Chapter 11 Fossil Fuels

Overview of Chapter 11 Energy Sources and Consumption How Fossil Fuels are Formed Coal Coal Reserves and Mining Environmental Impacts Oil and Natural Gas Exploration for Reserves of Oil and Natural Gas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Synfuels US Energy Strategy

Energy Sources and Consumption Energy sources used to be local Energy density… Now they are worldwide Energy consumption is different between developing and developed nations 20% of world’s population use 60% of the world’s energy sources (more on next slide)

Energy Consumption Per capita energy consumption of selected developed and developing countries (image) Worldwide energy consumption has been _____________________ every year since 1982 Most increase occurring in developing countries Increased energy demands may be met by increased energy efficiency – thru use of less energy to accomplish the same task Energy efficiency …

Energy consumption in the US ___________________ (production) use the most Heating, cooling, and illuminating building is 1/3

Fossil Fuels Combustible deposits in the Earth’s crust Composed of the ______________________ (fossils) of prehistoric organisms that existed millions of years ago Includes coal, oil (petroleum) and natural gas Fossil fuels are created too slowly to replace the reserves we use

How Are Fossil Fuels Formed? 300 million years ago Climate was mild Vast swamps covered much of the land Dead plant material decayed __________________ in the swamp environment

How Are Fossil Fuels Formed? Coal Heat, pressure and time turned the plant material into carbon-rich rock (coal) Oil Sediment deposited over microscopic aquatic organisms – decomposition role? Heat pressure and time turned them into ______________________ (oil) Natural Gas Formed the same way as oil, but at temperatures _______________________ than 100 °C

Coal Occurs in different grades 4 Common Grades: Based on variations in heat and pressure during burial 4 Common Grades: Lignite… Subbituminous… Bituminous… Anthracite… Most, if not all, coal deposits have been identified Primarily in northern hemisphere

Coal Reserves US has 25% of world’s coal supplies Known coal deposits could last ________ years At present rate of consumption

2 Types of Coal Mining Surface mining (image) Subsurface mining Chosen if coal is within 100 ft of surface Mineral and energy resources are extracted near Earth’s surface by first removing the soil, subsoil, and overlying rock strata (overburden) Strip mining… Subsurface mining Comparison of 2 types of mining…

Problems Associated with Mining There are significant human safety and health risks in mining process itself Underground mining is hazardous occupation: Many people die in mining accidents Miners have increased risk of cancer and black lung disease Did you hear about the coal mine that collapsed in April 2010? Upper Big Branch Mine, in West Virginia Methane gas buildup plus spark 29 of 31 dead

Environmental Impacts of Mining Coal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977) Requires filling (reclaiming) of surface mines after mining Reduces ________________________________ Requires ________________ and ____________ of active coal mining sites Prohibits coal mining in sensitive areas Mountaintop Removal Fills valleys and streams with debris

Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal Releases large quantities of CO2 into atmosphere Greenhouse gas Releases other pollutants into atmosphere Can cause acid precipitation International issues

Making Coal Cleaner Scrubbers- reduce _____________ emissions thru reaction with chemicals which cause pollutant to precipitate out Lime scrubbers- Resource recovery – the process of removing any material from polluted emissions or solid waste and selling it as a marketable product Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 Clean coal technologies Fluidized-bed combustion – crushed coal is mixed with limestone to neutralize the acidic sulfur compounds produced during combustion (image)

Oil and Natural Gas Oil and gas provide 60% of world’s energy They provide 63% of US’s energy Petroleum (crude oil) –

Petroleum Refining _________________ hydrocarbons present in crude oil (petroleum) are separated Based on ____________ point Oil used to make petrochemicals…

Natural Gas Natural gas contains far _____________ hydrocarbons than crude oil Methane, ethane, propane and butane Natural gas use is increasing in 3 areas: Transportation - http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/ngv.htm Main disadvantage of natural gas – deposits are often located far from where energy is used LNG potential Honda Civic GX – refueling

Oil and Natural Gas Exploration Oil and natural gas migrate upwards until they hit impermeable rock Usually located in structural traps and associated salt domes Geologists use a variety of techniques to identify structural traps : Drill __________________ in surface and obtain rock samples Produce an explosion at the surface and measure the echoes of sound waves

Oil Reserves Uneven distribution globally More than ________ is located in the Middle East Large oil deposits probably exist under the continental shelves A no-no to environmentalists

Natural Gas Reserves Uneven distribution globally More than half is located in Russia and Iran

