CHAPTER 24 PETROLEUM
A DANGEROUS
DEPENDENCE
Drilling for answers after an oil rig explosion
24
A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCE
Drilling for answers after an oil rig explosion
At the end of this
chapter, you will
know:
• How fossil fuels are
formed and why
they’re considered
non-renewable.
• Where current oil
reserves are
located and
consequences of
extraction.
• Advantages and
disadvantages of
unconventional
sources of
petroleum.
Learning
Outcomes
24
A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCE
Drilling for answers after an oil rig explosion
TERMS TO KNOW:
Fossil fuels
Beyond transportation, we depend
on fossil fuels for many of the
products we use daily. We have
become increasingly destructive in
our efforts to extract
resources from the
environment.
Main
Concept
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A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCE
Drilling for answers after an oil rig explosion
The 2010 oil spill in Gulfport, Mississippi, was the largest in history. Researchers
from Texas A&M set out to assess the impact of this spill on marine organisms.
Case chemistry: Methane, a favorite food of many bacteria in the ocean, makes
up about half of the oil’s chemical composition. As bacteria consume the methane
and their populations grow, they deplete oxygen, leaving little for other
organisms.
Pyrosomes are tropical
colonial organisms that
can grow 12 feet long.
Researchers in front of the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
in 2010
TERMS TO KNOW:
Fossil fuels
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A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCE
Drilling for answers after an oil rig explosion
Fossil fuels form over million of years. Organisms die and are buried in sediment
before they can decompose. Pressure and heat causes the organisms to go
through chemical transformation into oil, gas, or coal.
Marine organisms died and
were buried in sediment.
Anaerobic conditions slowed
decomposition.
Partially decomposed biomass
in the sediment was subjected
to heat and pressure over
millions of years.
Oil and natural gas move upward
in porous rock until stopped by a
layer of denser rock. Deposits are
extracted by drilling.
24
A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCE
Drilling for answers after an oil rig explosion
Fossil fuels form over million of years. Organisms die and are buried in sediment
before they can decompose. Pressure and heat causes the organisms to go
through chemical transformation into oil, gas, or coal.
Marine organisms died and
were buried in sediment.
Anaerobic conditions slowed
decomposition.
Partially decomposed biomass
in the sediment was subjected
to heat and pressure over
millions of years.
Oil and natural gas move upward
in porous rock until stopped by a
layer of denser rock. Deposits are
extracted by drilling.
24
A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCE
Drilling for answers after an oil rig explosion
Fossil fuels form over million of years. Organisms die and are buried in sediment
before they can decompose. Pressure and heat causes the organisms to go
through chemical transformation into oil, gas, or coal.
Marine organisms died and
were buried in sediment.
Anaerobic conditions slowed
decomposition.
Partially decomposed biomass
in the sediment was subjected
to heat and pressure over
millions of years.
Oil and natural gas move upward
in porous rock until stopped by a
layer of denser rock. Deposits
are extracted by drilling.
24
Petroleum is a valuable resource but it has many
drawbacks
TERMS TO KNOW:
Nonrenewable
resources
Oil
Petroleum
Crude oil
Peak oil
Reserves
Conventional
petroleum resources
Hydrocarbons (compound of hydrogen and carbon)
can be extracted from the Earth as solids, liquids,
or as gas. As demand outstrips supply, costs
continue to go up. Can we continue at any cost?
24
Petroleum is a valuable resource but it has many
drawbacks
TERMS TO KNOW:
Nonrenewable
resources
Oil
Petroleum
Crude oil
Peak oil
Reserves
Conventional
petroleum resources
Peak oil is the point in time when oil
will reach its highest production—
potential followed by steady decline.
24
Petroleum is a valuable resource but it has many
drawbacks
TERMS TO KNOW:
Nonrenewable
resources
Oil
Petroleum
Crude oil
Peak oil
Reserves
Conventional
petroleum resources
Different regions of the world have differing amounts of
conventional oil and natural gas reserves. The Middle
East has the largest reserves of both oil and natural gas.
24
Petroleum is a valuable resource but it has many
drawbacks
Reserves, the amount
of a fuel that is
economically feasible
to extract from a
deposit using current
technology, are not
evenly distributed.
This has led to political
problems between
nations that have or
don’t have enough to
meet their own needs.
Different regions of the world have differing amounts of
conventional oil and natural gas reserves. The Middle
East has the largest reserves of both oil and natural gas.
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Conventional oil reserves are tapped by drilling wells
Primary production
occurs when the natural
forces of pressure force
oil upward. Only about
5−15% of the oil can be
recovered during this
phase.
Oil is obtained by drilling through layers of
dense rock to reach the reservoir below.
Pumpjacks are used to increase recovery.
As pressure below ground
decreases, injection wells
nearby are drilled so water can be
hosed in to apply more force to the
remaining oil. This is secondary production
and accounts for 20−40% of the reserve’s oil.
Tertiary production is expensive but can extract up to 60% of the remaining oil
through injecting steam or CO2 into the reservoir.
24
Conventional oil reserves are tapped by drilling wells
Primary production
occurs when the natural
forces of pressure force
oil upward. Only about
5−15% of the oil can be
recovered during this
phase.
Oil is obtained by drilling through layers of
dense rock to reach the reservoir below.
Pumpjacks are used to increase recovery.
As pressure below ground
decreases, injection wells
nearby are drilled so water can be
hosed in to apply more force to the
remaining oil. This is secondary production
and accounts for 20−40% of the reserve’s oil.
Tertiary production is expensive but can extract up to 60% of the remaining oil
through injecting steam or CO2 into the reservoir.
