CHAPTER 24 PETROLEUM

A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCE

Drilling for answers after an oil rig explosion

A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCEDrilling for answers after an oil rig explosion

Learning Outcomes

24At the end of this chapter, you will know: • How fossil fuels are

formed and why they’re considered non-renewable.• Where current oil

reserves are located and consequences of extraction.• Advantages and

disadvantages of unconventional sources of petroleum.

A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCEDrilling for answers after an oil rig explosion

Main Concept

TERMS TO KNOW:Fossil fuels

24

Beyond transportation, we depend on fossil fuels for many of the products we use daily. We have become increasingly destructive in our efforts to extract resources from the environment.

A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCEDrilling for answers after an oil rig explosion24

The 2010 oil spill in Gulfport, Mississippi, was the largest in history. Researchers from Texas A&M set out to assess the impact of this spill on marine organisms.

Case chemistry: Methane, a favorite food of many bacteria in the ocean, makes up about half of the oil’s chemical composition. As bacteria consume the methane and their populations grow, they deplete oxygen, leaving little for other organisms.

Researchers in front of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010

Pyrosomes are tropical colonial organisms that

can grow 12 feet long.

TERMS TO KNOW:Fossil fuels

A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCEDrilling for answers after an oil rig explosion24

Fossil fuels form over million of years. Organisms die and are buried in sediment before they can decompose. Pressure and heat causes the organisms to go through chemical transformation into oil, gas, or coal.

Marine organisms died and were buried in sediment. Anaerobic conditions slowed decomposition.

Partially decomposed biomass in the sediment was subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.

Oil and natural gas move upward in porous rock until stopped by a layer of denser rock. Deposits are extracted by drilling.

A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCEDrilling for answers after an oil rig explosion24

Fossil fuels form over million of years. Organisms die and are buried in sediment before they can decompose. Pressure and heat causes the organisms to go through chemical transformation into oil, gas, or coal.

Marine organisms died and were buried in sediment. Anaerobic conditions slowed decomposition.

Partially decomposed biomass in the sediment was subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.

Oil and natural gas move upward in porous rock until stopped by a layer of denser rock. Deposits are extracted by drilling.

A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCEDrilling for answers after an oil rig explosion24

Fossil fuels form over million of years. Organisms die and are buried in sediment before they can decompose. Pressure and heat causes the organisms to go through chemical transformation into oil, gas, or coal.

Marine organisms died and were buried in sediment. Anaerobic conditions slowed decomposition.

Partially decomposed biomass in the sediment was subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.

Oil and natural gas move upward in porous rock until stopped by a layer of denser rock. Deposits are extracted by drilling.

Petroleum is a valuable resource but it has many drawbacks24

TERMS TO KNOW:Nonrenewable resourcesOilPetroleumCrude oilPeak oilReservesConventional petroleum resources

Hydrocarbons (compound of hydrogen and carbon) can be extracted from the Earth as solids, liquids, or as gas. As demand outstrips supply, costs continue to go up. Can we continue at any cost?

Petroleum is a valuable resource but it has many drawbacks24

TERMS TO KNOW:Nonrenewable resourcesOilPetroleumCrude oilPeak oilReservesConventional petroleum resources

Peak oil is the point in time when oil will reach its highest production—potential followed by steady decline.

Petroleum is a valuable resource but it has many drawbacks24

TERMS TO KNOW:Nonrenewable resourcesOilPetroleumCrude oilPeak oilReservesConventional petroleum resources

Different regions of the world have differing amounts of conventional oil and natural gas reserves. The Middle

East has the largest reserves of both oil and natural gas.

Petroleum is a valuable resource but it has many drawbacks24

Different regions of the world have differing amounts of conventional oil and natural gas reserves. The Middle

East has the largest reserves of both oil and natural gas.

Reserves, the amount of a fuel that is economically feasible to extract from a deposit using current technology, are not evenly distributed.

This has led to political problems between nations that have or don’t have enough to meet their own needs.

Conventional oil reserves are tapped by drilling wells24Primary production occurs when the natural forces of pressure force oil upward. Only about 5−15% of the oil can be recovered during this phase.

As pressure below ground decreases, injection wells nearby are drilled so water can be hosed in to apply more force to the remaining oil. This is secondary production and accounts for 20−40% of the reserve’s oil.

Tertiary production is expensive but can extract up to 60% of the remaining oil through injecting steam or CO2 into the reservoir.

Oil is obtained by drilling through layers of dense rock to reach the reservoir below.

Pumpjacks are used to increase recovery.

Conventional oil reserves are tapped by drilling wells24Primary production occurs when the natural forces of pressure force oil upward. Only about 5−15% of the oil can be recovered during this phase.

Tertiary production is expensive but can extract up to 60% of the remaining oil through injecting steam or CO2 into the reservoir.

Oil is obtained by drilling through layers of dense rock to reach the reservoir below.

Pumpjacks are used to increase recovery.

As pressure below ground decreases, injection wells nearby are drilled so water can be hosed in to apply more force to the remaining oil. This is secondary production and accounts for 20−40% of the reserve’s oil.

