Matthew Simmons

Matthew Roy Simmons (April 7, 1943^[4] – August 8, 2010) was founder and chairman emeritus of Simmons & Company International, and was a prominent figure in the field of peak oil. Simmons was motivated by the 1973 energy crisis to create an investment banking firm catering to oil companies. He served as an energy adviser to U.S. President George W. Bush^[5] and was a member of the National Petroleum Council and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Simmons, who lived in Houston, Texas, died at his vacation home in North Haven, Maine, on August 8, 2010, at the age of 67.^[6][7] The cause of death was ruled "accidental drowning with heart disease a contributing factor".^[8]

Simmons was the author of the book Twilight in the Desert, published in 2005.^[7] His examination of oil reserve decline rates helped raise awareness of the unreliability of Middle East oil reserves. He gave numerous presentations on peak oil and water shortages.^[9]

Simmons believed that the Club of Rome predictions are more accurate than usually acknowledged.^[10]

Simmons was the founder of the Ocean Energy Institute in Maine.^[11] His vision was to make Maine a leader in energy from offshore wind and ocean forces. The Ocean Energy Institute ceased operations in 2011. ^[12]

Saudi Arabian oil reserves

In his book, Simmons argues that production from Saudi Arabia and especially from Ghawar—the world's largest oil field—will peak in the near future, if it has not done so already. Simmons bases his case on hundreds of internal documents from Saudi Aramco, professional journals and other authoritative sources. However, by 2016, Saudi production had increased by more than one million barrels per day.^[13]

Oil price wager

In August 2005, Simmons bet John Tierney and Rita Simon, the widow of Julian Simon, $2500 each that the price of oil averaged over the entire calendar year of 2010 would be at least $200 per barrel (in 2005 dollars).^[14] Simmons would have lost this bet by a very wide margin: 2010 average oil prices did not even reach $100. The world-wide economic collapse created demand destruction that greatly decreased the demand for oil, causing prices to fall.

Appearances and interviews

Simmons made contributions to the films Peak Oil – Imposed by Nature, The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (2006), The End of Suburbia, Crude Impact, and Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash, and appeared on World Energy Television World Energy Video Interview, August 2008

Deepwater Horizon oil spill conjectures

Simmons made several controversial comments and predictions regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and BP's solvency, including:

• Talking with Bloomberg TV's Mark Crumpton, Lizzie O'Leary and Julie Hyman about BP's oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, Simmons said, "If it were my family I'd evacuate now, while you still have time".^[15]

• During a June 9, 2010, interview with Fortune,^[16] Simmons claimed that BP would "have about a month before they claim Chapter 11".

• On June 9, 2010, Simmons was interviewed by Barron's journalist Tieman Ray. Simmons disclosed that he personally held an 8,000 share short position in BP stock. As BP's stock price went lower, Simmons was benefiting financially amid fears of bankruptcy.^[17]

• During a July 7, 2010, interview on CNBC^[18] Simmons claimed that scientists were reporting the flow rate from the oil spill was "spewing 120,000 barrels a day into the Gulf" and that there have been estimates that we have "lost oxygen for 40% of the Gulf of Mexico". He further claimed that the relief wells will not stop the oil spill.

• A week later, during a July 15, 2010 interview with KPFK – Pacifica Los Angeles,^[19] Simmons asserted that the relief wells and the capping process on the Macondo wellhead are publicity stunts and that the real vent is up to ten miles (16 km) away. He said that an enormous pool of crude oil is accumulating below the sea floor, releasing poisonous gases and waiting to be whipped up by a hurricane.

• Previously, on May 26, 2010, Matthew Simmons was a guest on 'The Dylan Ratigan Show' on MSNBC, where he explained his reasons for believing that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill involved not only the leak being monitored by BP's video-camera-equipped ROVs remotely operated vehicles, but another, much bigger leak, several miles away.

Wikileaks cable mention

The Guardian reported that Simmons was mentioned in a leaked U.S State Department cable dated November 2007:

COMMENT: While al-Husseini believes that Saudi officials overstate capabilities in the interest of spurring foreign investment, he is also critical of international expectations. He stated that the IEA's expectation that Saudi Arabia and the Middle East will lead the market in reaching global output levels of over 100 million barrels/day is unrealistic, and it is incumbent upon political leaders to begin understanding and preparing for this "inconvenient truth." Al-Husseini was clear to add that he does not view himself as part of the "peak oil camp," and does not agree with analysts such as Matthew Simmons. He considers himself optimistic about the future of energy, but pragmatic with regards to what resources are available and what level of production is possible. While he fundamentally contradicts the Aramco company line, al-Husseini is no doomsday theorist. His pedigree, experience and outlook demand that his predictions be thoughtfully considered.^[20]

Death

Simmons was found dead on August 8, 2010, in his hot tub.^[21] An autopsy by the state medical examiner’s office the next day concluded that he died from accidental drowning with heart disease as a contributing factor.^[22]

See also

• Richard Heinberg
• Jeremy Leggett
• Dale Allen Pfeiffer
• Peak oil
• Simmons–Tierney bet
• Cornucopian

References

Further reading

• Matthew Simmons, Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy 2005 ISBN 0-471-73876-X, The book has been translated into German and Chinese.

External links

Articles

• Matt Simmons discusses global trends on World Energy Television World Energy Video Interview, August 2008
• Simmons investigates latest data EVWorld interviews Matthew Simmons, Feb. 2008.
• Matthew Simmons calls on regional oil producers to curb output MEED.
• Matt Simmons discusses global trends on World Energy Television World Energy Video Interview
• Global Crude Supply: Is the Oil Peak Near? World Energy Magazine, by Matthew Simmons.
• Fixing Corrupt Investment Research: It's Not That Hard World Energy Magazine. Matthew Simmons.
• The Case for a Coming Gas Shortage World Energy Magazine. Matthew Simmons.
• Is the Petroleum Pricing System Out of Control? World Energy Magazine. Matthew Simmons.
• The Coming Saudi Oil Crisis
• Revisiting The Limits to Growth: Could The Club of Rome Have Been Correct, After All? PDF

General

• Ocean Energy Institute – Simmons' last project, intended to eventually harvest massive reserves of wind energy offshore from Maine, using synthesis of ammonia fuel to be shipped by tanker.
• ANOTHER DAY IN THE DESERT. A RESPONSE TO THE BOOK, TWILIGHT IN THE DESERT at the Wayback Machine (archived October 16, 2006) // Integrity in Investment Research - Jim Jarrell's criticism of Twilight
• ASPO USA Peak Oil conference at Boston University, 27 October 2006
• Financial Sense Newshour: Matthew Simmons, 5 audio interviews: 6 August 2005 – 7 April 2007.
• The Economist: Face Value: Review of Matthew Simmons in The Economist
• Radio Broadcast: True News broadcast on June 28, 2010

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