validation (fuels)

Question 1

where is coal found

Answer 1

mined from the earth, in Collie region in WA

Question 2

where is oil found

Answer 2

in oil reserves in Western Australia in Carnarvon and Bonaparte basins

Question 3

where is natural gas found

Answer 3

in the major gas producing basins in Western Australia (Carnarvon and Browse basins)
o In gas reservoirs trapped between layers of rocks
o As a component of petroleum deposits
o In coal deposits where it is bonded to the surface of the coal
o Trapped in shale rocks

Question 4

where is petroleum found

Answer 4

in oil and gas reserves in Western Australia (Carnarvon and Browse basins)
o Petroleum reservoirs can be found beneath land or the ocean floor.

Question 5

where is coal-seam gas found

Answer 5

Australia’s major coal seam gas resources are reserves found in Queensland’s Bowen and Surat basins
o In coal deposits where it is bonded to the surface of the coal
o Coal seams usually contain water, and the pressure of the water can keep the gas absorbed to the coal surface

Question 6

how do we get coal

Answer 6

through wood and other plant material

o Coal can be extracted from the earth either by surface mining or underground mining.

Question 7

how do we get oil

Answer 7

the main deposit of crude oil is formed from small marine animals and plants that lived up to 1 billion years ago.
o To extract the crude oil, drilling into the impermeable rock must take place.
o In most cases, the oil flows up by itself under high pressure and pumps are needed to extract the remaining deposit.

Question 8

how do we get natural gas

Answer 8

fracking which is the extraction of natural gas from coal or shale deposits
o Under pressure, the natural gas is absorbed on the surface of the coal or shale
o Fracking is used to fracture the rock or coal to release the natural gas
o High-pressure fluid fractures the surround rock or coal, creating fissures through which gas can flow through.

Question 9

how do we get petroleum

Answer 9

is a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules that are mostly alkanes
o Petroleum that is found in vast underground reservoirs where ancient seas were located. Their crude oil is extracted with giant drilling machines.

Question 10

how do we get coal-seam gas

Answer 10

Coal seam gas is held in place by water pressure.
o To extract it, wells are drilled through the coal seams and the water pressure is reduced by extracting some of the water.
o This releases natural gas from the coal.

Question 11

where, what, why coal

Answer 11

o used for domestic power generation as well as exported overseas.
o Type of fuel used to heat your house
o Cheapest source of energy and is abundant all over the world so is the most stable source of energy to provide for people daily.

Question 12

where, what, why oil

Answer 12

o We use petroleum products to propel vehicles, to heat buildings, and to produce electricity.
o As your vehicle is running, the engine oil consistently circulates around the combustion chamber
o Engine oil is needed to lubricate the exhaust valves; it is subject to extremely high temperatures in this area.

Question 13

where, what, why natural gas

Answer 13

• The commercial sector uses natural gas to heat buildings and water, to operate refrigeration and cooling equipment and to cook
  o Natural gas is a relatively clean burning fossil fuel. Burning natural gas for energy results in fewer emissions of nearly all types of air pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO2)

Question 14

where, what, why petroleum

Answer 14

o We use petroleum products to propel vehicles, to heat buildings, and to produce electricity.
o Petrol has a fantastically high energy density so that it is an efficient energy to transport.
o The efficiency of a petrol engine in a new car can be as high as 25%.

Question 15

pros & cons coal

Answer 15

• this fuel resource is so inexpensive, the power it produces and gets consumed is also relatively inexpensive. this electricity is transmitted easily from the pass stations by metal cables and wires to other regions
• to remove coal from the ground, various mining processes are used that destroy the natural habitat in that region. Part of that destruction involves the potential pollution of groundwater tables and the removal of trees.

