Module 7 - Study Questions
What is a proved oil reserve? What region of the world has the largest reserved of conventional oil? What country has the largest proved reserves of oil?
-Proven reserves are the amount of oil or natural resources contained under a piece of land with a 90% or greater probability of profitable extraction. - Saudi Arabia - Venezuela
The consumption of natural gas is increasing in the US. Why?
Coal became the primary form of energy in the U.S. in 1885. Despite its rapid expansion, coal was in turn overtaken by petroleum in the middle of the 20th century. In the second half of the 20th century, natural gas experienced rapid development, and coal began to expand again
What is a fossil fuel?
Coal, crude oil, and natural gas are all considered fossil fuels because they were formed from the fossilized, buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Because of their origins, fossil fuels have a high carbon content.
What is a fossil fuel?
Coal, crude oil, and natural gas are all considered fossil fuelsbecause they were formed from the fossilized, buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Because of their origins, fossil fuels have a high carbon content.
EIA forecasts natural gas production to continue to increase. What factors account for this increase?
EIA forecasts continued increases in natural gas production. The increase is primarily due to increasing production from shales.
What is natural gas?
Hydrocarbons that exist as a gas or vapor at ordinary pressure and temperature. Methane (CH4) is the most important, but ethane, propane, and others may be present.
Net imports have actually declined in recent years, why?
Imports of petroleum have declined due to: • growing domestic oil production particularly tight oil from shales (and also production from the outer continental shelf) • increased fuel efficiency of vehicles • continued adoption of nonpetroleum liquids (e.g. increases in ethanol in gasoline, electric vehicles)
Electricity is most commonly produced in the U.S. using what fuel?
Natural gas
Natural gas accounts for ~ what % of energy consumed in the U.S.? (ballpark is good)
Natural gas accounted for 38% of total utility-scale U.S. electricity generation by all sectors in 2019.
What country leads the world in coal reserves?
United States leads the world in coal reserves.
Most coal in the U.S. is produced in what state?
Wyoming
Where do you find gas hydrate?
are found in sub-oceanic sediments in the polar regions (shallow water) and in continental slope sediments (deep water), where pressure and temperature conditions combine to make them stable.
What is gas hydrate?
are naturally occurring ice-like solids in which water molecules trap gas molecules in a cage-like structure known as a clathrate.
What are coalbed methane?
is a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds.
Describe how horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have recently been employed to recover oil and natural gas from shale?
•Horizontal wells can traverse 5,000 feet or more of a given shale deposit, while a vertical well would simply go through the deposit, tapping only a small vertical layer of shale. •When combined with hydraulic fracturing to break apart the relatively impermeable shale, horizontal wells allow considerably greater gas production than vertical wells, more than enough to make up for their greater expense.
When does EIA forecast conventional oil will peak (hint it is a range) What factors make this so hard to predict?
•It depends how much oil there really is. •And it depends on how fast we use it up •So many variables... •EIA says oil will peak between 2021 to 2067 (a span of 46 years) / •And they suggested conventional + unconventional oil will peak between 2010 and 2020 •If no growth in consumption it might peak in 91 years.
Which type of coal has the highest carbon content? Lowest?
•Lowest rank of coal (lowest carbon content and thus lowest energy content) = Lignite •It is the most valuable and highest grade of coal, and has the highest carbon content (86% to 97%). = Anthracite
What are oil and gas seeps?
•Oil and gas seeps are natural springs where liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons (hydrogen-carbon compounds) leak out of the ground. •Whereas freshwater springs are fed by underground pools of water, oil and gas seeps are fed by natural underground accumulations of oil and natural gas. •Unlike man-made pollutants, most oil and gas seeps are produced by natural geologic processes that take place over millions of years. Though natural, they can pollute our air and waterways.
In 2011 oil production in the U.S. actually went up. Why?
1. tight oil resources onshore 2. deep water resources in the Gulf of Mexico
What are conventional vs. non-conventional gas deposits?
