Formation of Petroleum and Coal

Where does coal come from?

1. *Carbon*iferous period (360-299 million years ago), ferns and plants grow widely. 2. Plants die, and the remains fall into swampy wet areas. They are buried beneath the water and don't decay. 3. Plant matter is trapped and buried without oxygen. 4. Temperature and pressure build up for millions of years 5. Organic matter is broken down and chemical conversion into hydrocarbons occurs 6. Coal is *mined*

Where does petroleum come from?

1. Sea animals, plankton, and algae flourish in shallow oceans 2. These microscopic animals die and fall to the bottom of the sea and are buried. 3. Plant and animal matter is trapped and buried without oxygen 4. Temperature and pressure build up for millions of years 5. Organic matter is broken down and chemical conversion into hydrocarbons occurs 6. Humans *drill* and extract petroleum from underground

What percentage of petroleum is used in building or industry (plastic, lubrication, drugs and pharmaceuticals)?

13%

What percentage of petroleum gets burned?

87%

Define the Keystone Pipeline

A pipeline system to transport crude oil from the tar sands in Canada to refineries in Texas.

Define Crude Oil

Another name for petroleum is a mixture of complex molecules including gasoline (liquid), methane (gas), tar (liquid/solid)

Why is it commonly stated that coal and petroleum are like "buried sunshine"?

Coal and petroleum formed over millions of years from once-living creatures and plants. Since those plants get their energy from the Sun (eventually), it's that radiative energy that is eventually released!

Example of non-renewable energy

Coal petroleum, nuclear

What does it mean that petroleum and coal are non-renewable sources of energy?

Non-renewable means not replenished within a human time frame

Examples of renewable energy

Wind, hydro, solar, etc.

What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels?

• Air pollution • Water pollution • Sea level rise • Drought

What are the advantages of fossil fuels?

• They are energy dense • They are easily transportable and storable; we've been using them for a long time. • They are cheap • They have been abundant