6.5 reliance on fossil fuels

Question 1

A ) the mismatch between SUPPLY and DEMAND

Answer 1

the world continues to rely on coal, oil and gas for the greater part of its energy needs (86% of global primal energy supply.

OIL
supply=
31% Middle East
20% N. America
12% Russia

demand=
34% Asia (12% China)
20% Europe (4% Russia)
there is a large mismatch here because oil is essential for transport (petrol/ diesel is main energy source)

GAS
supply=
18% N. America
15% Middle East
13% Russia

demand=
27% N. America (22% USA)
16% Asia
11% Russia
10% Middle East
(supply and demand match fairly well because gas is more widely distributed than oil, Asia is the main area of mismatch)

Question 2

B ) how are energy mismatches resolved?

Answer 2

through the creation of pathways that allow transfers to take place between producers and consumers.
main fossil fuel pathways:
coal from 6 main producers (incl. Australia and Russia) to 4 major markets (incl. EU and China)

oil from producers in the Middle East to 4 major markets (EU, USA, E &SE Asia)

gas from major producers in the Middle East and Russia to markets in Europe

Question 3

B ) c/s Russian gas to Europe

Answer 3

although a key aspect of security, energy pathways can be prone to disruption.
Russia is the second largest producer of gas. It’s gas is delivered to Europe mainly through FIVE pipelines.

the pipelines cause political tensions between governments globally due to a lack of trust of giving one country too much power over Europes energy
(three of the pipelines cross Ukraine)

(Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania get 100% of their gas from Russia)

It would be unwise for EU countries to become heavily reliant on Russian gas given the history i of strained political relations between Russia!!!

Question 4

C ) unconventional fossil fuels

Answer 4

conventional sources of fossil fuels are depleting therefore some countries are looking towards the development of unconventional fossil fuels in order to improve energy security

EG
- Tar Sands
- Oil Shale
- Shale gas (fracking)
- Deepwater oil

they are all fossil fuels so their use will continue to threaten the carbon cycle!

Question 5

C ) Tar Sands

Answer 5

mixture of clay, sand water and bitumen (a heavy viscous oil)
- tar sands have to be mined then injected with steam to make the tar less viscous so that it can be pumped out
:) provides localised economy (econ/ social)
:) fits into existing systems (econ)
:) secure source of energy for rising demands
TAR SANDS IN CANADA CONTAIN ENOUGH OIL TO PRODUCE 2.5 MILLION BARRELS A DAY FOR 186 YEARS

:( process requires HUGE amounts of energy and produces 3x as much greenhouse gas than conventional oil!!!!! (impacts on carbon cycle)
:( destruction of boreal forests- a major carbon sink (enviro/ carbon cycle)
:( produces highly toxic waste products (tailing ponds) and water can become contaminated (social/ enviro)
C/S (Athabasca) Tar Sands, Canada

Question 6

C ) Oil Shale

Answer 6

oil bering rocks that are permeable enough to allow the oil to be pumped out directly
- the production process is very energy intensive and over uses water resources (2 barrels of water for every barrel of oil)

Question 7

C ) Fracking

Answer 7

shale gas is trapped underground and is extracted through pumping in water and chemicals as this forces out the gas
!!60% of all new oil and gas wells use fracking!!

:( releases large amounts of methane (25x more potent than CO2) (3% of recovered gas escapes into the atmosphere)
- requires large amounts of energy

Question 8

C ) Deepwater oil

Answer 8

oil and gas that is found well offshore and at considerable oceanic depths.

drilling takes place from ocean rigs and is already underway in the Gulf of Mexico and off Brazil
(Deepwater Horizon oil rig)

oil spills completely destroy sea life and pollute water
sites of rigs destroy natural wildlife