Questions and Answers
What is the primary process by which crude oil is refined into usable fuels?
Fractional distillation.
How does hydraulic fracking assist in oil and gas extraction?
It allows for the extraction of gas by creating fractures in the rock layers.
What environmental impact is associated with burning oil and gas?
The release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
What role do impermeable seals play in oil and gas migration?
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Name a natural site where oil has migrated to the surface, causing environmental impact.
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What is one benefit of oil and gas extraction for local communities?
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How can natural gas be transformed for easier transportation?
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Describe a significant risk associated with oil spills.
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What is a major advantage of fossil fuels compared to other energy sources?
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Why is the energy mix in the UK significant?
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Study Notes
Oil Reserves and Environmental Impact
- Alberta has vast reserves of untapped oil, contributing to significant economic growth and job creation.
- Extraction processes use substantial land, water, and energy relative to other oil resources.
- Carbon dioxide emissions from these oil reserves are approximately 15% higher than traditional crude oil extraction.
- Open-pit mining generates considerable waste, including leftover sand, clays, and contaminants.
Methane Hydrates
- Methane hydrates consist of methane trapped within ice lattices, located in Arctic permafrost and sea floor sediments at depths of 300-500 meters.
- These are an untapped source of fossil fuel; warming or depressurizing these hydrates results in water and natural gas.
- Global warming could potentially release large quantities of methane hydrates into the atmosphere.
- Historical climate warming events have been associated with the release of methane hydrates, highlighting the gas's potency—methane (CH₄) is 20 times more effective than carbon dioxide (CO₂) at trapping heat.
Energy Resources Classification
- Energy resources can be categorized as renewable or non-renewable.
- Non-renewable resources include fossil fuels such as oil, gas, coal, and unconventional sources like tar sands and methane hydrates.
- Fossil fuels originated from marine plankton (oil and gas) and terrestrial plants (coal), formed in anoxic conditions.
- Renewable sources encompass wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and biofuels.
Formation of Fossil Fuels
- Oil and natural gas are derived from phytoplankton and zooplankton, which sink to ocean bottoms upon death forming organic-rich sediments.
- Ideal conditions for oil and gas formation include high organic production, stagnant water, low oxygen levels, and lack of decomposers.
- Organic-rich sediments undergo burial and are subjected to heat and pressure, transforming the organic matter into hydrocarbons—temperature and burial depth dictate whether oil or gas is produced.
Extraction and Conversion
- Oil and gas migrate upwards from source rocks into reservoir rocks, often capped by impermeable seals.
- Trapped deposits can be accessed through drilling; hydraulic fracking is a method used for gas extraction.
- Crude oil is processed through fractional distillation into various fuels like kerosene, petrol, and diesel.
- Natural gas can be converted into a liquid form for easier transportation and usage.
Environmental and Economic Considerations
- Burning oil and gas for energy results in the release of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.
- Oil spills pose significant environmental threats, highlighting the ecological risks associated with oil extraction.
- Oil and gas extraction processes are described as relatively inexpensive and provide a reliable energy source, forming a crucial part of local economies, such as in Aberdeen, Scotland.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the economic and environmental impacts of oil extraction, particularly in Alberta. Explore topics such as resource management, waste production, and emissions related to both traditional and unconventional oil sources.
