Geologic Resources: Part I

Resources Renewable – A resource that is replenished at a rate equal to or faster than it is consumed Ex: Solar power, wind, hydroelectricity. Also timber, water, paper, leather if managed properly Non-renewable – A resource that cannon be produced, re-grown, or created at the same rate that it is consumed Ex: Coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear fuel

Industrialization Major technological changes in agriculture, manufacturing, production, and transportation – Ex. Euro/American industrial revolution Demand for energy outside of traditional sources (horse/mule/man power)

“With Industrialization Comes Great Responsibility…” Industrialization is often associated with – Population growth – Desire to improve standard of living Needed food for more people more quickly – Faster food production and shipping—horses and canoes didn’t cut it – The faster it is, the faster people want it

“New” Technology New technologies allow people to do new things – Steam engine Burning of coal to boil water  steam  turns a turbine=energy Trains—could transport lots of stuff Engines adapted to other functions – Logging equipment, electricity, motors People want more “bang for their buck” – Technological arms race

“Let’s do the Time Warp, Again…” Btu: Amount of energy necessary to raise T of 1 lb of water by 1°F In 2005, the US used 100 quadrillion Btu (100 quads) of energy – The world as a whole used 440 quads – Each American consumes 4.5x the global average energy consumption/person

Numbers in Context What do these numbers mean? First, we need to look at – Reserves The known amount of economic materials – What we are actively mining/storing – Resources The amount of a given material that may become available for use

Estimated Global Resources  480 yrs  135 yrs  36 yrs  35 yrs  29.6 yrs yrs total, at current rate of ~500 quads/yr

Oil and Natural Gas

How do they form? Organic matter is deposited with mud in large lakes and in ocean basins Over millions of years, sediment buries organic-rich mud At depths of 2-5 km, heat (50-100°C) and pressure convert the organic matter into liquid petroleum At T>100°C, methane (natural gas) forms

How do we get oil reservoirs? Sediments compact and force oil into pore spaces of nearby rock Low density of these oils causes them to rise to the highest place they can reach where they float atop the water

How do we get oil reservoirs? Sediments compact and force oil into pore spaces of nearby rock Low density of these oils causes them to rise to the highest place they can reach where they float atop the water Need some geologic formation that traps the oil/gas (so it doesn’t escape)

Reserves of Oil and Natural Gas Oil and gas deposits are not evenly distributed across the earth More than half of the world’s total estimated reserves are situated in the Persian Gulf region – Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc… Some countries have few or no natural gas/oil reserves—must import – Japan, Western Europe

Oil Production and Consumption In 2004, 30 billion barrels were pumped out – Increase of 3.4% for the previous year – US produced 2.6 billion barrels – more than any country except Saudi Arabia – But it consumed 7.5 billion barrels – one-quarter of the world total – Gap in US between production and consumption is growing at 5% per year – At current rates of consumption, the US will be importing all of its oil by 2020

Will We Run Out of Oil? Estimates indicate that the peak level of oil production has passed—resources in decline

Common Uses for Oil/Natural Gas Oil – Plastics – Asphalt – Diesel Fuel – Fuel oils – Gasoline – Kerosene – Lubricating oils – Tar Natural Gas – Power generation – Heating – Vehicle fuel – Ammonia production – Hydrogen production – Manufacturing Glass, fabrics, steel

Environmental Impacts of Oil/NG CO2 and CO from burning Nitrogen oxides from burning—smog Oil spills – Exxon Valdez—10.9 million gallons of crude oil spilled in Prince William Sound

Coal

How Does it Form? Need lots of vegetation Need quick burial Over millions of years, sediment buries dead plant matter High T and P converts plant matter into “seams” of coal Various grades

How Much is There? Coal is more abundant and more evenly distributed than oil/natural gas If entire planet used nothing but coal—135 yrs

Common Methods of Extraction Surface strip mining Mountain top removal

Problems With Coal “Black lung” disease – Lungs coated with inhaled coal dust CO2 released with burning Low-grade coal has impurities—sulfur – Acid rain Acid mine drainage Coal Fires