When Oil cos are part of the problem...

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=220014

"The most recent earnings reports from the oil giants show that despite pressures to spend part of their eye-popping profits in alternative-energy projects, oil companies are sticking to their guns by bolstering share-buyback programs and putting off major portfolio
diversification."

... nor are they investing big in exploration. The other side of Hubbard's/Hubbert peak theory. Nothing we do in world oil production and finds today will meet global demand.

"Oil companies' current investment in alternatives is small compared with the billions spent on buying back shares. Among the U.S. oil giants, the trend has been most pronounced with
Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), which has said current alternative-energy technologies aren't viable."

... your guarantee that oil prices will stay high. "Gas is still too cheap."

http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=55060
http://www.chathamthisweek.com/News/398491.html

For many in this nation this new idea has not totally sunk in yet. Like alternative energy solutions, it has hardly made a dent. Day-to-day operations are still on the assumption that OLD rules apply. The truth is, the disparity between old(assumptions) and a new reality is what's termed a rude awakening. "Oil is still too cheap."
 
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-miket0808may08,0,4403100.column

It's the start of a global war for a diminishing resource... the last vestiges of Free-Oil(TM)! Perception Is Reality... 

Short of a global recession(a case of hurting the hand(China) that feeds it(USA)-unlikely to happen), the conclusion is remarkably clear...

Oil will remain high for far longer than our minds are ready to perceive it.