Fossil Fuels and Geology: Energy Sources and Environmental Impact

1. Unit 2 “Fossil Fuels and Geology”

2. Sources of Energy • Prior to the onset of the Industrial Revolution energy used for heating and cooking etc. came from the use of wood products • Once the advances of the Industrial Revolution took hold, a transition occurred from burning wood to utilizing fossil fuels so as to supply energy to an ever growing human population

3. Geology Review • Geology is the study of rocks and the Earth’s physical features • Recall the solid portion of the Earth is the lithosphere • There are 3 main rock categories based on how it is formed. What are they? • Volcanoes are found along the boundaries of tectonic plates….lots of geologic activity there!

4. Fossil Fuels • There are three types of fossil fuels • All 3 types of fossil fuels are formed via the conversion of plant matter over time due to the presence of heat and pressure • This transformation is a very slow process, taking millions of years, and occurs deep below the surface of the Earth • Even those these fuels are the result of plant matter being chemically altered, because the process takes so long, fossil fuels are considered nonrenewable

5. 3 Types of Fossil Fuels • Crude Oil – extracted from deep within the crust of the earth; liquid form • Natural Gas – extracted from close to the surface (Biogenic gas), or deep within the crust of the Earth (Thermogenic gas); gas form • Coal – extracted from well within the crust of the Earth; solid form

6. Crude Oil Specifics • Forms due to high temperature and pressure conditions from 1 to 2 miles below the surface • Sound waves are used to locate oil reserves • Once reserves are located extraction occurs via drilling • Drilling uses pressure differentials to facilitate the movement of the crude oil/petroleum from well within the Earth to the surface of the Earth

7. Crude Oil Specifics • Petroleum contains many hydrocarbon molecules that have many uses • These numerous types of hydrocarbons are separated from each other for later use via a process called fractional distillation • Even though many everyday products, including plastics, are made from crude oil hydrocarbons, the one product that is of keen interest and under increasing scrutiny is Gasoline • It is predicted that we will have exhausted our supply of crude oil by about 2050

8. Crude Oil Specifics

9. Crude Oil Specifics

10. Natural Gas Specifics • Much cleaner burning fuel than crude oil or coal • World supplies of natural gas are projected to last approximately 60 more years • Natural gas has only recently become more widely used • The U.S. has substantial natural gas supplies below the soil surface

11. Natural Gas Specifics • 2 main types of natural gas: • Biogenic (Methane) - just below surface • Thermogenic (Methane & other gases) – deep below surface • Natural gas is extracted via drilling both in the ocean and on land as is the case with crude oil • Natural gas is used to fuel vehicles and generate electricity • http://www.pickensplan.com/index.php

12. Coal Specifics • ¼ of the worlds coal supplies are located below the surface of the U.S.A. • Coal is extracted in a variety of ways: • Subsurface mining – less ecological impact but more dangerous and more expensive • Strip Mining – big holes are dug from the surface in an effort to extract the coal; less dangerous and cheaper but much more ecologically damaging • Mountain Top Removal Mining - a form of strip mining that is very ecologically damaging http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F2Hvi1yDLY

13. Coal Specifics • Coal is used mainly for the generation of electricity

14. Hydraulic Fracturing - Fracking • Relatively new technique used to extract hydrocarbons: oil and natural gas • Traditional drilling is done vertically • Hydraulic Fracturing has a vertical and horizontal drilling component • Minimal environmental impact assuming responsible drilling procedures • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY34PQUiwOQ

15. Environmental Problems • Fossil Fuels are non-renewable, and as a result, will be nonexistent in the future • All three forms of fossil fuels can be polluting: • Crude Oil – global warming (still being debated) and toxic chemicals • Coal – acid rain and particulate matter • Natural Gas – minimally polluting but pungent odor associated with its use

16. Environmental Problems • Additionally, all other minerals and metals are mined using the same methods as fossil fuels and they are also non-renewable resources • As technology improves however, extraction methods are generally safer and less environmentally impacting (assuming responsible implementation)

17. Environmental Problems • Within the last 5 years a shift in the theory of Climate Change has been occurring: • 1. Initially thought to be solely anthropogenic • 2. Revelations recently have revealed collusion and dishonesty in climate change research • 3. More recent research is showing climate change is most likely the result of natural causes http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-pacific-warming-20140923-story.html http://notrickszone.com/2017/05/29/80-graphs-from-58-new-2017-papers-invalidate-claims-of-unprecedented-global-scale-modern-warming/#sthash.ktF0tSb7.nVTJRONP.dpbs • Climate Change/Global Warming will be discussed in more detail in Unit 4