How much oil can the atmosphere oxidize?

From: G. R. L. Cowan (gcowan_at_eagle.ca)
Date: 08/28/04 

Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 11:01:08 -0400

There is 10 tonnes of air per square metre of Earth's surface
(land and sea both). It contains 2.4 tonnes per m^2
of elemental oxygen. This is enough to oxidize
0.68 tonnes per m^2 of oil -- a layer almost 1 metre deep.

That layer over the whole oblate spheroidal surface
has volume on the order of 2 quadrillion (10^15) barrels,
so although I don't share them, hopes that
several trillion (10^12)barrels will with due tribute be burnt
do not amount to a plan for anoxia.

--- Graham Cowan
http://www.eagle.ca/~gcowan/Paper_for_11th_CHC.doc --
How individual mobility gains nuclear cachet

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