- Conventional Resources are concentrations of oil or gas that occur in discrete accumulations or pools. Rock formations hosting these pools traditionally have high porosity and permeability and are found below impermeable rock formations. These impervious layers form barriers to hydrocarbon migration resulting in oil and gas being trapped below them. Conventional oil and gas pools are developed using vertical well bores and using minimal stimulation. -Unconventional Resources are oil or gas-bearing units where the permeability and porosity are so low that the resource cannot be extracted economically through a vertical well bore and instead requires a horizontal well bore followed by multistage hydraulic fracturing to achieve economic production.
In the United States, what fuel is used most commonly to produce electricity? What share of electricity is produced from fossil fuels?
- Natural gas - From the Module 6 lecture notes the share produced from fossil fuels is 62% IN 2019 (Natural Gas + Coal + Petroleum). Might be slightly different if you used a different year or different data source. You don't have to know the exact number - a ballpark estimate is fine.
1. What is coal gasification? 2. What is coal liquefaction?
1. •Rather than burning coal directly, gasification (a thermo-chemical process) breaks down coal into its basic chemical constituents. •Coal is typically exposed to steam and carefully controlled amounts of air or oxygen under high temperatures and pressures. The coal is converted into carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas(which burns easily) •One of the most advanced - and cleanest - coal power plants in the world is Tampa Electric's Polk Power Station in Florida •It uses a coal gasification process that turns coal into a gas that can be cleaned of almost all pollutants 2. •Coal can also be converted into liquid fuels like gasoline or diesel by several different processes •Often this is called Coal-to-Liquids •Since 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Defense have been collaborating on supporting new research and development in the area of coal liquefaction to produce military-specification liquid fuels (specifically jet fuels)
1. What are tar sands? 2. What is bitumen? 3. Where are most of the world's tar sands? 4. What are the environmental impacts associated with production of oil from tar sands?
1. Tar sands, also referred to as oil sands or bituminous sands, are a combination of clay, sand, water, and a solid, tar-like petroleum, called bitumen. It takes 2 tons of tar sand to make a barrel of oil. 2. a black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons obtained naturally or as a residue from petroleum distillation. It is used for road surfacing and roofing. 3. 85% of all tar sand deposits occur in Canada (Most of the remaining 15% is found in Venezuela and Russia, but some of these deposits will probably never be economical to mine) 4. greenhouse gases are released, wastewater are dumped into tailing ponds that have flooded, destroys the boreal forest, the bogs, the rivers as well as the natural landscape.
What are some of the environmental impacts of producing and consuming natural gas?
Air Pollution •At the power plant, the burning of natural gas produces nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide, but in lower quantities than burning coal or oil. •Methane, a primary component of natural gas and a greenhouse gas, can also be emitted into the air when natural gas is not burned completely. •Compared to the average air emissions from coal-fired generation, natural gas produces half as much carbon dioxide, less than a third as much nitrogen oxides, and one percent as much sulfur oxides at the power plant. •Similarly, methane can be emitted as the result of leaks and losses during production, transportation and storage. Water Resources •Natural gas-fired boiler and combined cycle systems require water for cooling purposes. When power plants remove water from a lake or river, fish and other aquatic life can be killed, affecting animals and people who depend on these aquatic resources. Water Discharges •Pollutants and heat build up in the water used in natural gas boilers and combined cycle systems. When these pollutants and heat reach certain levels, the water is often discharged into lakes or rivers. •Land Resource Use •The extraction of natural gas and the construction of natural gas power plants can destroy natural habitat for animals and plants. Possible land resource impacts include erosion, loss of soil productivity, and landslides.
How does oil production and consumption impact the environment?
Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: •Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and contributes to climate change •SO2 is an air pollutant •worsens or causes respiratory illnesses and heart diseases, particularly in children and the elderly •At high concentrations can harm trees and plants by damaging foliage and decreasing growth. •contributes to acid rain, which is harmful to plants and wildlife
The most abundant type of coal is...
Bituminous coal
How does coal form?
Coal is formed when dead plant matter submerged in swamp environments is subjected to the geological forces of heat and pressure over hundreds of millions of years. Over time, the plant matter transforms from moist, low-carbon peat, to coal, an energy- and carbon-dense black or brownish-black sedimentary rock.
