energy resources final exam

Question 1

what is the difference between renewable and non renewable resources?

Answer 1

Renewable resources can be used over time and time again because they can develop again, nonrenewable resources have a one time usage

Question 2

How are fossil fuels formed? What are the major fossil fuels?

Answer 2

fossils fuels are formed from organisms that have died off and taken their nutrients and formed together. Coal and oil are the main ones

Question 3

How does oil form

Answer 3

produced over millions of years through photosynthesis - decay of plankton and algae, and must have oxygen poor environments to preserve, and as pressure and temp increases oil will be formed

Question 4

How do oil and gas vary?

Answer 4

Oil has more carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon molecule and requires more temperature and pressure to be formed versus gas which takes less and has less carbons in hydrocarbon molecule

Question 5

What is an oil window?

Answer 5

An oil window is the gap between natural gas temperatures and pressures. If any higher or lower it will no form oil

Question 6

How do porosity and permeability affect oil reserves?

Answer 6

The porosity and permeability of oil affect oil reserves because the extraction process can be easier depending on these. Permeability can be adjusted to make it easier.

Question 7

What are the four features for a hydrocarbon system?

Answer 7

Source rock, migration pathway, reservoir rock, and trap rock

Question 8

We have warm shallow, low oxygen oceans today. Why are we concerned about running out of oil/gas if we have the type of environment that favors their formation?

Answer 8

Oil and gas are technically non renewable resources. They takes periods of years to form over a long time. So despite the conditions, our use for these new formations are useless.

Question 9

Where are most oil reserves located today?

Answer 9

Persian Gulf

Question 10

What are salt domes and how are they related to oil reserves?

Answer 10

Salt domes is a deposit of salt pushed upward in sedimentary rock. These relate to oil reserves because they can form trap rocks for oil formation

Question 11

what is an oil shale

Answer 11

a shale containing abundant kerogen that has not reached oil window

Question 12

short chain hydrocarbons that form right above the oil window

Answer 12

natural gas

Question 13

process of pumping high pressure water and chemicals into a drill hole to increase the permeability of a rock while also using sand

Answer 13

fracking

Question 14

What are the problems with fracking?

Answer 14

It can cause earthquakes and create contamination

Question 15

Black brittle carbon rich, low silica sedimentary rock that is fossilized

Answer 15

coal

Question 16

how does coal form?

Answer 16

Plant material from swamps buries and compacts to peat

Question 17

4 types of coal

Answer 17

peat, lignite, bituminous coal, anthracite coal

Question 18

What type of environments favor coal formation?

Answer 18

Swamps and marshes (warm climates), marine deltas

Question 19

Why is coal widely used for fuel?

Answer 19

Due to its carbon content

Question 20

How is coal mined?

Answer 20

Strip mining, underground mines

Question 21

process of digging a hole and cutting out a deposit, easiest and safest method with no overlying rock

Answer 21

strip mining

Question 22

energy from earth’s internal heat

Answer 22

geothermal energy

Question 23

Water moving through dam turbines to create energy electricity

Answer 23

hydroelectric power

Question 24

positive aspects of hydro electric power

Answer 24

reduces flood risks, water storage, renewable energy, carbon neutral

Question 25

negative aspects of hydroelectric power

Answer 25

altered landscapes, triggered seismicity, ecosystems altered downstream

Question 26

the process of turbines moving through wind to produce electricity

Answer 26

wind energy

Question 27

positive aspects of wind energy

Answer 27

renewable, does not produce co2,

Question 28

negative aspects of wind energy

Answer 28

kills birds, expensive to maintain

Question 29

capacity to do work

Answer 29

energy

Question 30

process using water and tidal wheels to produce electricity

Answer 30

gravitational energy

Question 31

radioactive decay of isotopes residual heat from the planet formation

Answer 31

rock energy

Question 32

atoms breaking through fission

Answer 32

nuclear energy

Question 33

heat from space that can be collect in the form of energy

Answer 33

solar energy

Question 34

radioactive decay in the crust and mantle that releases heat

Answer 34

geothermal energy