Energy 3.2c Flashcards
Where are the tar sands in Canada?
Athabasca oil sands, Alberta
How is oil made from tar sands?
Bitumen is extracted by mining and is separated and upgraded into crude oil
Why is there concern when extracting oil by tar sands in arid parts of the US?
The process requires several barrels of water per barrel of oil produced, if using the method of steam injection to get deeper deposits it requires even more
Where is it controversial to extract the estimated oil deposits in Northern Alaska?
On the ones bordering and potentially in the ANWR
How much of the worlds oil and gas reserves is the Arctic estimated to have?
A quarter, more than Saudi Arabia
Which countries are considering introducing tighter restrictions on oil drilling in the Arctic to prevent accidents?
Canada, America, Norway & Russia
Which country is expanding oil exploration in the Arctic and where?
Greenland, they recently approved drilling in Baffin Bay
Which country disapproves of Greenland’s drilling in Baffin Bay and why?
Baffin Bay is close to Greenland’s maritime border with Canada but Canada want higher environmental standards
If the Arctic is out of question what will happen with oil extraction?
Will increase dependency on OPEC countries
What is shale oil?
Oil locked in permeable sedimentary rock
How is shale oil extracted and comment on the price of this?
Fracking, it is more expensive than production of normal crude oil but less than deep water oil
What are the disadvantages of fracking?
It uses lots of water, can contaminate ground water with chemicals, cause small earthquakes and distracts from investing in renewable energy
What 5 countries contain more than half of the worlds shale?
USA, China, Argentina, Canada & Mexico
