Investments

Big Oil is reported to be making big investments in projects likely to fizzle regarding ROI (return on investments). They are searching for more oil deposits. Better refining processes to make the most of the declining quality of marginal oil finds. Both of those projects may yield good results, but others may be of little or no practical value.


There is a problem with these investments to my mind. First, Big Oil has the money, the assets and the incredible ability to do whatever they want. Problem: what they want is doing the same as they have been doing from day one: find oil, extract it, refine it, sell and distribute it to whomever for whatever price to make yet more money.


That’s not what the world needs. Not now. Not in an age of pollution of air, soil and water.


What we need are renewable sources of energy. What we need is higher efficiency in the use of existing energy so the energy fuel is used wisely and as pollution free as possible.


Humanity needs energy. Plenty of it. So far, man’s trod on earth has produced incalculable damage through pollution. Illness and death have been the result. So too, a future clouded by the health of our planet. It may not sustain human life at some point in the future caused mainly by man-made damage to our environment.


If we need energy AND we need a livable environment, logic suggests that we learn two things: first, change how we get and produce energy; and second, how we use and conserve energy wisely.


This is a no brainer. And Big Oil is in a unique position to do the following:

1.      Identify their industry as Energy; not oil. Energy.

2.      Commit their wealth to research and development for these gains:

a.      Long term energy creation and resources

                                                    i.     Electric generation from chemical, solar, wind, etc.

                                                   ii.     Replacement of internal combustion engines with alternative modes of locomotion: hydrogen cell power, solar charging of electric motors, etc.

                                                  iii.     Creative science solution from physics, chemistry and yet unknown energy resources

b.      Short term oil and natural gas extraction from the earth with the least pollution

c.      Long term reduction in pollution from use of petroleum products (water, soil, air)

                                                    i.     Petroleum products will still need to be used for lubrication and chemical stock purposes

                                                   ii.     Conserve use of oil-based products so supply is adequate for such uses

d.      High efficiency energy use for all kinds of energy

                                                    i.     Whatever form of energy is available and used, use it sparingly so supplies remain adequate

Related to energy is the issue of transportation. Industries serving transportation needs need to realize they are not in automotive manufacturing, or aerodynamics of air and space vehicles but in transportation. The automobile need not be internal combustion powered. It can and should be powered by electric motors or an as yet undiscovered mode of locomotion. Magnetics, particle physics, as well as high-end technology will likely find answers to this puzzle. Perhaps transportation and energy industries should combine their efforts in solving their common problems.


What we do not need is Big Oil finding and refining more oil to consume and pollute the planet. We also do not need the automotive industry producing yet more gasoline powered cars. We need replacements for both. Transportation, whether personal or public, needs to be engineered to produce safe, convenient and non-polluting movement of people and cargo.


Now there’s an investment that will pay huge returns. Let’s get on with it. Perhaps the two industries should combine their research efforts?  There's an idea!


June 6, 2019