FOSSIL FUELSIntegrated ScienceMrs. Brostrom

ENERGY RESOURCES Energy resources are natural resources that

humans use to generate energy. Fossil fuel is a nonrenewable energy resource

formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived long ago. Energy is released from fossil fuels when they are

burned. Made up of hydrocarbons

PETROLEUM Petroleum is a liquid

mixture of complex hydrocarbon compounds. Commonly known as

crude oil Separated into

different products through refining Gasoline, jet fuel,

kerosene, diesel fuel, oilMore than 40% of the world’s energy comes from petroleum

NATURAL GAS Natural gas is a gaseous mixture of

hydrocarbons. Used for heating and generating electricity

Coal fired power plant in Bridgeport, CT was just Converted to natural gas

Causes less air pollution that oil does Very flammable

COAL Coal is a fossil fuel that formed underground

from partially decomposed plant material. Was once the major source for energy in the

US. Burning coal produces large amounts of air

pollution

HOW DO FOSSIL FUELS FORM? Petroleum and natural gas

form mainly from the remains of microscopic sea organisms.

When they die, they settle on the bottom of the ocean and decompose.

As the remains decay, they become buried.

Through physical and chemical changes over millions of years, they become petroleum and gas.

Coal forms underground from decayed swamp plants over millions of years.

1. Bacteria and fungi change swamp plants into peat (60% carbon).

2. Sediment buries the peat, which increases temperature and pressure; changes into lignite (70% carbon).

3. As lignite becomes further buried, T and P continue to increase; becomes bituminous coal (80% carbon).

4. As bituminous coal becomes more buried, T and P continue to increase; anthracite forms (90% carbon).

WHERE ARE FOSSIL FUELS FOUND? Middle East has 33% of the

world’s natural gas and 67% of the world’s petroleum supply

Asia, North America, Africa, and Europe have between 4-8% of the world’s petroleum supply

Latin America which contains about 13% of the world’s petroleum supply

Texas is the top petroleum producing state in the U.S.

Natural gas is found in 32 out of the 50 U.S. states

HOW DO WE OBTAIN FOSSIL FUELS? Drill oil wells on land

and in the ocean Drill natural gas

wells on land Hydraulic fracturing

Mine coal Strip mining is when

soil and rock are removed so the coal can be extracted

Mountaintop removal

HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

PROBLEMS WITH FOSSIL FUELS Methods of

obtaining fossil fuels can have negative effects on the environment Habitat destruction Oil spills Pollute groundwater Lower water table Accidents endanger

human lives

Burning of fossil fuels releases CO2 into the atmosphere Increase of

greenhouse gases Acid rain Air pollution; smog

is a photochemical haze that forms when sunlight acts on industrial pollutants and burning fossil fuels