World oil production has maxed out: Talisman

Talisman chief executive Jim Buckee has never been one to shy away from controversy.

An astrophysicist, Buckee was one of the first energy industry executives to challenge the precepts of global warming and the subsequent demonization of all greenhouse gas producers -- a position that earned him the ire of the environmental lobby.

An adventurer, he took his company into one of the most controversial oil plays in the world -- Sudan -- believing it was a good thing, financially speaking, for the Calgary-based explorer. Some industry analysts believe that decision earned the company a stock market backlash, even though Talisman exited Sudan with a healthy financial gain over four years ago.

So when Buckee suggests, as he did at Talisman's annual meeting Wednesday, that Peak Oil has arrived, we are not completely surprised -- even if that observation is likely to again land him in the eye of a storm.