EnSci/Env S/Geol/Mteor 3240 – Spring 2026
Study Guide for Exam 2
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Exam availability from 8:30 am on Monday, March 9, to 6:30 pm on Tuesday, March 10.
The exam must be taken at an ISU testing center.
The exam will have a 60-minute timer.
Students may bring a simple or scientific calculator to the exam. No graphing calculators.
The exam is a closed-note exam. External resources are not allowed.
Exam covers material from Lectures 8-17 and supplemental reading/video assignments.
There will be 38 multiple choice questions and 3 short answer questions on this exam.
Although being able to answer all study questions from Weeks 4-7 is important for earning a good
grade, please focus on the following questions if you have limited time to prepare for Exam 2.
Coal Ash (Lecture 8)
• What are general differences between fly ash and bottom ash?
• What are some examples of beneficial use of coal ash?
• How do the 2015 EPA guidelines on coal ash disposal protect water resources?
Conventional oil, well blowouts, and spills (Lectures 8-13)
• What are the major contributors to hydrocarbon “spills” in marine environments?
• What is the fate of light, medium-weight, and heavy hydrocarbons once they seep into marine
environments?
• How are macro-organisms affected by ingesting or being covered in hydrocarbons?
• What is a well blowout?
• What is a relief well?
• How do dispersants and “fertilizers” enhance microbial activity during a hydrocarbon spill?
• What were some of the technical and human errors that led to the DWH blowout and
explosion?
• What is the estimated final fate of the released DWH hydrocarbons?
• Under what circumstances is the Corexit dispersant toxic to marine macro-organisms?
• What do experimental results indicate regarding the effectiveness of Corexit?
Hydraulic Fracturing (Lectures 13-15)
• What components of a conventional hydrocarbon system are missing from a shale play?
• What is the goal of hydraulic fracturing?
• What are common chemicals/additives in frac fluid and what are their purposes?
• What is the definition of a “water stressed area”?
• What is water flooding and enhanced oil recovery in the context of conventional oil?
• How does water use compare between conventional oil and HF oil?
• How do abandoned wells pose a risk for groundwater contamination?
• Generally speaking, how likely is the fracture system produced by HF to intersect potable
aquifers?
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How was the Ohio River watershed affected by “treated” wastewater released into local rivers
and streams?
How does pore pressure affect stick-slip behavior?
What is the evidence that wastewater injections caused the 2011 Wilzetta Oil Field
earthquakes?
Why did it take 18 years of pore pressure change to induce an earthquake?
Oil Sands (Lecture 16-17)
• What makes oil sands an unconventional hydrocarbon system?
• What is steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)?
• Why is the EROI of oil sand hydrocarbons so low?
• How does the water-oil ratio (WOR) of oil sand extraction compare with the WOR of
conventional oil?
• What are the characteristics of mature fine tailings (MFT; the waste material from oil sand
extraction)?
• What is reclamation debt?
• Are carbon dioxide emissions estimated to be greater for ex situ or in situ extraction methods?
• Are the carbon dioxide emissions from oil sand operations four times greater than those of
conventional oil?
• What is the benefit of mixing diluent with bitumen when transporting bitumen via pipeline?
• Why was the clean-up of spilled dilbit at Kalamazoo more difficult than the clean-up of a
conventional oil spill?