Future Movie Plot

A petroleum geologist with a background in mantle cores is studying a Russian claim about oil generation. Through meditation, thought experiments, and heavy hallucinogens, he hypothesizes that oil is a necessary stabilizer of tectonic plate and the absence of oil increases stresses throughout the system. Though initially considering this idea whimsically, he finds correlation and causation for the extraction of oil and the growing increase in occurrences and severity of earthquakes, particularly in areas of high oil extraction.

He gradually uncovers the material scientific explanation for this phenomena. Other scientists validate and contribute additional findings. Earthquake escalations appear during the skepticism and in-fighting. Consensus forms around the theory and it is determined that we must immediately and reluctantly put oil back into the earth and divert oil produced by genetically modified algae to restore balance to its previous conditions.

No happy ending. Our folly was short-term ignorance borrowing against long-term reality.