24
Processing oil creates fuels and products
Crude oil must be
distilled or refined to
separate the oil into
its components.
The first compounds
to be boiled off are
the lightest liquids,
such as gasoline.
Jet fuel, kerosene,
diesel fuel, and
heavier products like
asphalt and fuel oil
are recovered last.
TERMS TO KNOW:
Petrochemicals
Crude oil is refined into a variety of chemical products by heating it
in a tower. Different-sized carbon compounds vaporize at different
temperatures and are collected as separate products.
24
Processing oil creates fuels and products
Crude oil must be
distilled or refined to
separate the oil into
its components.
The first compounds
to be boiled off are
the lightest liquids,
such as gasoline.
Jet fuel, kerosene,
diesel fuel, and
heavier products like
asphalt and fuel oil
are recovered last.
TERMS TO KNOW:
Petrochemicals
Crude oil is refined into a variety of chemical products by heating it
in a tower. Different-sized carbon compounds vaporize at different
temperatures and are collected as separate products.
24
Processing oil creates fuels and products
Crude oil must be
distilled or refined to
separate the oil into
its components.
The first compounds
to be boiled off are
the lightest liquids,
such as gasoline.
Jet fuel, kerosene,
diesel fuel, and
heavier products like
asphalt and fuel oil
are recovered last.
TERMS TO KNOW:
Petrochemicals
Crude oil is refined into a variety of chemical products by heating it
in a tower. Different-sized carbon compounds vaporize at different
temperatures and are collected as separate products.
24
Petroleum use comes at a great cost
Environmental consequences are experienced at every stage of the recovery
process. Sound waves cause disorientation, drilling disturbs critical habitat, and
spills have devastating long-term impacts.
24
Natural gas is another conventional energy resource
TERMS TO KNOW:
Natural gas
Natural gas is used in place of oil for
generating electricity and heat.
Extraction methods for natural gas are
similar to those used for oil and, although
much cleaner burning than oil, natural gas
must also be purified for use.
Processes for extracting the deepest
reserves are controversial due to the need
for injecting fluids with toxic chemicals at
high pressure. This process—fracking—
imposes high risks of contamination to
ground and drinking water, soil, and air.
24
Natural gas is another conventional energy resource
TERMS TO KNOW:
Natural gas
24
Natural gas is another conventional energy resource
TERMS TO KNOW:
Natural gas
24
Natural gas is another conventional energy resource
TERMS TO KNOW:
Natural gas
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Unconventional oil resources require different harvesting
techniques
TERMS TO KNOW:
Fracking
Unconventional oil reserves
Oil shale
Oil or tar sands
Canada has the world’s largest
reservoir of crude bitumen—an
unconventional, heavy, black oil.
The oil is trapped in sand or clay—
tar sands. It is a possible alternative
to traditional fossil fuels but with
serious environmental
consequences.
Extraction produces toxins, lakes
become filled with acidic
wastewater that the oil companies
store at the mining site.
The mining process also produces
more than three times the amount
of greenhouse gases than
conventional oil and gas production.
24
Unconventional oil resources require different harvesting
techniques
TERMS TO KNOW:
Fracking
Unconventional oil reserves
Oil shale
Oil or tar sands
Canada has the world’s largest
reservoir of crude bitumen—an
unconventional, heavy, black oil.
The oil is trapped in sand or clay—
tar sands. It is a possible alternative
to traditional fossil fuels but with
serious environmental
consequences.
Extraction produces toxins, lakes
become filled with acidic
wastewater that the oil companies
store at the mining site.
The mining process also produces
more than three times the amount
of greenhouse gases than
conventional oil and gas production.
24
TERMS TO KNOW:
Energy security
Oil consumption drives extraction
Reserves of nonconventional petroleum deposits exist,
but they cost more and are and environmentally
damaging to extract.
Petroleum
deposits exist in
a variety of
forms.
24
TERMS TO KNOW:
Energy security
Oil consumption drives extraction
The United States uses more energy than any other
country in the world—tripled in last 50 years.
Most of our energy usage comes from coal, petroleum,
and natural gas—most of which is imported.
China and India are increasing their oil consumption,
forcing increased extraction, regardless of
consequences.
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
“…as long as we keep the driving addiction and
the oil addiction that we have in this country,
we will be jeopardizing really fertile, fragile
ecosystems all around the country—onshore and
offshore.”
24
TERMS TO KNOW:
Energy security
Oil consumption drives extraction
The United States uses more energy than any other
country in the world—tripled in last 50 years.
Most of our energy usage comes from coal, petroleum,
and natural gas—most of which is imported.
China and India are increasing their oil consumption,
forcing increased extraction, regardless of
consequences.
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
“…as long as we keep the driving addiction and
the oil addiction that we have in this country,
we will be jeopardizing really fertile, fragile
ecosystems all around the country—onshore and
offshore.”
24
The Deepwater Horizon spill still threatens many
marine species
Deepwater Horizon - When the spill was finally
capped, 4.9 million gallons of oil had surged
into the 68,000 square miles surrounding the
rig, resulting in declines in sperm whales, blue
whales, and beaked whales. Risk of
extinction… now.
TERMS TO KNOW:
Energy
independence
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PERSONAL CHOICES THAT HELP
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UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE
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UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE
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ANALYZING THE SCIENCE
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ANALYZING THE SCIENCE
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EVALUATING NEW INFORMATION
http://tinyurl.com/5s6jqxj http://tinyurl.com/6k9znl
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MAKING CONNECTIONS