What are some of the problems with extraction of oil in the Arctic?
Environmental issues include: • the preservation of animal and plant species unique to the Arctic, particularly tundra vegetation, caribou, polar bears, seals, whales, and other sea life. •The adequacy of existing technology to manage offshore oil spills in an arctic environment is another unique challenge. •Spills among ice floes can be much more difficult to contain and clean up than spills in open waters.
How long does EIA estimate the US natural gas supplies will last?
I think in the slides I have 92 years, but that was based on 2018 consumption estimates. EIA updated this estimate in Feb 2021 to be 84 years (based on 2019 consumption). I wouldn't require an exact number - I just want you to have a general idea.
Describe the main stages of coal formation.
Peat, is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter Lignite, forms when peat is subjected to increased vertical pressure from accumulating sediments Sub-Bituminous, Bituminous, Anthracite
What is meant by the rank of coal? Which type of coal has the highest rank? Lowest?
Rank refers to steps in a slow, natural process called "coalification," during which buried plant matter changes into an ever denser, drier, more carbon rich, and harder material.
What are the pros and cons of hydrofracking (see homework)
YES: - Cheap and abundant natural gas - Support over hundreds of employments in the economy - Reduce electric bill and puts more money into the pockets of people - Geopolitical, reduces imports and oil prices - Less carbon emissions in nature - Coal, natural gas reduces the use NO: - Accidents can happen when disposing waste or pumping of the gas - Contamination of methane, acid fluids, and greenhouse gas can be emitted - High toxic chemicals can connect with the ground water - Induce earthquakes
What led to the oil crisis of 1973? What is OPEC?
•In 1973, the U.S. dependence on foreign oil became a major political and strategic military concern, when OPEC shut off oil supplies Note: Also in response to the 1973 oil crisis, the U.S. Congress passed the first fuel economy standards for light duty cars and trucks •The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a cartel of thirteen countries made up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela
What are some of the issues with producing natural gas from high depths?
•It is difficult and very expensive to drill down into this high-pressure environment •Plus, the saline brine represents a serious environmental problem •The gas is under such pressure that it will gush out of the wells
What are some techniques that allow secondary recovery of oil?
•Many oil experts feel that secondary recovery may allow an additional 40% of the known oil reserves to be extracted •All of these secondary recovery methods add to the cost of oil production
What is oil shale? What are some of the problems preventing the production of oil from oil shale?
•Oil shale is a generic term applied to any fine-grained sedimentary rock containing enough organic material (called kerogen) to yield oil and combustible gas upon distillation
Describe the issues surrounding oil and ANWR? (See activity)
•Oil spills during production & transportation •Wastes & brines from extraction & refining have to be disposed of •Habitat disruption from drilling & pipelines •Air pollution and global warming
What is ozone? Good vs. Bad?
•Ozone (the main component of smog) is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight. •Ozone is a colorless gas composed of three atoms of oxygen. Ozone occurs both in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level. Ozone can be good or bad, depending on where it is found. •Good up high - Bad nearby •Good Ozone. Ozone occurs naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere-10 to 30 miles above the Earth's surface-where it forms a protective layer that shields us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. •Bad Ozone. In the Earth's lower atmosphere, near ground level
How do oil and natural gas form?
•The gas and/or oil must migrate out of the source rocks into more permeable rocks, which is called the reservoir rock •And eventually, a large quantity must become concentrated and confined into a petroleum trap beneath an impermeable layer called a cap rock •These types of deposits are called conventional oil deposits
What % of the oil in a field is extracted is typically extracted using primary recovery techniques?
•This will only remove part of the oil deposit, usually a third or much less. On average, two-thirds of the oil is left in the ground
Describe the environmental impacts of production and consumption of coal. Sulfur in coal leads to what environmental problems?
•Underground mining of coal is dangerous •Mine collapses & explosions •Black lung disease •Strip (surface) mining disturbs large areas •Acid drainage from mine wastes •CO2 & acid rain from coal-fired power plants •Fly ash & bottom ash from power plants Surface mining has many adverse impacts on the environment: •habitat destruction •contamination of groundwater and surface waters •erosion of top-soils