BI 105A

Environmental Biology
Professor Jill Nissen
Montgomery College
Fall 2006
Chapter 11
Fossil Fuels
Energy use in highly
developed countries
Only 20% of the worlds population lives in
highly developed countries
These people use 60% of the worlds
commercial energy
Each person in highly developed countries
uses 8 times as much energy as each
person in a developing country!
Energy in U.S.
U.S. has 4.6% of world population; uses
24% of the worlds commercial energy;
86% from nonrenewable fossil fuels (63% oil
& natural gas, 23% coal);
8% from nuclear power;
6% from renewable sources (hydropower,
geothermal, solar, biomass).
Energy in U.S.
In 1973, 35% of the oil used in the U.S was
imported
Today, U.S. imports 55.5% of its oil (12.9%
from the Persian Gulf region)
The U.S Department of Energy estimates
that by 2015, 100% of our oil will be imported
Changes in U.S. Energy Use
Fig.194, p. 499
Coal
formed from partially decomposed plant material
exposed to heat and pressure for aeons
Sources & Uses
Most of the world's coal reserves are in the
Northern Hemisphere, mainly the U.S.(25%),
Russia, China, Australia, India, Germany, and
South Africa.
Supplies 24% of world's commercial energy
(23% in U.S.);
China largest user; U.S. second largest user.
Advantages
most abundant fossil fuel;
major U.S. reserves, could last more than 200 years at
current consumption rates;
high net energy yield;
Disadvantages
dirtiest fuel, highest carbon dioxide;
Pollutants in coal are major threats to human health
Mining coal causes major environmental degradation,
and there are significant human safety and health
risks in the mining process
Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Coal
Making Coal a Cleaner Fuel
Scrubbers chemicals
in scrubber react with
pollutants in exhaust to
remove 98% of sulfur
and 99% of particulate
matter
Fluidized-bed
combustion as the
coal burns, limestone
neutralizes most of the
SO
2
in the coal
Oil and Natural Gas
formed from large numbers of microscopic
aquatic organisms that died and settled in
oxygen-deficient sediments
Extraction & Processing
Crude oil and natural gas are often trapped
together
Extraction:
- primary - drill & pump
- secondary - inject H2O
- tertiary - inject steam or CO2
refine to separate components based on
different boiling points (Fig. 11-9)
transport by tanker, truck, pipeline
Oil
petroleum, or crude oil is a
complex liquid mixture of hundreds
of hydrocarbon compounds, with
small amounts of S, O, N impurities;
Supplies 61.5% of the energy used
in the world (63% in U.S.);
Advantages
low cost
high net energy yield
easily transported
Disadvantages
Production is declining, and the supply
will be depleted within 50100 yrs
pollution & environmental degradation.
Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Conventional Oil
Natural Gas
mixture of only a few different
hydrocarbons: mostly methane with
smaller amounts of ethane,
propane, and butane;
propane & butane are removed as
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
Use of natural gas is increasing in 3
main areas generation of
electricity, transportation, and
commercial cooling
Advantages
low cost;
reserves 6580 yrs for U.S., 125 years for world at
current consumption rates;
easy to transport by land via pipelines;
Disadvantages
transport difficult (must be converted to LNG);
pollution & environmental degradation.
Advantages and Disadvantages
of Using Natural Gas
Oil in U.S.
Has 2.3% of
world
reserves, but
Uses nearly
30% of world
reserves;
65% for
transportation;
increasing
dependence
on imports.
Sources
Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) -- 13 countries have
65% world reserves:
Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, & Venezuela
Almost half the recoverable
reserves are in 2 countries, Russia
and Iran
Global Oil Demand and Supply
Consumption Production

North America
& Western
Europe
50.6% 28.9%

Persian Gulf
region
5.9% 26.7%

Naturally occurring liquid or gaseous
fuels that substitute for oil or natural gas
Tar sands, also known as oil sands
Oil shales
Gas hydrates, methane hydrates
Coal liquefaction
Coal gasification
Problem: these all still produce CO
2
Synfuels
Needed because:
The supply of fossil fuels is limited
The production, transport, and use of
fossil fuels pollute the environment
Our heavy dependence on foreign oil
makes us economically vulnerable

A National Energy Strategy
Must have the following objectives:
1) Increase energy efficiency and
conservation
2) Secure future fossil fuel energy
supplies
3) Develop alternative energy sources
4) Accomplish the first three objectives
without further damaging the
environment

A National Energy Strategy
Developed by President Bush (p. 250)
5 components:
1) Modernize conservation
2) Modernize energy infrastructure
3) Increase energy supplies
4) Accelerate the protection and
improvement of the environment
5) Increase our nations energy security

Current National Energy Policy
Review Objectives
Energy Consumption
Compare per capita energy consumption in highly developed and developing
countries.
Fossil Fuels
Define fossil fuel, and distinguish among coal, oil, and natural gas.
Describe the processes that formed coal, oil, and natural gas.
Coal
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages, including environmental problems,
of using coal.
Explain how scrubbers and fluidized-bed combustion make coal a cleaner fuel.
Oil and Natural Gas
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages, including environmental problems,
of using oil and natural gas.
Briefly describe U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
Synfuels and Other Potential Fossil Fuel Resources
Define synfuel and list the five kinds of synfuels.
Briefly consider the environmental implications of using synfuels.
The U.S. Energy Strategy
Relate three reasons the U.S. needs a comprehensive national energy strategy.
Briefly describe the National Energy Policy of the George W. Bush
administration.