Technical Report 1: Data sources and issues defines a number of the key terms relevant to the assessment of oil depletion, introduces the main data sources together with their associated definitions and assumptions and highlights the discrepancies between these sources with regard to both production and reserves. Particular attention is paid to the distinction between proved, and proved and probable reserve estimates. It also provides some background information on hydrocarbon chemistry, oil products and refinery processes.
This report forms part of the TPA’s assessment of evidence for a near-term peak in global oil production. The assessment addresses the following question: 'What evidence is there to support the proposition that the global supply of ‘conventional oil’ will be constrained by physical depletion before 2030?