Chapter 11Chapter 11Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels

Overview of Chapter 11Overview of Chapter 11

Energy Sources and ConsumptionEnergy Sources and Consumption Energy PolicyEnergy Policy Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels

CoalCoal Oil and Natural GasOil and Natural Gas SynfuelsSynfuels

ANWRANWR

Energy Sources and Energy Sources and ConsumptionConsumption Energy sources were originally found Energy sources were originally found

locally and now they are worldwidelocally and now they are worldwide Fossil fuelsFossil fuels Nuclear energyNuclear energy ElectricityElectricity

Energy consumption is different Energy consumption is different between developing and developed between developing and developed nationsnations 20% of world20% of world’’s population use 60% of the s population use 60% of the

worldworld’’s energy sourcess energy sources

Energy Sources and Energy Sources and ConsumptionConsumption Energy densityEnergy density

Amount of energy contained in a given Amount of energy contained in a given volume or mass of an energy sourcevolume or mass of an energy source

Energy efficiencyEnergy efficiency A measure of the fraction of energy A measure of the fraction of energy

used relative to the total energy used relative to the total energy available in a given sourceavailable in a given source

Per capita energy consumption of Per capita energy consumption of selected developed and developing selected developed and developing countriescountries

Energy Sources and Energy Sources and ConsumptionConsumption

Energy Consumption in the Energy Consumption in the USUS

US Energy PolicyUS Energy Policy

Objective 1: Increase Energy Efficiency Objective 1: Increase Energy Efficiency and Conservationand Conservation Requires many unpopular decisionsRequires many unpopular decisions ExamplesExamples

Decrease speed limit to conserve fuelDecrease speed limit to conserve fuel Eliminate government subsidiesEliminate government subsidies

Objective 2: Secure Future Fossil Fuel Objective 2: Secure Future Fossil Fuel Energy SuppliesEnergy Supplies 2 oppositions: environmental and economic2 oppositions: environmental and economic

US Energy PolicyUS Energy Policy

Objective 3: Develop Alternative Objective 3: Develop Alternative Energy SourcesEnergy Sources Who should pay for this? Gas taxes?Who should pay for this? Gas taxes?

Objective 4: Meet the First Three Objective 4: Meet the First Three Objectives Without Further Damage Objectives Without Further Damage to the Environmentto the Environment

Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels

Combustible deposits in the EarthCombustible deposits in the Earth’’s s crustcrust Composed of the remnants (fossils) of Composed of the remnants (fossils) of

prehistoric organisms that existed millions prehistoric organisms that existed millions of years agoof years ago

Includes coal, oil (petroleum) and natural Includes coal, oil (petroleum) and natural gasgas

Non-renewable resourceNon-renewable resource Fossil fuels are created too slowly to Fossil fuels are created too slowly to

replace the reserves we usereplace the reserves we use

How Are Fossil Fuels How Are Fossil Fuels Formed?Formed? 300 million years ago300 million years ago

Climate was mildClimate was mild Vast swamps covered much of the landVast swamps covered much of the land Dead plant material decayed slowly in Dead plant material decayed slowly in

the swamp environmentthe swamp environment

How Are Fossil Fuels How Are Fossil Fuels FormedFormed CoalCoal

Heat, pressure and time turned the plant Heat, pressure and time turned the plant material into carbon-rich rock (coal)material into carbon-rich rock (coal)

OilOil Sediment deposited over microscopic Sediment deposited over microscopic

plants plants Heat pressure and time turned them into Heat pressure and time turned them into

hydrocarbons (oil)hydrocarbons (oil) Natural GasNatural Gas

Formed the same way as oil, but at Formed the same way as oil, but at temperatures higher than 100 °Ctemperatures higher than 100 °C

CoalCoal

Most, if not all, coal deposits have Most, if not all, coal deposits have been identified been identified

Occurs in different grades - based on Occurs in different grades - based on variations in heat and pressure variations in heat and pressure during burialduring burial

CoalCoal

US has 25% of worldUS has 25% of world’’s coal suppliess coal supplies Known coal deposits could last 200 Known coal deposits could last 200

yearsyears At present rate of consumptionAt present rate of consumption

2 Types of Coal Mining2 Types of Coal Mining

Surface mining Surface mining (right)(right) Chosen if coal is Chosen if coal is

within 30m of surfacewithin 30m of surface Subsurface miningSubsurface mining

Extraction of mineral Extraction of mineral and energy resources and energy resources from deep from deep underground deposits underground deposits

