Fossil fuels Flashcards
what are 3 Good characteristics of fossil fuels
-Easy to store
-High energy density
-Found in very abundant local deposits
What are 3 bad features of fossil fuels
-Finite
-Available resource , not as much reserves due to deep deposits and natural gas being trapped in impermeable shale rock makes financially not viable
-Political and international trade issues with countries wanting to establish supply to satisfy their own energy needs and this may come in front of the environmental impacts
2 New coal extraction technologies
-Coal gasification , burnt underground in controlled conditions to produce mixture of fuel gases
-coal liquefaction ,converting coal to liquid hydrocarbons which is useful as it can act as vehicle fuel . Can be direct through solvent use
5 new oil extraction technologies
-primary recovery using natural pressure of water below oil or gas which forces it up to production well . 20% is extracted
Pump jack - nodding donkeys can increase flow rate
-secondary recovery using pumped water to maintain pressure . 40% is extracted
-Tertiary recovery using reduced viscosity of oil this can be done by pumped steam which could have been generated from solar heating systems . 60% is extracted#
Directional drilling allows non vertical wells which is good as it means
-drill where drilling rigs could not be placed e.g. urban areas
-can follow softer rock strata which makes drilling quicker
Fracking- high pressure opening fissures to allow oil/gas to flow to recovery well
3 concerns over fracking
-natural gas could enter aquifer
-Volume of water needed
-Earthquakes
2 new natural gas extraction technologies
-Fracking
-Methane hydrate , could be extracted by water heating which melts crystal releasing methane gas