Processing oil creates fuels and products24

TERMS TO KNOW:Petrochemicals

Crude oil must be distilled or refined to separate the oil into its components.

The first compounds to be boiled off are the lightest liquids, such as gasoline.

Jet fuel, kerosene, diesel fuel, and heavier products like asphalt and fuel oil are recovered last.

Crude oil is refined into a variety of chemical products by heating it in a tower. Different-sized carbon compounds vaporize at

different temperatures and are collected as separate products.

Processing oil creates fuels and products24

TERMS TO KNOW:Petrochemicals

Crude oil must be distilled or refined to separate the oil into its components.

The first compounds to be boiled off are the lightest liquids, such as gasoline.

Jet fuel, kerosene, diesel fuel, and heavier products like asphalt and fuel oil are recovered last.

Crude oil is refined into a variety of chemical products by heating it in a tower. Different-sized carbon compounds vaporize at

different temperatures and are collected as separate products.

Processing oil creates fuels and products24

TERMS TO KNOW:Petrochemicals

Crude oil must be distilled or refined to separate the oil into its components.

The first compounds to be boiled off are the lightest liquids, such as gasoline.

Jet fuel, kerosene, diesel fuel, and heavier products like asphalt and fuel oil are recovered last.

Crude oil is refined into a variety of chemical products by heating it in a tower. Different-sized carbon compounds vaporize at

different temperatures and are collected as separate products.

Petroleum use comes at a great cost24

Environmental consequences are experienced at every stage of the recovery process. Sound waves cause disorientation, drilling disturbs critical habitat, and

spills have devastating long-term impacts.

Natural gas is another conventional energy resource24

Natural gas is used in place of oil for generating electricity and heat.

Extraction methods for natural gas are similar to those used for oil and, although much cleaner burning than oil, natural gas

must also be purified for use.

Processes for extracting the deepest reserves are controversial due to the need for injecting fluids with toxic chemicals at

high pressure. This process—fracking—imposes high risks of contamination to

ground and drinking water, soil, and air.

TERMS TO KNOW:Natural gas

Natural gas is another conventional energy resource24TERMS TO KNOW:

Natural gas

Natural gas is another conventional energy resource24TERMS TO KNOW:

Natural gas

Natural gas is another conventional energy resource24TERMS TO KNOW:

Natural gas

Unconventional oil resources require different harvesting techniques24

Canada has the world’s largest reservoir of crude bitumen—an unconventional, heavy, black oil. The oil is trapped in sand or clay—tar sands. It is a possible alternative to traditional fossil fuels but with serious environmental consequences. Extraction produces toxins, lakes become filled with acidic wastewater that the oil companies store at the mining site. The mining process also produces more than three times the amount of greenhouse gases than conventional oil and gas production.

TERMS TO KNOW:FrackingUnconventional oil reservesOil shaleOil or tar sands

Unconventional oil resources require different harvesting techniques24

Canada has the world’s largest reservoir of crude bitumen—an unconventional, heavy, black oil. The oil is trapped in sand or clay—tar sands. It is a possible alternative to traditional fossil fuels but with serious environmental consequences. Extraction produces toxins, lakes become filled with acidic wastewater that the oil companies store at the mining site. The mining process also produces more than three times the amount of greenhouse gases than conventional oil and gas production.

TERMS TO KNOW:FrackingUnconventional oil reservesOil shaleOil or tar sands

Oil consumption drives extraction24TERMS TO KNOW:Energy security

Reserves of nonconventional petroleum deposits exist, but they cost more and are and environmentally

damaging to extract.

Petroleum deposits exist in a variety of forms.

Oil consumption drives extraction24The United States uses more energy than any other

country in the world—tripled in last 50 years.

Most of our energy usage comes from coal, petroleum, and natural gas—most of which is imported.

China and India are increasing their oil consumption, forcing increased extraction, regardless of

consequences.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) “…as long as we keep the driving addiction and

the oil addiction that we have in this country, we will be jeopardizing really fertile, fragile

ecosystems all around the country—onshore and offshore.”

TERMS TO KNOW:Energy security

Oil consumption drives extraction24The United States uses more energy than any other

country in the world—tripled in last 50 years.

Most of our energy usage comes from coal, petroleum, and natural gas—most of which is imported.

China and India are increasing their oil consumption, forcing increased extraction, regardless of

consequences.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) “…as long as we keep the driving addiction and

the oil addiction that we have in this country, we will be jeopardizing really fertile, fragile

ecosystems all around the country—onshore and offshore.”

TERMS TO KNOW:Energy security

The Deepwater Horizon spill still threatens many marine species24

TERMS TO KNOW:Energy independence

Deepwater Horizon - When the spill was finally capped, 4.9 million gallons of oil had surged into the 68,000 square miles surrounding the rig, resulting in declines in sperm whales, blue whales, and beaked whales. Risk of extinction… now.

PERSONAL CHOICES THAT HELP24

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE24

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE24

ANALYZING THE SCIENCE24

ANALYZING THE SCIENCE24

EVALUATING NEW INFORMATION24

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MAKING CONNECTIONS24