Colin J. Campbell

The evidence suggests that we are facing the dawn of the Second Half of the Oil Age when oil and gas production decline.

Colin Campbell is the originator of the concept of “peak oil” with the article that he wrote in 1998 in “Scientific American”, together with Jean Laherrere. He is also the founder and honorary chairman of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO). He lives in Ireland, in the village of Ballydehob with his wife, Bobbins. Last month, he wrote me a letter that contains several interesting observations on embedded energy and on people’s life. With his permission, I am reprinting it – slightly edited – together with my answer.

Colin Campbell, one of the worlds preeminent depletion analysts, and co-author of the 1998 Scientific American article, “The End of Cheap Oil“, drafted a reply to the Guardian on these issues. Below the fold is Dr. Campbell’s letter, which gives some relevant history as to how the oil depletion debate has unfolded over time in the worlds energy agencies.

The founder of ASPO describes the strange history of the oil database used by CERA/IHS, and how it is intertwined with the peak oil movement.

The article “The End of Cheap Oil,” published in Scientific American marked a turning point in the discourse about peak oil. Co-author Campbell reflects on the article 10 years later.

Britain’s brief oil age is in decline. The major companies are withdrawing to be replaced by smaller companies, mopping up satellite fields and step-outs, as well as scavenging tail end production from ageing platforms.