Despite the ‘demand destruction’ hype, it is interesting to note that during this severe global recession, worldwide oil usage has dropped by a minuscule 2.7%. So, what will happen when the world comes out of this recession? Who will rise up to the challenge and meet our insatiable thirst for energy? These are critical questions not many are willing to ask.

According to the US Department of Energy, liquid fuel demand in the developed nations peaked in August 2005 at 41.89 million barrels per day. Since then, it has plunged by 3.6 million barrels per day to 38.27 million barrels per day. However, you may want to note that despite these tough economic conditions, consumption has been extremely resilient in the emerging world. For instance, demand in the developing countries peaked in October 2008 at 46.33 million barrels per day and it is down by only 0.36 million barrels per day!

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International regulations mandate near zero sulfur fossil fuels. It is becoming increasingly difficult to meet these demands, reaching the technical limits of current technology and refinery capacity. As the world’s crude reserves become heavier and more sulfur laden, it will become even more difficult. Axial Vector Energy has taken the initiative to capitalize on this situation by forming a Joint Venture with Petrosonics, LLC of Reno, Nevada.

Moving the industry forward, Petrosonics, LLC has developed proprietary systems and methods for removing sulfur and nitrogen contaminants from crude oil and refined fractions, as well as systems and methods for substantially increasing the quality and available energy to be derived from crude oil and fractions thereof. The company also has cost effective methods for removing an intermediate sulphur component found in all oxidized desulphurization technologies.

Petrosonics, LLC has secured patent rights to its technology in the

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By Porter Stansberry "How can I protect my family's finances from the reckless government spending we're sure to see in the next decade?" Of all the questions an investor should ask himself (or herself) these days, this is by far the biggest one. I provided the answer to it in the most recent issue of my Investment Advisory. Why has this become such an important topic? Because the current administration's economic strategy could create the greatest economic disaster in recorded history. Not only is the administration planning on enormous deficit spending this year, but the current plan calls for increasing deficit spending for the next decade – spending that will more than double our entire national debt during Barack Obama's presidency. At the same time, Obama plans to extend federal control over vast and critical sections of our economy, promulgating new and extensive ...

We are in a transition between the old profligate energy economy and the new economy of relative scarcity, says James Howard Kunstler. He is not convinced the President-elect Obama is fully aware of the dramatic changes that lie ahead for America. Even if he were, says James, he’d probably be crucified for daring to talk about it.

This from Whisky & Gunpowder:

A lot of readers are twanging on me for refraining to castigate President-elect Obama for deeds yet undone. They’re discouraged by the advisors and cabinet secretaries he’s picked, ostensibly because the crew coming in are Washington “insiders,” meaning they can’t possibly see or do things differently.

My own starting point for this is the belief that in the years just ahead any sociopolitical entity organized at the giant scale will flounder — this includes everything from the federal government to global corporations to factory farms to centralized

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Don’t expect oil prices to remain at these low levels for long, says Byron King. Demand weakness for crude is temporary. And oil-producing nations cannot sustain their own economies unless oil prices are close to $100 a barrel. Byron says it could be time for investors to slowly build up a position in oil service stocks.

This from Whiskey & Gunpowder:

Along with the market decline, the price of oil has fallen. It’s down 50% within three months. Back when oil hit $147 per barrel in July, I said that the price “ought” to be in the range of $100-110, with the possibility of a drop into the $90s. That’s what the fundamentals told me back then.

Most of the decline in oil price from $147 down to about $100 was directly related to the strengthening of the dollar. So the oil price slide in July, August and

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A boost in the price of crude oil helped Russia’s stocks to surge 20% yesterday, but the fluctuations in price are forcing some US oil majors to stall projects. Despite a record profit this quarter, Exxon Mobil is struggling to keep up with oil-producing nations who are keeping more oil for themselves in the face of falling prices. Moscow’s peacemakers working on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ‘are probably more concerned with increasing their political and economic influence in the crucial energy corridor’ of the Caspian.

Want to know what the price of a barrel of oil will be in eight years? Exactly $119.50 a barrel. There’s no shortage of pundits predicting where oil prices are heading. And every day seems to bring new reasons to change the forecast – a resurgent dollar, Americans curtailing their driving habits, oil supply reports… The list goes on. But the guys who really know the future of oil prices are those sitting right in the driver’s seat – oil producers. Every day, they make bets about the direction of petro prices on the futures market. And right now, they’re telling you – in no uncertain terms – oil’s got a floor price of $100 a barrel for years to come. “Oil-flation” is here to stay, but this free report reveals four ways you can beat it starting now… The Future Price of Oil – And Why You don’t ...

Claus Vistesen: CopenhagenBrazil is a resource rich country in transition towards a much more diiversified economy where industry and high value services will begin to play an increasing role. Brazil has ample supplies of energy and agricultural products, and is currently hitting that “sweet spot” where a demographically driven growth dividend becomes available. Thus we can increasingly expect to see above trend “catch up” growth as the Brazillian economy benefits from the new wealth which accrues from the rapid global rise in commodity prices while the strong supply of young labour underpins the labour market and significant productivity improvements become available as the economy generally moves towards ever higher-value-added sectors of activity.Perhaps the most telling sign of Brazil's rising status as a new global force to be reckoned with was the recent announcement by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) of the discovery of a new offshore ...

Claus Vistesen: CopenhagenBrazil is a resource rich country in transition towards a much more diiversified economy where industry and high value services will begin to play an increasing role. Brazil has ample supplies of energy and agricultural products, and is currently hitting that “sweet spot” where a demographically driven growth dividend becomes available. Thus we can increasingly expect to see above trend “catch up” growth as the Brazillian economy benefits from the new wealth which accrues from the rapid global rise in commodity prices while the strong supply of young labour underpins the labour market and significant productivity improvements become available as the economy generally moves towards ever higher-value-added sectors of activity.Perhaps the most telling sign of Brazil's rising status as a new global force to be reckoned with was the recent announcement by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) of the discovery of a new offshore ...