The Exergy Evolution of Mineral Wealth - Thanatia: The Destiny of the Earth's Mineral Resources - page 415

Fig. 13.46 Natural bonus loss associated with the extraction of the world's fuel and non-fuel
minerals throughout the 20th century

When one incorporates additional resources, the theoretical peak shifts forwards
around 100 years (Fig. 13.47).

x 10 6

x 10 6

4.5 12

2059

2159 4

10

3.5

8

3

2.5

6

2

4

1.5

1

2

0.5

0

0

1900 1950 2000 2050 2100 2150 2200 2250 2300 2350 2400

1900 1950 2000 2050 2100 2150 2200 2250

(a) Proven reserves (b) Additional resources amount in place

Fig. 13.47 The Hubbert peak applied to world coal production. Data based on proven reserves
(a) and additional resources amount in place (b). Data obtained from WEC (2010)

Natural gas reserves are significantly more depleted than those of coal. In the
period between 1900 and 2009, its consumption provoked the depletion of 32.4% of
its exergy reserves. Its 2009 R/P ratio reveals that there could be enough natural
gas for 63 years, should production and reserves remain unchanged - its theoretical