1. © Cengage Learning 2015 LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT, 18e G. TYLER MILLER SCOTT E. SPOOLMAN © Cengage Learning 2015 Nonrenewable Energy-Fossil Fuels

2. © Cengage Learning 2015 Oil and natural gas –Two most widely used natural resources in the U.S. Oil consumption is increasing –New extractions from oil shale cause environmental harm –Burning oil and natural gas will continue adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere Core Case Study: Is the United States Entering a New Oil and Natural Gas Era?

3. © Cengage Learning 2015 Net energy yield –Total amount of useful energy available from a resource minus the energy needed to make the energy available to consumers Energy return on investment –Energy obtained per unit energy used to obtain it First law of thermodynamics: –It takes high-quality energy to get high- quality energy Pumping oil from ground, refining it, and transporting it Second law of thermodynamics –Some high-quality energy is wasted at every step Net Energy Is the Only Energy That Really Counts

4. © Cengage Learning 2015 Coal –Overtime plants die, covered by water & sediment –Heat & pressure convert material into carbon rich ore (COAL) & sedimentary rock Oil –Death and buildup of microscopic aquatic organisms –Heat & pressure convert material to hydrocarbons (OIL) without oxygen in sediments that prevent decay Natural Gas –Same as oil –Produced at higher temperatures than oil Formation of Fossil Fuels

5. © Cengage Learning 2015 Crude oil (petroleum) Peak production – time after which production from a well declines –Global peak production for all world oil Crude oil cannot be used as it comes out of the ground –Must be refined –Petrochemicals – byproducts We Depend Heavily on Oil

6. © Cengage Learning 2015 Availability determined by: –Demand –Technology –Rate at which we remove the oil –Cost of making oil available –Market price Proven oil reserves – available deposits –Profitable Unconventional heavy oil –Higher environmental cost; production cost Three major options: –Live with much higher oil prices –Extend oil supplies –Use other energy sources Are We Running Out of Conventional Oil?

7. © Cengage Learning 2015 Bakken Oil Formation –Under Montana, South and North Dakota & Canada –10% of estimated oil in unproven reserves could be removed –Low net energy –High environmental costs –Only meets need for 1 year Arctic National Wildlife Refuge –Fragile Arctic Tundra ecosystem –Crude oil MIGHT be found –Would take 10-20 years to develop this supply –Only meet demand for 7- 24 months Possible Oil?

8. © Cengage Learning 2015 The U.S.: –Produces 9% of the world’s oil and uses 23% of world’s oil –Has about 2% of world’s proven oil reserves –Imports 52% of its oil Should we look for more oil reserves? –Extremely difficult –Expensive and financially risky Case Study: Oil Production and Consumption in the United States

9. © Cengage Learning 2015 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) 13 countries have at least 60% of the world’s crude oil reserves –Saudi Arabia: 20% –United States: 1.5% Global oil production leveled off in 2005 OPEC Controls Most of the World’s Oil Supplies

10. © Cengage Learning 2015 Oil shales contain kerogen –After distillation – shale oil 72% of the world’s reserve is in arid areas of western United States –Locked up in rock –Lack of water needed for extraction and processing –Low net energy yield –Very expensive Heavy Oil From Oil Shale Rock

11. © Cengage Learning 2015 Tar sand contains bitumen (thick, sticky, tarlike heavy oil with high sulfur content) Must be refined before use (like oil) Extensive deposits in Canada and Venezuela –Oil sands have more oil than in Saudi Arabia Extraction –Serious environmental impact before strip- mining –Low net energy yield Heavy Oil from Tar Sands

12. © Cengage Learning 2015 Natural gas – 50-90% methane CH 4 Conventional natural gas –Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Stored in tanks –Liquefied natural gas (LNG) Low net energy yield Makes U.S. dependent upon unstable countries like Russia and Iran The U.S. produces gas conventionally and from shale rock –Increasing environmental problems with shale rock extraction Natural Gas Is a Useful, Clean-Burning, but Not Problem-Free Fossil Fuel

13. © Cengage Learning 2015 Hydraulic Fracturing AKA “Fracking” High pressure water mixed with chemicals & sand are injected into wells to extract natural gas Creates fractures in rocks- allows oil & natural gas to escape 70% of water returns as waste Case Study: Natural Gas Production and Fracking in the U.S.

14. © Cengage Learning 2015 Advantages: –Obtain natural gas & oil in places where conventional practices are too costly/ineffective –Lower energy dependency –Creates jobs –Lower transportation costs/fossil fuel use ~110 years of energy in USA Disadvantages: –Dangerous chemicals could enter water table –Toxic, radioactive, caustic liquid waste byproducts pose storage, treatment & disposal problems –No regulations or safeguards –Contaminated water (disputed) –Air pollution –Negative impact on flora & fauna, streams Case Study: Natural Gas Production and Fracking in the U.S.

15. © Cengage Learning 2015 Coal bed methane gas –In coal beds near the earth’s surface; in shale beds –High environmental impacts of extraction Methane hydrate –Trapped in icy water; in permafrost environments; on ocean floor –Costs of extraction is currently too high Unconventional Natural Gas

16. © Cengage Learning 2015 Coal –Solid fossil fuel Burned in power plants –Generates 42% of the world’s electricity Abundant – world’s largest coal reserves –United States –Russia –China Environmental costs of burning coal –Severe air pollution Sulfur released as SO 2 Large amount of soot CO 2 Trace amounts of mercury and radioactive materials Coal Is a Plentiful but Dirty Fuel

17. © Cengage Learning 2015 Coal Is a Plentiful but Dirty Fuel

18. © Cengage Learning 2015 Conversion of solid coal to: –Synthetic natural gas (SNG) by coal gasification –Methanol or synthetic gasoline by coal liquefaction –Synfuels More expensive Requires mining of 50% more coal We Can Convert Coal into Gaseous and Liquid Fuels

19. © Cengage Learning 2015 “Coal is the single greatest threat to civilization and all life on planet.”~James Hansen Coal companies and energy companies has fought: –Classifying carbon dioxide as a pollutant –Classifying coal ash as hazardous waste –Air pollution standards for emissions The 2008 clean coal campaign –Note: there is no such thing as clean coal –60 minutes video: Coal and Global Climate Change https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6tiRKapgnY The Clean Coal Campaign