Lesson 18: Nonrenewable Energy Resources

Question 1

Define reserves.

Answer 1

those raw materials that can be extracted profitably and legally under existing conditions

Question 2

Define resources.

Answer 2

The total amount of raw materials out there; not economically or technologically recoverable AT THIS POINT IN TIME

Question 3

What are renewable resources?

Answer 3

Resources that can be replenished over relatively short time spans

Question 4

What are nonrenewable resources?

Answer 4

Resources that cannot be replenished over a relatively short time span.

Question 5

What are fossil fuels?

Answer 5

Energy that is created via photosynthesis
- Crude Oil
- Natural Gas
- Coal

Question 6

Where does the original energy of fossil fuels come from?

Answer 6

The remains of ancient algae and green plants

Question 7

What are the 5 elements of conventional oil and gas resources?

Answer 7

1. Source rocks
2. Migration pathway
3. Reservoir
4. Trap
5. Seal

Question 8

Characterize source rocks.

Answer 8

What are required to generate hydrocarbons:
1. the presence of organic matter rich enough to yield hydrocarbons
2. adequate temperature; hot enough to transform kerogen to crude oil/natural gas.
3. sufficient time to bring the source rock to maturity.

Question 9

Characterize migration pathway.

Answer 9

The movement of hydrocarbons from source rocks into reservoir rocks:
1. Primary migration (expulsion)
2. Secondary migration (further movement of hydrocarbons into reservoir rock.)

Question 10

Characterize reservoir.

Answer 10

Required to store and transmit hydrocarbons
- must have sufficient porosity and permeability
Sedimentary are the most common (lime and sand stones)

Question 11

Characterize trap.

Answer 11

A restricted area that localizes the hydrocarbons
1. Structural
2. Strati graphic
3. Combination

Question 12

Characterize seal.

Answer 12

Impermeable rocks that act as a barrier to further migration of hydrocarbons.
shale/mud rock/mud stone
salt

Question 13

What are unconventional resources?

Answer 13

Accumulations of crude oil/natural gs found in relatively impermeable rock formations

Question 14

What is hydraulic fracking?

Answer 14

rocks are shattered to release the oil/gas

Question 15

What are oil sands?

Answer 15

Mixtures of clay and sand combined with water and bitumen
- very viscous and cannot be pumped out

Question 16

What are gas hydrates?

Answer 16

ice-like substance formed when methane combines with water at the appropriate pressure and temperature conditions.

Question 17

Which country has the most proven reserves of crude oil?

Answer 17

Venezuela

Question 18

Where does the US rank in reserves of crude oil?

Answer 18

11

Question 19

How does coal form?

Answer 19

1. Plant matter in swamp dies and accumulates on the surface
2. Plant matter becomes buried
3. peat is deeply buried; water and other compounds are squeezed out and lignite begins to form
4. continued burial transforms lignite coal into higher quality black coals

Question 20

What are the different ranks (grades) of coal; lowest to highest quality.

Answer 20

1. Peat swamp (mire)
2. Lignite
3. Sub-bituminous
4. Bituminous
5. Anthracite

Question 21

Where does the original energy come from in nuclear power?

Answer 21

Nuclear fission

Question 22

Which element and isotope is most widely used in nuclear energy?

Answer 22

Uranium: U-235

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel?
a. Uranium
b. Crude oil
c. Natural Gas
d. Coal

Answer 23

a. uranium

Question 24

Crude oil and natural gas are _____.
a. hydrocarbons
b. found by geologists
c. vitally important to our way of life
d. all of these

Answer 24

d. all of these

Question 25

Crude oil and natural gas are formed from organic matter in sediments. This organic matter is mainly derived from.
a. dead dinosaurs
b. dead phytoplankton (microalgae)
c. dead snails
d. dead land plants

Answer 25

b. dead phytoplankton

Question 26

In some regions, significant amounts of oil/natural gas are trapped in shale, sandstones, and limestones with low _____, so rocks are shattered (“fracking”) to release the oil/gas.

Answer 26

Permeability

Question 27

___ is the major fuel used in US power plants to generate electricity.

Answer 27

Natural gas

Question 28

A petroleum engineer advises an oil company not to use traditional petroleum wells to produce petroleum from oil sands such as those found in Alberta, Canada. Why?

Answer 28

The bitumen in oil sands is too viscous to naturally flow into traditional oil wells.

Question 29

Which form of oil contains the highest percentage of carbon (highest grade) and takes the longest to form?

Answer 29

Anthracite

Question 30

____ is the most widely used fuel by nuclear power plants.

Answer 30

Uranium-235