Fossil Fuels

1
Fossil Fuels
Chapter 11
2
Energy Consumption

• Per capita energy consumption

3
Energy Consumption

• Energy consumption in the US

4
Energy Consumption

• Energy consumption in the US

5
Energy Consumption

• Energy consumption in the US

6
Fossil Fuels

• Are nonrenewable resources
• How Fossil Fuels Formed

7
Coal

• Types of Coal
• Lignite (lowest quality)
• Subbituminous coal
• Bituminous coal
• Anthracite (highest quality)

8
Coal

• Coal Reserves

9
Coal

• Two basic types of Coal Mining
• 1) Subsurface (underground)
• 2) Surface

10
Coal

• Safety Problems Associated with Coal
• 1) Increased risk of cancer
• 2) Black lung disease

11
Coal

• Environmental Impacts of the Mining Process
• Prior to 1977, most surface mines were
  abandoned.
• Leading to water pollution and acid mine
  drainage.
• Current law requires all surface mines to be
  reclaimed.

12
Coal

• Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal
• Increases CO2 concentration in atmosphere
• Lower quality coals release sulfur and nitrogen
  dioxides, causing acid deposition
• Release of low levels of mercury

13
Coal

• Making Coal a Cleaner Fuel
• Using scrubbers cleans S from chimneys
• Using fluidized-bed combustion

14
Oil and Natural Gas

• World commercial energy sources for electrical
  power

15
Oil and Natural Gas

• Petroleum refining

16
Oil and Natural Gas

• Exploration for Oil and Natural Gas

17
Oil and Natural Gas

• Reserves of Oil

18
Oil and Natural Gas

• Reserves of Natural Gas

19
Oil and Natural Gas

• Global Oil Demand and Supply

20
Oil and Natural Gas

• Environmental Impacts of Oil and Natural Gas
• Production Land disturbance
• Transport Oil spills
• Combustion
• Pollution
• Increased CO2 emissions
• Acid deposition

21
Oil and Natural Gas

• Largest Oil Spill in the US Alaska, 1989
• Exxon Valdez

22
Oil and Natural Gas

• Largest Oil Spill in the US Alaska, 1989

23
Oil and Natural Gas

• Case-in-Point
• The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

24
Synfuels and Other Potential Fossil Fuel Resources

• Synthetic fuel sources
• Tar sands (oil sands) bitumen, heated
• Oil shales kerogen, heated
• Gas hydrates in porous rock
• Coal liquefaction - expensive
• Coal gasification clean, expensive, CH4

Problem these all still produce CO2
25
The U.S. Energy Strategy

• Obj. 1 Increase energy efficiency and
  conservation

26
The U.S. Energy Strategy

• Obj. 1 Increase energy efficiency and
  conservation
• Obj. 2 Secure future fossil fuel energy supplies

Obj. 3 Develop alternative energy sources
Obj. 4 Meet above objectives without further
damage to the environment