6.5c unconventional fossil fuels Flashcards
oil shale
these are oil-bearing rocks that are permeable enough to allow the oil to be pumped out directly
- an economical alternative when oil prices are high
Russia has the world’s largest reserves of oil shale (75 billion barrels of oil equivalent) but seems unlikely to exploit them as it still has large reserves of other, easier to extract, fossil fuels
tar sands
a mixture of clay, sand, water and bitumen
it has to be mined and then injected with steam to make the tar less viscous so it can be pumped out
Canada is a major exporter of tar sands as it has 73% of known global stocks
70% is exported to the USA and rest used in Canada = both more energy secure
shale gas
shale gas is natural gas found in fine-grained sedimentary rocks
from 2000 to 2015, the usage of shale gas to provide the USA’s gas supply increased from 1% to 25%
- the USA is less dependent on other countries for oil = increased energy security
- boosts the local economy in areas of shale gas exploitation
- gas more affordable for households so they have more disposable income
- the carbon footprint of shale gas is half that of coal and lower than liquified natural gas
deepwater oil
oil and gas that is found offshore and at considerable oceanic depths
a discovery of billions of barrels of oil in fields near Rio de Janerio
Brazil has a high demand for oil and gas (emerging economy)
the state oil company Petrobras aims to raise production to 500,000 barrels of oil a day
problems with deepwater oil
- the scenic coast between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paula has been disfigured by refineries
- pollution of coastal waters
- the oil and gas reservoirs contain huge amounts of toxic, flammable and explosive gases
problems with oil shale
- sulfur gas is emitted and air pollution is caused by the production of particulates during processing, transport etc.
- the production and usage of oil shale usually generates more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil fuels
In 2002, the oil shale-fired power industry used 91% of all the water consumed in Estonia.
- there is over 1 tonne of waste rock for every barrel oil
problems with shale gas
- shale gas is still a fossil fuel releasing CO2 when combusted
- methane gas leaks –> add to the greenhouse effect
- fracking produces pollutants e.g. sulfur dioxide
- contamination of groundwater and surface water
problems with tar sands
- 470km2 of forest has already been removed and 130km2 is covered in toxic wastewater
- produces more greenhouse gas than any other oil
- toxic wastelands are built on the banks of the Athabasca River –> drains downstream to communities –> cancer rates are up to 10 times higher than in the rest of Canada
- takes 2-5 barrels of water to produce each barrel of oil
- 1.8 million tonnes of toxic wastewater produced every day
major players
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES
job opportunities
inflows of investment
improved services
pollution + disturbance of traditional ways of life
The ‘Lock the Gate’ movement in Australia saw environmental activists and local communities linking together, using blockades in their attempts to protest against the exploration of oil shale
GOVERNMENTS
have a responsibility to ensure and improve energy security
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
- all unconventional fossil fuels have adverse impacts on the environment
- unconventional fossil fuels can cause environmental damage (scars of opencast mines and possible ground subsidence)
- and there are environmental risks (pollution of groundwater and oil spills)
Greenpeace etc. monitor progress made by countries and aim to change their attitudes and behaviour
their campaigns are well articulated
EXPLORATION COMPANIES e.g. Shell, Exxon
big energy companies have to bear the financial risks associated with finding and opening up new energy risks
e.g. IGas Energy - company involved in shale gas extraction
