FOSSIL FUELS, THEIR IMPACTS, & ENERGY CONSERVATION
Dec 23, 2015
What is energy?
Ability to do work Energy Source – Provides heat, chemical,
nuclear, mechanical, or radiant energy.
Sources of Energy
Earth’s Core Geothermal Energy
Gravitational pull of the moon and the sun
Solar Energy wind patterns, hydrologic cycle, photosynthesis biomass
Fossil Fuels oil, coal, natural gas
Energy Source Type of Energy
Crude Oil Nonrenewable
Natural Gas Nonrenewable
Coal Nonrenewable
Nuclear Energy Nonrenewable
Biomass Energy Nonrenewable
Hydropower Renewable
Solar Energy Renewable
Wind Energy Renewable
Geothermal Energy Renewable
Tidal & Wave Energy Renewable
Energy Sources We Use Today
Fossil Fuels
Highly combustible substances formed from the remains of organisms from past geological ages.
Dominant Source of Energy transportation, heating, cooking, electricity.
Nonrenewable
Fuel created from “fossils”
Produced when organic material is broken down in an anaerobic environment
Bottoms of deep lakes, swamps, shallow seas
Chemical composition subject to various temperatures, & pressures coal, oil, natural gas.
Fossil Fuel Reserves
Localized & unevenly distributed How long will they last? 1. Extraction2. Consume3. Imports & Exports
Coal
Organic matter, compressed under high pressure to form dense, solid carbon structures.
Most Abundant
Coal Mining
Subsurface mining – shafts are dug deeply into the ground & networks of tunnels are dug or blasted out to extract coal
Strip mining – coal deposits near surface, heavy machinery to remove huge amounts of earth to expose coal.
Mountaintop removal
Mining Economics
Land Area – must be surveyed and quantified
Land Reclamation Ore – rock that contains minerals with
important elements including metals.
Coal & Ore unevenly distributed
Cookie Mining Pre-Lab Questions
What economic considerations should be considered during this simulation?
What do the chocolate chips represent?
What are ores?
How many cookies does each miner obtain? How many mining tools?
What does “reclamation of land” mean?
Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act of 1977
Regulate Surface Coal Mining & Reclamation Activities
Mandatory Standards to minimize impacts on fish, wildlife, other related environmental impacts.
Coal varies in its qualities
Vary in amounts of heat, pressure and moisture involved in its formation.
Peat – precursor to coal, remains wet & near the surface
4 types of Coal different amount of energy1. Lignite (least compressed)2. Sub-bituminous3. Bituminous4. Anthracite (most compressed)
Impurities in Coal
Sulfur, mercury, arsenic
Sulfur content Freshwater or Saltwater Sediments
1. Produces sulfate air pollutants, industrial smog and acidic deposition.
Combustion of Mercury accumulates in organisms tissues, poisoning animals in food chains
Acidic Deposition
Acid forming pollutants from the atmosphere
Many Effects on the Environment1. Leach nutrients from soil2. Elevate toxic elements in water
systems3. Reduce species diversity and
abundance in aquatic life4. Damage agricultural crops
Clean Coal?
Seeking ways to cleanse coal of its impurities to minimize impact on health and the environment
Natural Gas
Consists of Methane & varying amounts of hydrocarbons
Fastest growing fossil fuel, provides ¼ of global energy.
Cleaner produces less pollution
Formed in 2 ways
Biogenic gas –created at shallow depths by the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter by bacteria.
Decay process in landfills, landfill operators selling this gas as fuel.
1. Decreases energy waste2. Reduces the release of methane3. Profitable
Thermogenic gas – Compression and heat deep underground
1. Organic matter turns to Kerogen, acts as a source for gas & oil.
2. Further heat & pressure breakdown kerogen into simpler hydrocarbon molecules
3. Contains Methane & other gases
Has Only Recently Been Widely Used
Versatile and clean burning, emits ½ much carbon dioxide as coal and 2/3 as much as oil
Shipped long distances in tankers
Deposits greatest in Russia & Middle East Russia & US lead in gas production and
consumption
Natural Gas & Fracking?
In groups, write everything you know, or think you know, or may have heard about Natural Gas & Fracking.
Be prepared to report your discussions with the rest of the class.
Extracting Gas - 2 types
Horsehead pump moves a rod in and out of a shaft, creating pressure to pull both natural gas and crude oil to the surface.
Fracturing Technique
Pumps salt water under high pressures into rocks to crack them. Sand or glass beads are inserted to hold the cracks open once the water is withdrawn.