Environmental Impacts of Environmental Impacts of Mining CoalMining Coal

Surface Mining Control and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977)Reclamation Act (1977) Requires filling (reclaiming) of surface Requires filling (reclaiming) of surface

mines after miningmines after mining Reduces Acid Mine DrainageReduces Acid Mine Drainage Requires permits and inspections of Requires permits and inspections of

active coal mining sightsactive coal mining sights Prohibits coal mining in sensitive areasProhibits coal mining in sensitive areas

Mountain Top Removal Mountain Top Removal

Environmental Impacts of Environmental Impacts of Burning CoalBurning Coal

Releases large quantities Releases large quantities of COof CO22 into atmosphere into atmosphere Greenhouse gasGreenhouse gas

Releases other Releases other pollutants into pollutants into atmosphereatmosphere MercuryMercury Sulfur oxidesSulfur oxides Nitrogen oxidesNitrogen oxides

Can cause acid Can cause acid precipitationprecipitation

Making Coal CleanerMaking Coal Cleaner

ScrubbersScrubbers Fluidized Bed Combustion (below)Fluidized Bed Combustion (below)

Oil and Natural GasOil and Natural Gas

Oil and gas provide 60% of worldOil and gas provide 60% of world’’s s energyenergy They provide 62% of USThey provide 62% of US’’s energys energy

Petroleum RefiningPetroleum Refining

Numerous hydrocarbons Numerous hydrocarbons present in crude oil present in crude oil (petroleum) are (petroleum) are separatedseparated Based on boiling pointBased on boiling point

Natural gas contains far Natural gas contains far fewer hydrocarbons fewer hydrocarbons than crude oilthan crude oil Methane, ethane, Methane, ethane,

propane and butanepropane and butane

Oil and Natural Gas Oil and Natural Gas ExplorationExploration Oil and natural gas migrate upwards Oil and natural gas migrate upwards

until they hit impermeable rockuntil they hit impermeable rock Usually located in structural trapsUsually located in structural traps

Oil ReservesOil Reserves

Uneven distribution Uneven distribution globallyglobally

More than half is More than half is located in the located in the Middle EastMiddle East

Natural Gas ReservesNatural Gas Reserves

Uneven distribution globallyUneven distribution globally More than half is located in Russia More than half is located in Russia

and Iranand Iran

Locating more depositsLocating more deposits Future extraction Future extraction

technologiestechnologies Changes in global Changes in global

consumption ratesconsumption rates Experts indicate there Experts indicate there

may be shortages in may be shortages in 2121stst century century

How long will Supplies Last?How long will Supplies Last?

Difficult to determine and estimates Difficult to determine and estimates varyvary

Depends on:Depends on:

Environmental Impacts of Environmental Impacts of Oil and Natural GasOil and Natural Gas

CombustionCombustion Increase carbon dioxide and pollutant Increase carbon dioxide and pollutant

emissionsemissions Natural gas is far cleaner burning than oilNatural gas is far cleaner burning than oil

ProductionProduction Disturbance to land and habitatDisturbance to land and habitat

TransportTransport Spills - especially in aquatic systemsSpills - especially in aquatic systems Ex: Alaskan Oil Spill (1989)Ex: Alaskan Oil Spill (1989)

1989 Alaskan Oil Spill1989 Alaskan Oil Spill

1989 Alaskan Oil Spill1989 Alaskan Oil Spill

Exxon Valdez hit a reef and spilled Exxon Valdez hit a reef and spilled 260,000 barrels of crude oil into 260,000 barrels of crude oil into soundsound

Largest oil spill in US historyLargest oil spill in US history Led to Oil Pollution Act of 1990Led to Oil Pollution Act of 1990

Case in Point - Arctic Case in Point - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)(ANWR)

Synfuel and Other Fossil Synfuel and Other Fossil Fuel ResourcesFuel Resources SynfuelSynfuel

Synthesized fuel from Synthesized fuel from coal and other naturally coal and other naturally occurring sourcesoccurring sources

Used in place of oil or Used in place of oil or natural gas natural gas

Include:Include: Tar sandsTar sands Oil shalesOil shales Gas hydratesGas hydrates Liquefied coalLiquefied coal Coal gas (right)Coal gas (right)