.org.au

International Australia

Jun-15 1 ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF LIQUID FUEL MITIGATION OPTIONS IN THE USA Presented at the “Time for Action: A Midnight Ride For Peak Oil” ASPO-USA World.

Documents

world oil demand

world oil problem

time slide

recession oil price

world mitigation supply

oil price increases

oil price spikes

presentation slide