© Cengage Learning 2015 LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT, 18e G. TYLER MILLER SCOTT E. SPOOLMAN © Cengage Learning 2015 Nonrenewable Energy-Fossil Fuels

© Cengage Learning 2015 Oil and natural gas –Two most widely used natural resources in the U.S. Oil consumption is increasing –New extractions from oil shale cause environmental harm –Burning oil and natural gas will continue adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere Core Case Study: Is the United States Entering a New Oil and Natural Gas Era?

© Cengage Learning 2015 Net energy yield –Total amount of useful energy available from a resource minus the energy needed to make the energy available to consumers Energy return on investment –Energy obtained per unit energy used to obtain it Net Energy Is the Only Energy That Really Counts

© Cengage Learning 2015 First law of thermodynamics: –It takes high-quality energy to get high-quality energy Pumping oil from ground, refining it, and transporting it Second law of thermodynamics –Some high-quality energy is wasted at every step Net Energy Is the Only Energy That Really Counts

© Cengage Learning 2015 Cannot compete in open markets with alternatives that have higher net energy yields –Need subsidies from taxpayers Nuclear power –The uranium fuel cycle is costly Some Energy Resources Need Help to Compete in the Marketplace

© Cengage Learning 2015 Crude oil (petroleum) Peak production – time after which production from a well declines –Global peak production for all world oil Crude oil cannot be used as it comes out of the ground –Must be refined –Petrochemicals – byproducts We Depend Heavily on Oil

© Cengage Learning 2015 Availability determined by: –Demand –Technology –Rate at which we remove the oil –Cost of making oil available –Market price Proven oil reserves – available deposits –Profitable Unconventional heavy oil –Higher environmental cost; production cost Three major options: –Live with much higher oil prices –Extend oil supplies –Use other energy sources Are We Running Out of Conventional Oil?

© Cengage Learning 2015 Land disruption, greenhouse gas emission, air pollution, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity Burning oil accounts for 43% of global CO 2 emissions Use of Conventional Oil Has Environmental Costs

© Cengage Learning 2015 The U.S.: –Produces 9% of the world’s oil and uses 23% of world’s oil –Has about 2% of world’s proven oil reserves –Imports 52% of its oil Should we look for more oil reserves? –Extremely difficult –Expensive and financially risky Case Study: Oil Production and Consumption in the United States

© Cengage Learning 2015 Oil shales contain kerogen –After distillation – shale oil 72% of the world’s reserve is in arid areas of western United States –Locked up in rock –Lack of water needed for extraction and processing –Low net energy yield Heavy Oil From Oil Shale Rock

© Cengage Learning 2015 Tar sand contains bitumen Extensive deposits in Canada and Venezuela –Oil sands have more oil than in Saudi Arabia Extraction –Serious environmental impact before strip- mining –Low net energy yield Heavy Oil from Tar Sands

© Cengage Learning 2015 Natural gas – 50-90% methane CH 4 Conventional natural gas –Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Stored in tanks –Liquefied natural gas (LNG) Low net energy yield Makes U.S. dependent upon unstable countries like Russia and Iran The U.S. produces gas conventionally and from shale rock –Increasing environmental problems with shale rock extraction Natural Gas Is a Useful, Clean-Burning, but Not Problem-Free Fossil Fuel

© Cengage Learning 2015 Fracking –Drilling wells; using huge amounts of water, sand, and chemicals; dealing with toxic wastewater; transporting the natural gas Drinking water contaminated with natural gas can catch fire Fracking has several harmful environmental effects Case Study: Natural Gas Production and Fracking in the U.S.

© Cengage Learning 2015 Coal bed methane gas –In coal beds near the earth’s surface; in shale beds –High environmental impacts of extraction Methane hydrate –Trapped in icy water; in permafrost environments; on ocean floor –Costs of extraction is currently too high Unconventional Natural Gas

© Cengage Learning 2015 Coal –Solid fossil fuel Burned in power plants –Generates 42% of the world’s electricity Abundant – world’s largest coal reserves –United States –Russia –China Environmental costs of burning coal –Severe air pollution Sulfur released as SO 2 Large amount of soot CO 2 Trace amounts of mercury and radioactive materials Coal Is a Plentiful but Dirty Fuel

© Cengage Learning 2015 Coal Is a Plentiful but Dirty Fuel

© Cengage Learning 2015 Coal companies and energy companies has fought: –Classifying carbon dioxide as a pollutant –Classifying coal ash as hazardous waste –Air pollution standards for emissions The 2008 clean coal campaign –Note: there is no such thing as clean coal The Clean Coal Campaign

© Cengage Learning 2015 Conversion of solid coal to: –Synthetic natural gas (SNG) by coal gasification –Methanol or synthetic gasoline by coal liquefaction –Synfuels Are there benefits to using these synthetic fuels? We Can Convert Coal into Gaseous and Liquid Fuels