carbon cycle and energy security

Question 1

what are unconventional fossil fuel sources (uffs)

Answer 1

less accessible fossil fuel resources

Question 2

what are the 4 types of UFFS

Answer 2

1. fracking
2. tar sands
3. oil shale
4. deep water oil

Question 3

what is fracking

Answer 3

extracting natural gas from shale
high pressure fluid is pumped into rock causing it to crack, which releases a gas that’s collected
USA has 1.7mill fracking reserves

Question 4

what is tar sands

Answer 4

a sediment that contains bitumen and is extracted by minings the sediment and then extracting the oil
it takes 2 tonnes of tar sands to make 1 barrel of oil
happens in Canada

Question 5

what is oil shale

Answer 5

extracting oil from a rock
when the rock is placed under high pressure + heat, shale oil is released

Question 6

what is deep water oil

Answer 6

deep ocean rigs allow for drilling to take place
happens in Brazil

Question 7

what are the issues with UFFS

Answer 7

all have massive environmental impacts and as FF reserves deplete, these may become protected areas or exploited areas

Question 8

“as fossil fuel reserves _______ the price of fossil fuels ______ “

Answer 8

deplete
rises

Question 9

costs of UFFS

Answer 9

• tar sands and oil shale exploitation takes place through open-cast mining (which leads to large areas of land that’re dug up and left open) which leaves scars on the landscape and has long lasting effects to biodiversity
• deep water oil drilling increases the change of oil spillings that can impact marine life and contaminate water
• fracking can lead cause minor earthquakes and land subsidence as well as contaminates drinking water

Question 10

benefits of UFFS

Answer 10

• can provide employment e.g. employment and transportation
• some economists argue that it makes sense to exploit FF resources while they’re still available
• companies that develop unconventional FF are in competition with conventional FF, meaning consumers can benefit from lower energy prices