Fossil Fuels IFossil Fuels I

Possible QuestionsPossible Questions

1. Describe the processes that formed coal, oil, and natural gas, and explain why these energy sources are considered non-renewable.

2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages, including

environmental problems, of using coal. Make sure to include a discussion of the kinds of coal that can be used and how they differ in their environmental impact.

3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages, including

environmental problems, of using oil and natural gas.

Possible QuestionsPossible Questions

4. List the main areas where energy is consumed in the U.S. 4. List the main areas where energy is consumed in the U.S. Discuss three ways that the U.S. could decrease energy Discuss three ways that the U.S. could decrease energy consumption by altering residential and transportation consumption by altering residential and transportation usage of energy.usage of energy.

5. Summarize the controversy surrounding the Arctic 5. Summarize the controversy surrounding the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. National Wildlife Refuge.

Should the Should the Gasoline Tax Gasoline Tax Be Raised?Be Raised?

Pros?Pros?

Cons?Cons?

Country Price PerLiterIn U.S. $

Price PerU.S. GallonIn U.S. $

Canada             

$0.489 $1.858

France             

$1.110 $4.191

Germany             

$1.179 $4.460

Italy             

$1.135 $4.294

Country Price PerLiterIn U.S. $

Price PerU.S. GallonIn U.S. $

Japan             

$0.885 $3.348

Spain

                         

$0.880 $3.329

United Kingdom

            

$1.286 $4.865

United States

            

$0.384 $1.453

Selected World Gasoline PricesSelected World Gasoline PricesAverage, January, 2003Average, January, 2003

Breakdown on Gasoline CostsBreakdown on Gasoline Costs

USA Regional Differences USA Regional Differences Gasoline PricesGasoline Prices

What are Fossil Fuels?What are Fossil Fuels?

All fossil fuels are forms of All fossil fuels are forms of stored solar energystored solar energy that are created from incomplete biological that are created from incomplete biological decomposition.decomposition.

Fossil Fossil non-renewablenon-renewable fuels include: fuels include:CoalCoalOilOilNatural gasNatural gas

Sources of Energy Used by HumansSources of Energy Used by Humans

Fossil Fuels Predominant Energy SourceFossil Fuels Predominant Energy Source

Fossil fuels Fossil fuels ~ 85%~ 85%Nuclear Nuclear ~ 6% ~ 6% Hydroelectric Hydroelectric ~ 4%~ 4%Biomass fuelsBiomass fuels < 5% < 5% AlternativesAlternatives ~1% ~1%

20% of the World’s Population 20% of the World’s Population Consumes 68% of the World’s Energy.Consumes 68% of the World’s Energy.

What is the difference between US/Canada and Switzerland/Japan/Denmark in energy use?

Where Energy Goes in the U.S.A.Where Energy Goes in the U.S.A.

IndustryIndustry ~ 42%~ 42%Making metals; chemical industry (plastics, Making metals; chemical industry (plastics, fertilizers)fertilizers)

Residential/commercial ~ 33%Residential/commercial ~ 33% Heating, air conditioning, lighting, and hot Heating, air conditioning, lighting, and hot waterwater

Transportation ~ 25% Transportation ~ 25% Passenger travel, hauling by semi (Passenger travel, hauling by semi (Trains, Trains, barges, ships and pipelines use 12% of fuel, barges, ships and pipelines use 12% of fuel, yet haul 75% of freight.yet haul 75% of freight.

Where Energy Goes in the U.S.A.Where Energy Goes in the U.S.A.

OilOil and Gas wa and Gas was Formed by Partial s Formed by Partial Decomposition of Aquatic OrganismsDecomposition of Aquatic Organisms

OILOILLocationLocation - usually in porous and coarse-grained - usually in porous and coarse-grained stone such as stone such as sandstone and limestone.sandstone and limestone.

Requires a Requires a traptrap - rock, like shale, that impedes the - rock, like shale, that impedes the hydrocarbons in anticlines (arch-shaped folds). hydrocarbons in anticlines (arch-shaped folds).

OilOilExtraction:Extraction:

Primary RecoveryPrimary Recovery (~25%)(~25%) - oil is under - oil is under pressure, so pumping pressure, so pumping oil is a way to control oil is a way to control the extraction of oil.the extraction of oil.

Secondary RecoverySecondary Recovery (>50%)(>50%) - injecting - injecting steam, water, or steam, water, or chemicals (carbon chemicals (carbon dioxide, nitrogen) dioxide, nitrogen)

World Gas and World Gas and Crude Oil Crude Oil ReservesReserves

Crude OilCrude OilNatural GasNatural Gas

Known Oil ReservesKnown Oil Reserves

60% of proven recoverable oil reserves in 60% of proven recoverable oil reserves in the the Mid-EastMid-East. .

Proven reserves of oil = 1 trillion barrelsProven reserves of oil = 1 trillion barrels

At 22 billion barrels a year (present rate), At 22 billion barrels a year (present rate), this isthis is 45 years worth of oil.45 years worth of oil.

Uses of OilUses of Oil

Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas UseEnvironmental Effects of Oil and Gas Use

Carbon Dioxide ReleaseCarbon Dioxide Release

Water ContaminationWater ContaminationPollution of marine waters from leaks or Pollution of marine waters from leaks or spills.spills.

Wastewater used in secondary recovery.Wastewater used in secondary recovery.

Pollution of surface waters and groundwater Pollution of surface waters and groundwater from runoff and leaking from broken pipes from runoff and leaking from broken pipes and storage tanks.and storage tanks.

