FOSSIL FUELS
Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas
By: Andrea S.
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Coal was used for
heating by cavemen
in England
During Industrial
Revolution, coal
used to run steam
engines
1880, started being
used for generating
electricity and
heating
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Heat
Electricity (50% from
coal)
One of cheapest ways
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Limited supply
Air pollution
Produces most
carbon dioxide when
burnt (global
warming)
Produces sulfur
dioxide (breathing
problems,
contributes to acid
rain)
Strip mining destroys
habitats
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Coal Mountain
Elkview
Line Creek
Greenhills
Fording River
Brule
Perry Creek
Roman Mountain
Trend Mine
Quinsam Coal Mine
OIL
History of Oil
• In ancient times, oil
was easy to access (oil
seeps on ground),
used as medicine
• 1850, American sold it
in bottles to cure
ailments
• Many oil wells were
drilled afterwards
Pros and Cons
• Electricity
• Limited supply
• Heating
• Air pollution
• Fuel for powering motors
• Releases carbon dioxide
• Boosts our economy
(global warming)
• Tanker ships can spill
• Pipelines can burst
• Releases sulfur dioxide
(breathing problems,
contributes to acid rain)
• Disturbs habitats
• Easier to pump out than
coal
Oil Refineries in B.C.
• Burnaby Oil Refinery-
largest in the province
• Prince George Oil
Refinery
NATURAL
GAS
History of Natural Gas
• 400 BC, Chinese used it
to boil water
• 100 AD, Persian king
built his kitchen
around natural gas
flame (struck by
lightning)
• 1700, British used for
lighting
• 1800, used in North
America for lighting
• 1885, used for Bunsen
burners
Pros and Cons
• Electricity
• Heating
• Liquefied for easier
transportation,
converted back to
gas
• Less pollution than
coal
• Can be bottled up for
car fuel
• Limited supply
• Air pollution
• Carbon dioxide
(global warming)
• Very flammable
• Can’t see or smell
• Explosions, oil spills
• Disturbs ocean
habitats
Natural Gas Companies in B.C.
• Montney Formation
• Precision Drilling
Corp.
• Calfrac Well Service
• Trican Well Service
Ltd.
GENERATION PROCESS
• Fossil fuel goes to power
plant
• Burned in a boiler, water
becomes steam
• Steam goes through
pipes to turbine
• The steam spins the
turbine blades.
• Spinning blades cause
shaft to turn inside
generator
• Electrical current is
produced
• Electricity travels through
wires to cities
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Price
• Approximately 9¢/kWh
• Prices expected to rise
because the supply is
slowly running out
Sources
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http://www.fe.doe.gov/education/energylessons/coal/coal_history.html
http://kids.rrc.state.tx.us/school/classroom/coal/coaluse.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/6075/coal.html
http://www.fortisbc.com/About/RegulatoryAffairs/ElecUtility/Rates/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-s-natural-gas-reserves-double-previous-estimates1.2417050
http://business.financialpost.com/2013/06/17/service-companies-buoyed-by-jump-in-gas-activity-in-b-c/
http://www.fplsafetyworld.com/?ver=kkblue&utilid=fplforkids&id=16196
http:///www.resilience.org/stories/2004-10-20/rising-fossil-fuel-prices-boost-prospects-renewable-energy#
http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-286239/petroleum
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http://www.energybc.ca/map/fossilfuelinfrastructure.html
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http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/progressive-economics-forum/2011/07/decarbonizing-homes-and-price-gas
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http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1423-fossil-fuel-energy
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http://www.energyzone.net/aboutenergy/fossil_fuels.asp
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http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/fossil.htm
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