Even by starting exploration today we'd struggle to bring on...

Even by starting exploration today we'd struggle to bring on line a "major" oil find off southern Australia by 2015 imo. Best to be be working on an alternative plans b, c, d, e or whatever it takes to have energy security.

Coal bed methane and underground coal gasifiaction can both be used as feedstock for manufacture of hydrocarbon liquids, the latter even utilising stranded coal that cannot be mined by conventional means. Hotrocks can provide electricity on a massive scale. Highly efficient 3rd generation solar cells are a reality.

I dont favour an all or nothing approach by being complacently optimistic that another major oil find can solve all problems ... it may or may not in this instance, but eventually it wont.

Dex