Spills Spills Gulf war = 250 million gallonsGulf war = 250 million gallons

Exxon Valdez = 11 million gallonsExxon Valdez = 11 million gallons

Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas UseEnvironmental Effects of Oil and Gas Use

Soil ContaminationSoil ContaminationFrom wells, pipelines, storage tanks, and From wells, pipelines, storage tanks, and roadsroads

Release of drilling mudRelease of drilling mud

Smoke tornado

ANWR = 200 day supply ANWR = 200 day supply of oil?of oil?

What are What are the Costs the Costs and and Benefits of Benefits of Exploring Exploring the ANWR the ANWR for Oil?for Oil?

Natural GasNatural Gas

Formation similar to oil, from partially Formation similar to oil, from partially decomposed aquatic organisms subjected to heat decomposed aquatic organisms subjected to heat and pressure.and pressure.

In contrast to oil which consists of a mixture of In contrast to oil which consists of a mixture of often hundreds of hydrocarbons, natural gas is often hundreds of hydrocarbons, natural gas is composed primarily of one hydrocarbon – composed primarily of one hydrocarbon – methane.methane.

Natural gas is more expense to transport than oil, Natural gas is more expense to transport than oil, and it is often burned off at an oil well as waste.and it is often burned off at an oil well as waste.

Advantages of Natural Gas Advantages of Natural Gas

Compared to oil products, natural gas produces about 80-90% fewer emission when used in vehicles.

Natural gas can be used for both heating and cooling systems.

Natural gas is more plentiful than oil.

CoalCoal

Coal was formed by the partial decay of plants and Coal was formed by the partial decay of plants and animals. Under heat and pressure from burial by animals. Under heat and pressure from burial by later material, the partially decomposed plant later material, the partially decomposed plant material became the carbon-rich rock we call coal.material became the carbon-rich rock we call coal.

Coal may be classified as lignite, bituminous, or Coal may be classified as lignite, bituminous, or anthracite according to its hardness. Anthracite, anthracite according to its hardness. Anthracite, the hardest, was formed under the highest the hardest, was formed under the highest temperatures and produces the fewest pollutants temperatures and produces the fewest pollutants when burned.when burned.

Carboniferous forests from which coal was formed

Coal Coal CompositionComposition

Formation - 300 million years Formation - 300 million years agoago

Kinds:Kinds::AnthraciteAnthracite - hard coal, shiny, - hard coal, shiny,

blue/black coal. Highest blue/black coal. Highest heat producing capacity of heat producing capacity of the coals. Lowest volatiles.the coals. Lowest volatiles.

BituminousBituminous - called soft coal, called soft coal, but is hard, bright black but is hard, bright black coal - usually high in sulfur coal - usually high in sulfur volatiles.volatiles.

Lignite Lignite - soft, moist coal - soft, moist coal which produces little heat which produces little heat compared to other coalscompared to other coals.

Coal Coal ExtractionExtraction

Extraction - Strip minesExtraction - Strip mines

1. Bulldozers and scrapers remove the vegetation and 1. Bulldozers and scrapers remove the vegetation and topsoil from an area.topsoil from an area.

2. Soil is stockpiled for reuse.2. Soil is stockpiled for reuse.3. Overburden (rock over the coal) is removed.3. Overburden (rock over the coal) is removed.4. Coal beds are drilled and blasted and loaded.4. Coal beds are drilled and blasted and loaded.5. The cut is filled and topsoil is replaced.5. The cut is filled and topsoil is replaced.

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation ActSurface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 19771977Prior to this, land did not have to be re-established.Prior to this, land did not have to be re-established.

World coal deposits are vast (10x greater than oil), World coal deposits are vast (10x greater than oil), and reserves could last for more than 200 yearsand reserves could last for more than 200 years

Environmental Effects of Coal MiningEnvironmental Effects of Coal Mining

Carbon dioxide releaseCarbon dioxide release

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide release - leads Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide release - leads to acid precipitationto acid precipitation

Mine acid drainage - acidifies streams; toxic Mine acid drainage - acidifies streams; toxic metals introduced into streamsmetals introduced into streams

Release of radioactivity and toxic metalsRelease of radioactivity and toxic metals

Environmental Effects of Coal MiningEnvironmental Effects of Coal Mining

Land disturbance Land disturbance

Other human risks:Other human risks:

Black lung diseaseBlack lung disease

Cave-insCave-ins

Coal firesCoal fires

Acid Deposition ProblemsAcid Deposition Problems

Ways to Alleviate PollutionWays to Alleviate Pollution

Chemical or physical cleaning of coal prior to Chemical or physical cleaning of coal prior to combustion.combustion.

Boiler designs that require a lower temperature of Boiler designs that require a lower temperature of combustion, reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides.combustion, reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides.

Fluidized Bed Combustion -Fluidized Bed Combustion - Injection of material rich Injection of material rich in calcium carbonate while burning. Reacts with sulfur in calcium carbonate while burning. Reacts with sulfur dioxide, producing a calcium sulfate sludge.dioxide, producing a calcium sulfate sludge.

Scrubbing/Filter/Precipitator following burningScrubbing/Filter/Precipitator following burning.

Fluidized Bed Combustion - Limestone captures sulfur and nitrogen impurities in slag, decreasing pollutants in the air.

ScrubberScrubber

ElectrostaticElectrostaticPrecipitator Precipitator

Fabric FilterFabric Filter

Reserves at Reserves at Present Rate of Present Rate of Consumption:Consumption:

Oil: 45 yearsOil: 45 years

Coal: 200 yearsCoal: 200 years

But will energy But will energy consumption level out?consumption level out?