Question 16

pros & cons oil

Answer 16

• high-density energy product. That means a small amount of oil can product a large amount of energy. (fuel behind industrial centres and our transportation needs)
• Oil energy is a vast pollution resource. Oil leaks occur about once every other day. When oil hits the environment, it can pollute water resources, crop lands, and the environment in other ways. That is in addition to the emissions that oil energy creates when it is consumed.

Question 17

pros & cons natural gas

Answer 17

• Natural gas is environmentally friendly because it burns cleaner than other fossil fuels.
• It’s safer and easier to store when compared to other fossil fuels.
• Obtaining natural gas is through a process called fracking may lead to regional earthquakes when accessed
• To access the natural gas, a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals is placed into a well at a high pressure.
• The fracturing process of the rock layer containing the natural gas, may cause region earthquakes

Question 18

pros & cons petroleum

Answer 18

• petroleum is a primary fuel with high energy density.
• the higher the energy density of the fuel, the higher the amount of energy is released when burning the fuel.
• Petroleum, when it is combusted, generates high levels of carbon dioxide.
• Methane and other greenhouse gasses can be produced as well, depending on how the petroleum has been refined.

Question 19

how do we get biogas

Answer 19

o Biogas is released in the breakdown of organic waste by anaerobic bacteria
o A range of materials, including rotting rubbish and decomposing plant material
o Biogas consists mainly of methane and carbon dioxide

Question 20

how do we get biodiesel

Answer 20

o Biodiesel is a mixture of organic compounds called esters, which are produced by a chemical reaction between vegetable oil or animal fats and alcohol, mostly commonly methanol

Question 21

how do we get bioethanol

Answer 21

o Humans have employed biological catalyst (enzymes) from yeast to convert starches and sugars into ethanol
o Enzymes catalyse the breakdown of the starch in grain crops to glucose
o This process is known as fermentation, which uses other enzymes from yeast to convert glucose and other small sugar molecules into ethanol and carbon dioxide
o fermentation is an anaerobic process as it takes place in the absence of oxygen

Question 22

where, what, why biogas

Answer 22

o Biogas can be used for small-scale heating and to generate electricity for homes and farms
o Biogas generators are particularly suited to farms, as the waste from a biogas generator makes a rich fertiliser

Question 23

where, what, why bioethanol

Answer 23

o In E10 petrol containing 10% ethanol
o This mix can be used by modern car engines and its use reduces the consumption of petrol derived from crude oil while also reducing the total amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere.
o The use of E10 fuel reduces the quantity of particles such as unburnt carbon and gases like the oxides of nitrogen that emitted by exhaust and contribute to air pollution.

Question 24

pros & cons biogas

Answer 24

• Organic materials are derived from plants, animals, and humans.
• Raw materials can be reproduced, making biogas a renewable energy source.
• Weather dependence .
• Anaerobic digestion happens in an environment with a temperature of 37°C.
• Heat energy is required in cold climates to produce biogas continually.

Question 25

pros & cons biodiesel

Answer 25

• Produced from renewable resources
• Since it is made from animal and vegetable fat, it can be produced on demand and also causes less pollution than petroleum diesel
• Variation in Quality of Biodiesel
• Biodiesel is made from a variety of biofuel crops.
• When the oil is extracted and converted to fuel using the chemical process, the result can vary in the ability to produce power.
• Not all biofuel crops are the same as the amount of vegetable oil may vary.

Question 26

pros & cons bioethanol

Answer 26

• It neutralises the carbon availability in the atmosphere that is carbon dioxide released in the bioethanol production processes, the same amount as the one the plants absorb previously during photosynthesis.
• It may cause food scarcity because of the lucrative prices of bioethanol.
• Some farmers may sacrifice food crops for biofuel production.
• It leads to biodiversity due to the fact that large amount of arable land and is required to grow these crops and potentially some natural habitats destroyed including rainforests.

Question 27

pros & cons coal seam gas

Answer 27

• Burns more efficiently than coal and can emit less greenhouse gas
• Contamination to underground aquifers, groundwater and causes damage to wildlife habitat