Drilling Debate - Pros
Access gas that couldn’t be accessed before
Access to fuel within the US
Job creation, increase in economy
Burns more cleanly than oil and coal
Drilling Debate - Cons
Each time a well is cracked – 300 tons of chemicals may be used
Wastewater contains large amounts of dangerous chemicals
Still releases Carbon Dioxide contributes to global warming
Since natural gas boom, funding for alternative energy have been drastically cut
Offshore Drilling
Takes place in the seafloor on the continental shelves
Must withstand the forces of wind, waves, and ocean currents
Accounts for 25% of gas and oil in the US, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and off the southern California Coast
Ammonia, Anesthetics, Antihistamines, Artificial limbs, Artificial Turf, Antiseptics, Aspirin, Auto Parts, Awnings, Balloons, Ballpoint pens, Bandages, Beach Umbrellas, Boats, Bubble Bath, Bubble Gum, Cameras, Candles, Car Battery Cases, Carpets, Caulking, Combs, Cortisones, Cosmetics, Crayons, Credit Cards, Curtains, Deodorants, Detergents, Dice, Disposable Diapers, Dolls, Dyes, Eye Glasses, Electrical Wiring Insulation, Facial Cleanser, Faucet Washers, Fishing Rods, Fishing Line, Fishing Lures, Food Preservatives, Food Packaging, Garden Hoses, Glue, Hair Coloring, Hair Curlers, Hearing Aids, Heart Valves, Heating Oil, Ink, Insect Repellant, Insecticides, Linoleum, Lip Stick, Milk Jugs, Moisturizer, Nail Polish, Oil Filters, Panty Hose, Plastic Bags, Perfume, Petroleum Jelly, Rubber Cement, Rubbing Alcohol, Shampoo, Shaving Cream, Shoes, Toothpaste, Tires, Trash Bags, Upholstery, Vitamin Capsules, Water Pipes, Yarn.
Gulf Oil Disaster 2010
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/video/share.html?s=news01s420dqf2f
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/oil-spill-reaches-gulf-coastline-10517269
http://abcnews.go.com/gma/video/oil-washes-ashore-florida-beaches-10823571&tab=9482931§ion=4765066
Oil
Most used fuel since the 1960s
Accounts for 37% of the world’s commercial energy consumption.
Worldwide use has risen over 17% in the past decade.
Petroleum Formation
Crude oil, or petroleum, forms 1.5 – 3 km below the surface.
Mixture of hydrocarbon molecules forms sludgelike liquid.
Chain’s length affects it chemical properties, has consequences for human use.
Location of Petroleum Oil Deposits
Petroleum geologists use seismic surveying to locate fossil fuel deposits.
Proven recoverable reserve – technologically and economically feasible to remove under current conditions.
We drill to extract oil
Exploratory Drilling – holes drilled are small, and descend to great depths.
Primary Extraction – Initial drilling and pumping (two-thirds of oil remains)
Secondary Extraction – Solvents, or underground rocks are flushed with water or steam.
Petroleum Products
Refining techniques, and chemical manufacturing.
Lubricants, plastics, fabrics, pharmaceuticals.
Concern for oil production to decline…..
Depleted half of oil reserves? Used up about 1.1 trillion barrels of oil,
estimates suggest more than 1 trillion barrels remain.
Reserves-to-production ratio or R/P ratio – dividing the amount of total remaining reserves by the annual rate of production.
Predict 1.2 trillion barrels would last about 40 more years!!!
Consequences of Decreased Oil Production?
Globalized economy would collapse, economies would become intensely localized
Only feed a fraction of the world without petroleum based fertilizers and pesticides.
Rising oil prices will lead to conservation of energy and alternative energy sources.
Other Fossil Fuels
Oil sands can be mined and processed
Oil shale is abundant in the U.S. West
Methane hydrate shows potential
Downsides to other fossil fuels
Oil Cleanup Methods
Skimmers - boats which "vacuum" up surface oil and water and often separate them, recovering the waste oil and spitting the water back out behind.
Booms - "Sausages" made of netting stuffed with a cotton-like absorbent or more often fabric stuffed with polypropylene absorbent, which is more suited to organics. These can be hooked together and strung across a large area to contain oil which is on the surface so it can be cleaned up and kept away from shore.
Chemical Dispersants - Surfactants that break up the oil into small droplets which will disperse in the ocean.
Absorbent pads - used to wipe off rocks on the beaches. Some are also water-resistant but will soak up oil so they can be dropped on the spill in the water and scooped up with nets for disposal.
Towels, Toothbrushes, and Dish-washing Liquid - Used to clean off birds and otters on land.
Impacts
Alter certain flux rates in Earth’s carbon cycle
CO2 is a greenhouse gas, warms the planet and drives global climate change.
Other impacts…
Some pollutants considered to be carcinogenic, others irritate the nose, throat, and lungs.
Burning of Oil and Coal contribute to industrial smog and to acidic deposition.
Pollute water
Coal Mining affects the environment
Surface strip mining can destroy habitats, & cause extensive soil erosion, also causes acid drainage.
Subsurface mining raises health concerns for miners, leads to respiratory diseases.
Mountaintop removal habitats can be degraded or destroyed and creek beds can be polluted.
Oil & Gas extraction can alter the environment
Road networks must be constructed
Infrastructure includes housing for workers, access roads, transport pipelines, waste piles for removed soil.
Extraction of salty groundwater can contaminate soil and kill vegetation.
Effects of Prudhoe Bay
Tundra vegetation has not fully recovered from road production used 30 years ago.
Impact on Caribou avoid all parts of Prudhoe Bay, reproductive rates is lower than other areas of Alaska.
Energy Conservation
Practice of reducing energy use to extend the lifetimes of our nonrenewable energy supplies.
Involves both personal choices and efficient technologies.
Both conservation and renewable energy are needed