F OSSIL FUELS ARE : hydrocarbons, primarily coal, fuel oil or natural gas, formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. Fossil fuel is a general term for buried combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years. The burning of fossil fuels by humans is the largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide, which is one of the greenhouse gases that allows radiative forcing and contributes to global warming.

A DVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES A major advantage of fossil fuels is their capacity to generate huge amounts of electricity in just a single location. Fossil fuels are very easy to find. When coal is used in power plants, they are very cost effective. Coal is also in abundant supply. Transporting oil and gas to the power stations can be made through the use of pipes making it an easy task. Power plants that utilize gas are very efficient. Power stations that make use of fossil fuel can be constructed in almost any location. This is possible as long as large quantities of fuel can be easily brought to the power plants. Pollution is a major disadvantage of fossil fuels. This is because they give off carbon dioxide when burned thereby causing a greenhouse effect. This is also the main contributory factor to the global warming experienced by the earth today. Coal also produces carbon dioxide when burned compared to burning oil or gas. Additionally, it gives off sulphur dioxide, a kind of gas that creates acid rain. Environmentally, the mining of coal results in the destruction of wide areas of land. Mining this fossil fuel is also difficult and may endanger the lives of miners. Power stations that utilize coal need large amounts of fuel. In other words, they not only need truckloads but trainloads of coal on a regular basis to continue operating and generating electricity. This only means that coal-fired power plants should have reserves of coal in a large area near the plants location. Use of natural gas can cause unpleasant odors and some problems especially with transportation. Use of crude oil causes pollution and poses environmental hazards such as oil spills when oil tankers, for instance, experience leaks or drown deep under the sea.

N ATURAL GAS is a fossil fuel formed when layers of buried plants and animals are exposed to intense heat and pressure over thousands of years. The energy that the plants and animals originally obtained from the sun is stored in the form of carbon in natural gas.

1. The natural gas power production process begins with the extraction of natural gas, continues with its treatment and transport to the power plants, and ends with its combustion in boilers and turbines to generate electricity. 2. After the natural gas is extracted, it is treated at gas plants to remove impurities like hydrogen sulfide, helium, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and moisture. Pipelines then transport the natural gas from the gas plants to power plants. Power plants use several methods to convert gas to electricity. One method is to burn the gas in a boiler to produce steam, which is then used by a steam turbine to generate electricity. A more common approach is to burn the gas in a combustion turbine to generate electricity.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental Organization, created at the Baghdad Conference on September 10–14, 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. OPEC's objective is to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry. OPEC

P ETROLIUM EXTRACTION 1º The land is cleared and leveled, and access roads may be built. Because water is used in drilling, there must be a source of water nearby. If there is no natural source, they drill a water well. They dig a reserve pit, which is used to dispose of rock cuttings and drilling mud during the drilling process, and line it with plastic to protect the environment. If the site is an ecologically sensitive area, such as a marsh or wilderness, then the cuttings and mud must be disposed offsite -- trucked away instead of placed in a pit. 2º Place the drill bit, collar and drill pipe in the hole. Attach the kelly and turntable and begin drilling. As drilling progresses, circulate mud through the pipe and out of the bit to float the rock cuttings out of the hole. Add new sections (joints) of drill pipes as the hole gets deeper. Remove (trip out) the drill pipe, collar and bit when the pre-set depth (anywhere from a few hundred to a couple-thousand feet) is reached. 3ºIn the pump system, an electric motor drives a gear box that moves a lever. The lever pushes and pulls a polishing rod up and down. The polishing rod is attached to a sucker rod which is attached to a pump. This system forces the pump ip and down, creating a suction that draws oilup through the well

P ETROLEUM IN M EXICO The petroleum industry in Mexico makes it the sixth largest producer of oil in the world and the tenth largest in terms of net export in 20’07. It is the second largest producer in the western hemispher. However, Mexico in not a member of Opec or any petroleum production related organizations. This is one of the reasons why mexico is not taking advantage od its petroleum, also mexico doesnt have the infrastroctures like canada or the united states to improve its pipes.

AdvantagesDisadvantages Less Harmful than Coal or Oil. Toxic and Flammable Easy Storage and Transport.Damage to Environment Residential Use is that natural gas can be piped into houses for heating and cooking purposes and running a variety of appliances. Expensive Installation Vehicle FuelInefficiency in Transportation