9. Consuming Energy Resources: Increasing Energy Supply

Question 1

How do we increase oil and gas supply to keep up with demand

Answer 1

Ecologically sensitive areas being explored for energy reserves e.g. the arctic and the amazon - brings economic benefits

• save money on imports
• make money on exports
• attracts investment and jobs

Cost to environment

• vegetation cleared for pipe lines and roads - loss of biodiversity
• offshore reserves impact marine life e.g. noise by drilling confuses animals that rely on sound to communicate e.g. whales
• increased air, soil and water pollution

Question 2

What are the types of unconventional gas and oil reserves

Answer 2

Shale gas

Tar sands

Question 3

How are unconventional reserves exploited?

Answer 3

Expensive methods e.g. Hydraulic Fracking - specialist technology - takes longer to extract

Question 4

What is Shale Gas?

Answer 4

Form of natural gas - trapped in shale rock - extract by fracking - liquid pumped into rock at high pressure - releases gas

Fracking impacts environment negatively - chemicals can pollute ground / drinking water - can set fire to tap water - Land cleared for drilling pads - destroys animal habitats and ecosystems

Question 5

What is Tar Sands?

Answer 5

Contains bitumen - refined to produce oil - extracted by mining - collect tar - transport to processing plants - water and chemicals separate bitumen from sand

Negatively impacts environment - lots of space needed - devastates habitats - reduces biodiversity - organisms less space to live and find food. Processing produces liquid waste - harmful chemicals - pollute water suppliers if not managed properly