How long will Supplies Last? Difficult to determine and estimates vary Depends on: How many more deposits will be located What technology might be available extract deeper resources Changes in global consumption rates “Peak Oil” Some industry analysts believe that improving technology will allow us to extract ____________oil out of old oil fields ____________________ is more plentiful than oil 1973- Cars lined up at gas station (gas shortage resulting from embargo imposed by OPEC)

Global Oil Demand and Supply The world’s major oil producers are not its major oil consumers US currently imports >2/3 of its oil – produced a 2006 balance of payments deficit of $270 billion Only expected to __________________ Imbalance in consumption vs production will worsen in future Causes dependence of US and other countries on Middle Eastern oil – potential international security implications as well as economic impacts

Environmental Impacts of Oil and Natural Gas Combustion Production Disturbance to land and habitat Transport Spills- especially in aquatic systems Ex: Alaskan Oil Spill (1989)

1989 Alaskan Oil Spill ~ Exxon Valdez

1989 Alaskan Oil Spill ~ Exxon Valdez Exxon Valdez hit a reef and spilled 260,000 barrels of crude oil into sound Largest oil spill in US history, up to the Gulf Spill Led to Oil Pollution Act of 1990

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill April 20, 2010 Aka: BP oil spill Gulf of Mexico Oil flowed unabated for three months Largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry Cause: explosion on platform high pressure methane gas from the well expanded into the drilling riser  released onto the drilling rig ignited and exploded Efforts by multiple ships to douse the flames were unsuccessful  burned for approximately 36 hours and sank on April 22, 2010 Why problem? Oil leaking directly from tapped underground storage (well) July 15, 2010: the leak was stopped  capped the gushing wellhead Estimated 4.9 million barrels of crude oil released

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill September 19, 2010: the relief well process was successfully completed federal government declared the well "effectively dead November 2010:4 ,200 square miles of the Gulf were re-closed to shrimping after tar balls found in shrimpers' nets January 2011: oil spill commissioner reported that problems still exist February 2011 : researchers found tar on the bottom of the seafloor did not seem to be degrading July 9, 2011: roughly 491 miles of coastline in LA, MS, AL and FL remained contaminated January 2011 :the White House oil spill commission released its final report on the causes of the oil spill. Blame on BP and its partners for making a series of cost-cutting decisions and the lack of a system to ensure well safety In June 2010 BP set up a $20 billion fund to compensate victims of the oil spill September 2011: U.S. government published its final investigative report on the accident. The main cause was the defective cement job, and Halliburton, BP and Transocean were, in different ways, responsible for the accident. tar balls continue to wash up, oil sheen trails are seen in the wake of fishing boats, wetlands marsh grass remains fouled and dying, and crude oil lies offshore in deep water and in fine silts and sands onshore.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Extensive damage to: marine and wildlife habitats Gulf's fishing and tourism industries To remove oil/protect beaches, wetlands, estuaries: skimmer ships floating containment booms anchored barriers sand-filled barricades along shorelines dispersants

http://ecopolitology.org/2010/06/08/cutaway-of-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-response-graphic/

Largest Global Oil Spill 1991 during Persian Gulf War ~25o million gallons of crude oil were _______________ dumped into Persian Gulf Cleanup efforts along coastline and in desert were initially hampered by _____________ In 2001 Kuwait began a massive remediation project to clean up its oil contaminated desert

Case in Point - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Refuge - home to many animal species (polar bears, arctic foxes, peregrine falcons, musk oxen, Dall sheep, wolverines, and snow geese) History of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1960 – Congress declared a section of northeastern Alaska protected because of its distinctive wildlife 1980 – Pressure for oil development subsided for about 5 yrs after Exxon spill Mid 1990s – 2001 – Bush 2005 - Senate voted against opening refuge for oil development Support for and Opposition to Oil Exploration in the Refuge

Synfuel and Other Fossil Fuel Resources Used in place of oil or natural gas Include: Tar sands Oil shales Gas hydrates Liquefied coal Coal gas (right)

Environmental Impact of Synfuels Combustion releases enormous quantities of ____ and other pollutants into atmosphere Contributes to global warming and _______________ Require large amounts of ____________ during production Limited usefulness in arid areas Large areas of land would have to be surface mined to recover the fuel in tar sands and oil shales

US Energy Strategy Objective 1: Objective 2: Requires many unpopular decisions Examples Decrease speed limit to conserve fuel Eliminate government subsidies Objective 2: 2 oppositions: environmental and economic

US Energy Strategy Objective 3: Who should pay for this? Gas taxes? Objective 4: Without Further Damage to the Environment

Bush’s National Energy Policy (2005)