An example of the sort of ads that raise the hairs on the back of my neck:

[Atticus]

In one commercial, one of the front groups for the oil and gas mega-corporations ends their string of nonsensical emotional appeals to patriotism with the solemn question (accurate paraphrase ): "Should we be forced to rely on oil and gas from unstable regions OR should we PRODUCE (emphasis mine ) our own oil and natural gas right here in the USA?"

We might drill for, transport, refine and market oil and natural gas, but DAMN IT---WE CANNOT "PRODUCE" ONE DROP OF PETOLEUM OR ONE CUBIC INCH OF NATURAL GAS!

That is the problem, idiots! That's why they're called NON-RENEWABLE resources and, we are irreversibly depleting them!

In other words, twits, supplies are about to be exhausted and when they're gone, they're gone!

Sheesh!

[EYESORE 9001]

1. I think we'll be irretrievably fucked on the road to climate change-based extinction before that

and I believe the petro oligarchs know this, but they’re too committed to short-term profit to deviate from the course. Perhaps they plan on surviving somehow, if you can call it that.

[Red Pest]

2. Actually, natural gas (methane) is completely renewable. It is the end product of metabolism by

methanogenic archaea. They reduce CO2 using H2 to CH4 + H2O. They can also reduce acetate (CH3COOH) to methane (CH4). These microbes, which are not bacteria, are members of the third Domain of Life (Bacteria, Eukaryotes, and Archaea). While archaea live in the GI tract of all humans and other animals (especially ruminants), there are no known pathogenic species.

Forgive the microbiology lesson by this microbiologist, but my first three publications as a graduate student were on methanogenesis by these interesting microbes.

[Atticus]

4. As I understand it, "Natural gas"---as it comes out of the ground---consists primarily of methane

but also contains some carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and helium.

While, yes, pure methane can be produced and could even be mixed with the other elements and compounds to mimic natural gas, this cannot be done in quantities sufficient to replace the volume now being taken from wells.

[Red Pest]

5. All that natural gas is the result of methanogens using end-products of bacterial fermentation.

To be sure that natural gas formed over millions of years, but my point is just that natural gas/methane can be made and is made by a combination of bacterial fermentation end-products being used by methanogens. Ruminants today produce huge amounts of methane, which are belched into the atmosphere. The large herds of cattle contribute significant amounts of methane into the atmosphere and thereby contribute to global warning.

[Atticus]

6. Understood. nt

[Trailrider1951]

3. What that stupid commercial doesn't tell you is that just because

the oil and gas is produced in this country, doesn't mean it is SOLD in this country. Much of it is sold on the world market and exported, either as crude oil or refined products. No law says it has to stay here. Profits above fellow citizens, don't ya know.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-20/u-s-oil-exports-soar-as-world-works-to-replace-russian-supplies

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/oil-exports

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-oil-exports-surge-drawing-crude-away-storage-hub-2022-03-28/

And so on...


edited to add references.