The Future of Oil: Geology Versus Technology

Marcelle Chauvet, Jack Selody, Douglas Laxton, Michael Kumhof, Jaromir Benes, Ondrej Kamenik and Susanna Mursula

No 2012/109, IMF Working Papers from International Monetary Fund

Abstract: We discuss and reconcile two diametrically opposed views concerning the future of world oil production and prices. The geological view expects that physical constraints will dominate the future evolution of oil output and prices. It is supported by the fact that world oil production has plateaued since 2005 despite historically high prices, and that spare capacity has been near historic lows. The technological view of oil expects that higher oil prices must eventually have a decisive effect on oil output, by encouraging technological solutions. It is supported by the fact that high prices have, since 2003, led to upward revisions in production forecasts based on a purely geological view. We present a nonlinear econometric model of the world oil market that encompasses both views. The model performs far better than existing empirical models in forecasting oil prices and oil output out of sample. Its point forecast is for a near doubling of the real price of oil over the coming decade. The error bands are wide, and reflect sharply differing judgments on ultimately recoverable reserves, and on future price elasticities of oil demand and supply.

Keywords: WP; oil price; supply shock; Oil prices; exhaustible resources; fossil fuels; oil depletion; Hubbert’s Peak; Bayesian econometrics; price elasticity; price mechanism; elasticities of demand and supply; cost share; price effect; price channel; long-run price elasticities of oil demand and supply; adjustment cost; share of energy; oil price growth rate; price elasticities of oil demand and supply; price elasticities of demand and supply; Oil; Oil production; Output gap; Inflation; Global (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33
Date: 2012-05-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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Journal Article: The future of oil: Geology versus technology (2015)
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