The lifetime of a resource depends on… 1.How much we have 2.How fast we use it
Dec 29, 2015
What resources does the US have?
• Fossil fuels = – Coal– Natural Gas– Oil
• Why are we depleting our resources (running out)?– http://www.npr.org/news/specials/climate/vi
deo/
Example of the Matter and Energy LawsExample of the Matter and Energy Laws
Global WarmingGlobal Warming
Acid RainAcid Rain SmogSmog
Burning Coal = CO2 + SO + H20 + Ash +(CxHxSxOx) Light + Noise + Heat
Projected Supplies in USThese are reserves, based on current technology
• Oil – 12 years
• Natural gas – 90 year supply
• Coal – 430 year supply
COAL is cheaper, GAS is cleaner, OIL is the highest quality
Coal: $0.85 per million BtuNatural Gas: $2.18 per million Btu
Crude Oil: $2.97 per million Btu
Coal Trivia Facts
• Most abundant fossil fuel
– 400 year supply
• 66% of known coal is located in the U.S.
• U.S. is 2nd largest consumer of coal
– China is 1st!
• Most environmentally damaging fossil fuel.
What is coal?
• Easily combustible rock (high C content)
• The longer it’s been forming the higher the grade/quality– Higher grade burns
cleaner
Four (4) Grades of Coal
1. Peat – earliest stage in coal formation
(youngest)
2. Lignite (brown coal)– Low carbon = Low energy
3. Bituminous (soft coal)– Most common
4. Anthracite (hard coal)– Highest carbon = highest energy
How is it extracted?Underground Mining
• for coal buried 200-1,000 ft. deep
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk-jrbCi7Sc&feature=related
• Tour through a coal mine
How is it extracted?Surface Mining
-for coal that is buried less than 200 feet deep
-Cheapest method
-Biggest enviro. impact
http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2009/03/removing_mountains.html
What is coal used for?
• Burned to generate electricity– ½ of electricity in US is from coal
• Making steel– used to smelt iron ore into iron
Environmental Concerns
• Surface mining – removes the top of an entire mountain
• Toxic chemicals – (mercury) leach from waste rock into nearby streams
• Pollution, Acid Rain, & Global Warming – depends on the grade of the coal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkHfnp2czZQCentralia, PA
Oil Trivia Facts
• First discovered in the US in 1859 in Titusville, Pennsylvania!
• Known reserves expected to last less than 50 years– Current price per barrel: $108
What is Crude Oil?• Petroleum (crude oil)
– Thick, black oil as it comes out of the ground
• Most valuable natural resource (?)– Gasoline, heating oil, jet
fuel, grease, wax, asphalt, plastics…
OPEC
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
– Control 67% of world’s oil
– Saudi Arabia (#1), Iraq (#2), Iran, Kuwait, UAE, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, and Venezuela
Oil in U.S.Oil in U.S.
•2.3% of world reserves
•uses nearly 30% of world reserves;
•increasing dependence on imports.
www.bio.miami.edu/beck/esc101/Chapter14&15.ppt
How are oil and gas found?
Between underground rock
- Lower layer is porous
- Upper layer is impermeable
http://www.absorblearning.com/media/item.action?quick=11h
Oil Extraction
Pumped from ground using…
Gravity
Water
CO2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMBhX1IxajU&feature=related
Oil Refining
• Refinery– Heat crude oil
– Lowest boiling point components are collected first
– Limited refineries in the world.
• Affects supplies, which affects prices.
http://www.absorblearning.com/media/item.action?quick=11o
What is petroleum used for?
• Fuel - transportation, generating electricity, heating
• Making products - plastic, fleece, ink, floor wax, soap, carpet, nail polish, aspirin, etc. (over 6,000 products)
Advantages to using oil
• Most bang for the buck…– Gives the most energy with the least amount
of wasted energy (high net energy)
• Easily transported
Disadvantages to using oil
• Oil reserves are low– Economic depletion = Cost to extract
remaining supply is more expensive than its sale price.
Environmental Concerns1. Pollution - many
pollutants created when burned which leads to smog and acid rain
2. Global Warming - releases CO2 when burned
3. Oil Spills - damage to plants and animals
• Exxon Valdez and BP Oil Spill– Deepwater horizon pics
• Offshore and ANWR drilling– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP2GejkLdwA
– ANWR and offshore
• Oil spill Clean up methods– http://www.cnbc.com/id/
37593652/17_Ways_To_Clean_Up_The_Gulf_Oil_Spill?slide=14
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lCIjdon8Bg (Dawn commerical
• After the spill• http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/03/
exxon-valdez-oi.html
Natural Gas
• Underground gas– Mostly methane CH4 (50%
- 90%)
• Usually in or near oil wells
• Can also be found alone or trapped in rock (shale gas)
Natural Gas ReservesNatural Gas Reserves1. Russia (24%)
2. Iran (16%)
3. Turkmenistan (12%)
4. Qatar (11.5%)
5. United States (4%)
www.bio.miami.edu/beck/esc101/Chapter14&15.ppt
Lochland Town Meeting
• Are you FOR or AGAINST drilling in Lochland?– What would you tell
your neighbor to get them on your side?
• A similar situation in a neighboring town: http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/boomtown/
Natural Gas Extraction1. Tap gas field - Propane & butane are liquefied
• Stored in pressurized tanks
2. Remaining gas (methane) is dried to remove water, cleansed to remove impurities
• Odor is added to detect leaks
Processing
Pressurized & piped to homes.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) can be shipped in refrigerated tanker ships
• Lose ¼ of net energy when this is done
What is it used for?• Heating homes (stoves, water, air)
• Fuel for transportation
• Producing electricity