Fossil Fuels
Units of Energy
• Energy: Joule, Kilowatt-hour, calories, BTU
• Power (rate of doing work): watts
3 Largest Users of Fossil Fuels
1. U.S.
2. China
3. European Union
For the most part, all nonrenewable sources of
energy have high net energy yield
Crude Oil: Petroleum
• Composed of organic matter (dead things that
were once living) so contains the elements
found in living things
• Composed of carbon and hydrogen
(hydrocarbons) with nitrogen, sulfur, and
oxygen impurities
How Is Oil Formed?
• For oil and natural gas, the process happens on the sea floor
when marine life (phytoplankton and zooplankton) settle to
the bottom in large quantities. Over time, this decomposing
organic material is mixed with sediment and buried beneath
the surface. As they get move deeper into Earths crust, heat
and pressure build up, forming a fossil fuel.
Oil Extraction
• Most of the time, oil deposits are dispersed in
small pores in Earth’s crust (like sponge)
• It is extracted using a drill and pump
Oil Reserves
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Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait
Russia
South America: Venezuela, Brazil
North Africa
North America: Canada, U.S. (Alaska, Texas, North Dakota)
China
Peak Production
• An oil well reaches peak production when oil
flowing from the well has reached its
maximum rate
• When did the U.S. reach peak oil production?
– 1970
• When did the U.S. start importing more than
half of its oil?
– 1998
• When did the world reach peak oil production?
– 2005
Peak Production
• Where are the 3 largest oil fields on
earth?
3. Mexico
• Peaked March, 2006
2. Kuwait
• Peaked November, 2005
1. Saudi Arabia
• Peaking RIGHT NOW!
Oil Use
• 20,680,000 barrels/day in U.S.
• Majority used for transportation (2/3)
CAFÉ Standards
• Corporate Average Fuel Economy
• Established by the EPA and aimed at reducing oil
consumption and CO2 emissions
• HW: Read article
• Cars
–30.2 mpg
• Light trucks
–24.1 mpg
Oil Refinery/ Distillation
• Petroleum is heated in a distillation column and its
components are separated based on their boiling points.
Petrochemicals
Oil Consumers
3 Largest Oil Consumers:
1. U.S. (imports 60%)
2. China
3. Japan
Combustion Engines
Products: CO, NO, NO2, SO2, CO2, H2O
OPEC
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
• First 5: Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,
Venezuela
• Later Joined: Qatar (1961), Indonesia
(1962), Libya (1962), the United Arab Emirates
(1967), Algeria (1969), Nigeria (1971), Ecuador
(1973), Gabon (1975) and Angola (2007).
• These countries own 60% of the world’s oil
reserves and produce 43% of the world’s oil
Oil Reserves
2 countries with largest reserves:
1. Saudi Arabia
2. Canada
Most reserves are owned by governments.
Why would members of OPEC lie about how oil
they have?
Increasing Oil Prices
What are some consequences of increased oil
prices?
Domestic vs. Foreign Oil
• 39% of energy used in U.S. comes from oil
• U.S. produces only 9% of the world’s oil
• Why is only 1 barrel of oil extracted for every
3 barrels of oil found?
The U.S. imports 60% of its oil, making us
dependent on foreign oil. It is unlikely that we
will ever be able to fulfill our own oil needs.
(Reached peak production in 1970)
Issues of Foreign Dependence
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Trade imbalances
Military actions
Diplomatic Action
Pollution of oceans
Coastal oil spills
Variations in cost of purchases
Threat of supply disruptions
Limitations of nonrenewable resource
Could Alaska be the Answer to
Independence?
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)
Drilling in the ANWR
Detriments: land disruption at drilling sight,
deforestation for roads and facilities,
introduction of invasives.
PRISTINE AND FRAGILE!
Advantages of Oil
Advantages
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Ample supply for 42-93 years
Low cost
High net energy yield
Easily transported
Low land use
Technology well developed
Efficient distribution system
Disadvantages
• Nonrenewable
• Large subsidies creates artificial low
price that encourages waste
• Market price does not include
environmental cost
• Air pollution (CO2)
• Water pollution
• Deforestation
Alberta, Canada
• Alberta, Canada has the largest reserve of oil sands
• Oil sands (tar sands): a mixture of sand, clay, water
and bitumen
• Bitumen: A heavy oil with high sulfur content
• The sand must be heated and mixed with water to
extract the bitumen.
Alberta, Canada
• Strip mining currently takes place to extract the oil
• Considered “the most destructive project on earth”
1. Deforestation of boreal forest
2. Toxic tailings enter waterways, killing aquatic life and migratory birds
3. Requires the use of a large amount of water from Athabasca River
4. Releases 3 times the amount of CO2 of conventional oil
Keystone XL Pipeline
Oil Shales
• Oil Shales: Rocks containing kerogen
• Kerogen: A solid combustile mixture of
hydrocarobons
• Found: Western U.S.
Oil Shale & Oil Sands
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ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
Moderate cost (sand)
Large supply
Easily transported
Efficient distribution
Technology well-developed
• High cost (shale)
• Low net energy yield
• Market price does not
include environmental cost
• Land disruption
• Water pollution
• Air pollution