Exploring Oil & Gas

Historical Energy Use by Type of Fuel (%)

1850 1900 1950 2000 20100%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Wood

Coal

Oil & Gas

Nuclear

Hydro Other

% of Total Energy

Consumed in U.S.

Data: Energy Information Administration

Where are the fossils in Fossil Fuels?Fossil fuels were forming before dinosaurs lived…

Formation

Hydrocarbons

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Methane

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History of Oil

Edwin Drake and Henry Ford

History of Natural Gas

First U.S. Natural Gas WellIn 1821, William Hart dug the first natural gas well in

Fredonia, NY.

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Where are Oil and Gas found in the U.S.?

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Oil and gas are found on land and under water…

Sedimentary Rock and Petroleum Traps

Exploration

Production

Transport Refining

Chemical Manufacturi

ngUses

Oil and Gas Process

Exploration by Geologists

Seismic Technology

Land Water

Seabed Seismic

Visualization

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Core Samples

Exploration and Production by Drilling

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Drilling Process

Place the drill bit, collar, and drill pipe in the hole.

Attach the kelly and turntable and begin drilling.

As drilling progresses, circulate mud through the pipe and out of the bit to float the rock cuttings out of the hole.

Add new sections (joints) of drill pipes as the hole gets deeper.

Remove (trip out) the drill pipe, collar and bit when the preset depth (anywhere from a few hundred to a couple thousand feet) is reached.

Parts of a Well

Horizontal Drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing

• Increased technology allows us to retrieve “tight” formations.

• The drilling process is similar, except for a specialized bit that allows for horizontal drilling.

• If oil and gas are trapped, fracturing may be used to allow liquids to flow.

Production

Christmas Tree Horse Head Pump

Enhanced Oil Recovery

Oil Transport

Natural Gas Transport

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Refining of Petroleum

Fractionating Tower

What does a barrel of crude oil provide?

Note: A 42-U.S. gallon barrel of crude oil yields about 45 gallons of petroleum products.

Data: Energy Information Administration

Petroleum Products

Data: Energy Information Administration

Petroleum Productsby Type, 2011

Gasoline

42.02%Diesel / Heating Oil

26.99%Other

14.36% (asphalt, feedstock, paraffin)Jet Fuel

8.80%Refinery Fuel

4.11%Liquefied Petroleum Gas

3.73%

Processing of Natural Gas

A natural gas compressor

Uses of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Data: Energy Information Administration

Residential; 2.48% Commercial; 1.79%

Industrial; 20.39%

Transportation; 74.48%

Electric; 0.85%

Petroleum Consumption by Sector of the Economy, 2011

Residential38%

Com-mercial

10%

Industrial26%

Transporta-tion2%

Electric24%

Natural Gas Consumption by Sector of the Economy, 2011

Summary of Oil and Natural Gas

Advantages Widely available Simple combustion

process can directly heat or generate electricity

Inexpensive Easily distributed—

good infrastructure in place

High energy content

Disadvantages Nonrenewable Greenhouse

Gases(CO2) Air pollution

(byproducts released during combustion)

Price instability and costs rising

Reliance upon imports Environmental

impacts

For More Information

The NEED Projectwww.need.orginfo@need.org

1-800-875-5029Energy Information Administration

U.S. Department of Energywww.eia.gov

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