Oil crisis. Conceptual computer artwork of barrels of oil. International consumption of oil is increasing and, according to experts, it will reach a peak at around 2010. Despite the knowledge that there is a finite supply of oil, there has been a comparatively small investment in alternative sources of energy, for example solar, wind and hydroelectric power. Instead there has been much excavating for oil in areas outside of the traditional oil-producing countries of the Persian Gulf. This image could suggest the international search for oil.