Non-Renewable Energy Flashcards
Crude Oil/Petroleum supplies how much of the world’s energy
1/3 of the world’s energy
Where does crude oil/petroleum form
Forms where heat and pressure transforms decomposed plant matter
Where is most U.S. oil
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
What are the 3 advantages of Oil
1) Fairly Cheap
2) transported easily
3) very versatile
What are the 3 disadvantages of Oil
1) Highly polluting to air when burned
2) Oil spills cause hydrosphere and biosphere pollution
3) affordable supplies depleted in 40-80 years
Natural gas supplies how much of the world’s energy?
1/5 of the world’s energy
Where does natural gas form?
Forms over oil deposits; collected or burned
Where is the newest potential source of natural gas being exploited in the U.S.
PA; Marcellus Shale
How is Marcellus Shale extracted?
Extracted by hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling
How is shale fracture?
By injecting fresh water and a small amount of sand under incredibly high pressure into formation
Advantages of natural gas?
1) burns hotter and produces less air pollution than any other fossil fuel
2) versatile
3) easily transported through a pipeline
Disadvantages of Natural Gas?
1) must be converted to liquid form before it can be shipped
2) expensive and dangerous process
3) loses 1/4 of its energy potential upon conversion
Coal supplies how much of the world’s energy?
supplies 1/4 of the world’s energy
What is the most abundant, widely distributed fossil fuel?
coal
Where does coal form
forms where heat and pressure transform decomposed plant matter buried on land
