Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject: What should I do?
All though I have known for peak oil for a while now the more I think about it the more I get worried. Im in the first year of an engineering apprenticeship at chevron. I just cant see the point in putting all my energy into ensuring I pass all the exams not knowing how long it will last, i feel like I should be doing somthing else, preparing for the future telling everyone what will happen rather than everyone carring on not knowing what is coming! Its so frustrating!
Joined: Mar 12, 2007 Posts: 1004 Location: As close as I can get to the beginning of the pipe.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: What should I do?
Welcome, Welsh. And relax. You're about to be employed in the last lucrative profession left on earth; extracting the last dregs of ancient sunlight in the ground.
If you look at that Hubbert curve, we are at the top of it. There will be lots of oil still to be extracted on the downslope of that curve. You will have one of the few Depression-proof jobs.
You may not see much of that extracted oil in your personal life, though, that's a different matter. If you want to be depressed, you can be depressed about your gasoline going to military misadventures. Don't be depressed about bomb-proof careers. _________________ "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." --Sinclair Lewis
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: What should I do?
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
No matter what's to come, there is a Rock to stand on.
Joined: Jun 28, 2005 Posts: 352 Location: san jose CA
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject: Re: What should I do?
Yeah your pretty much set doing engineering for a major oil company. You have less to worry about than most people out there. Id say work your ass off, get promotions, work overtime.. try to buy a house and pay it off as soon as possible and just hang in for the ride.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject: Re: What should I do?
Quote:
Yeah your pretty much set doing engineering for a major oil company. You have less to worry about than most people out there. Id say work your ass off, get promotions, work overtime.. try to buy a house and pay it off as soon as possible and just hang in for the ride.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject: Re: What should I do?
welshgreen wrote:
Im in the first year of an engineering apprenticeship at chevron. I
just cant see the point in putting all my energy into ensuring I pass
all the exams not knowing how long it will last
Regarding working for an oil company, that's a great idea. Men will
still be chasing after oil as we ride the downslope. In fact oil will be
a priority for a long time. Also consider that much of the workforce in
the oil industry is getting old, so there will be lots of employment
opportunities just to keep current infrastructure running. The
doomer opinion is, the oil industry is a very good place to be.
Also on the side, you could study renewable energy...
Anyway, if you want to get fired up, search the threads a bit
regarding college student questions. Most people recommend going
into the oil industry and have good reason to recommend it.
This is a good thread:
Quote:
Is It a Bad Time to Consider College?
"I would have to agree that going into the oil and gas industry is
probably one of the best prospects for earning a decent living in the
coming times."
telling everyone what will happen rather than everyone carring on
not knowing what is coming! Its so frustrating!
That's probably pointless, personality types that focus on planning ahead
make up maybe around 1% - 5% of the population. Trying to get
the other 95% to use scientific reasoning, to examine resource
graphs, to think ahead, that's like teaching calculus to a retarded
man. Don't waste your time. Most people function cognitively on the
principle of seeing is believing.
When they see gas lines, they believe there is a gas shortage. The
only thing most people can believe without seeing is angels/aliens,
which they usually feel or sometimes see due to a common type of
temporal lobe seizure like activity. Amusingly more reasoned based
individuals tend to have a higher threshold to this common epilepsy.
For most other people, you can cause them to have god visions and
make them see angels with an electromagnet to their head. But you
can't make most people plan ahead or see what isn't in front of
them, no matter what you can do to them in the lab. Most people are
dumb apes and that's all there is to it. So don't worry about it, just
stay out of their way when they form crowds.
...the more I think about it the more I get worried.
Also that higher threshold I mentioned earlier may relate to what
seems to be a higher incidence of depression and panic disorders in
this type. I'm just guessing, but probably lower then average serotonin
levels play a part. Anyway, if you're having issues with energy and
worrying too much, here's a thread to check out.
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:36 am Post subject: Re: What should I do?
Cheers guys for the responses, I can see what you mean about people still needing oil on the downslope, I suppose oil companies will be desperate for people to run the refineries. Also about the age yes that is a big problem, most people on the refinery here are in the forties or older.
Also about telling people, I did talk to a mate who works with me, he was more concered about not being able to get his porsche in time!
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:04 am Post subject: Re: What should I do?
you will always learn something that you could use in other ways. Just look out what details niches could open you up new windows. Maybe they will begin projects with renewables then take your chance.
Joined: Sep 25, 2004 Posts: 4548 Location: Boston, MA
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:46 am Post subject: Re: What should I do?
manu wrote:
Quit, move away from the city. Get out now while you can. Don't follow all the other lemmings over the cliff.
Ignore that kind of advice. It doesn't apply to people in your position.
You are working in a recession proof industry. Not only is it recession proof but it is extremely lucrative and highly in demand, especially given the big increase in oil prices.
The average petroleum engineer is 46 years old. That means in 15 years, they need to replace about half of their workforce.
That's you.
And what exactly would you do in the "country". Pick tomatoes and live in poverty? Watch your friends in the oil industry prosper while you sit around waiting for the end of the world?
You can do better than that and sticking with Chevron is the way to move up in life.
Good luck! _________________ "www.peakoil.com is the Myspace of the Apocalypse."
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject: Re: What should I do?
Welshgreen - STICK WITH YOUR APPRENTICESHIP
The world is, and ALLWAYS WILL BE crying out for energy engineers, (no such thing as an out of work gas engineer where I live).
Get as many qualifications as you can, rise up the ladder as high as you can, Study peak oil / gas / coal / etc, don't become a DOOMER, become a DOOER, an industry insider, with knowledge & experience within & without.
Study this site well, alot of good information here, interspersed also with alot of crap, only YOU can decide for yourself what is what.
Best years of my life was my apprenticeship with the North Western Gas Board back in the 70's. (young & daft then !!!)
Good Luck - Gasmon _________________ Constantus excrementia et level variatum
Were allways in the sh|t, its only the depth that varies
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: What should I do?
I agree with the others, I can't imagine a better position to be in. Oil companies have tons of cash to use to expand and hire more.
If I were to advise anyone today about what to study, I would advise them to do what you are doing.
I have even considered going to the Alberta tar sands to work for the summer and then come home, but I have a family business that I just can't leave. If I lived closer, I would do it.
Couple all that with the fact that you are aware of the future problems and you will be smart enough to spend your money on gold bars and and buy a 1990 chevy instead of a Porsche. You have the world by the balls. You will be one of the few being chauffeured to your job in an armored car while the rest of us riot.
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