Economic Resources: 1.Oil and Gas 2.Coal 3.Gas Hydrates 4.Alternative Energy sources -Biomass -Nuclear 5. Impact of a fossil energy economy…Global Warming??

Hubbert Oil decline prediction

World wide natural gas reserves

Natural Gas details…

Coal

Coal: Coal: -organic material accumulates in swamp, anoxic environment -buried sufficiently to begin transformation to peat -burial continues…lignite…. Bituminous…anthracite

Carboniferous Period Coal=green evaporites=red

Carboniferous coal swamp

Gas Hydrate: How are gas hydrates formed? Gas hydrates are formed by anaerobic bacteria digesting organic matter (detritus) under the ocean floor. During the digestion process mainly methane is produced along with small amounts of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, propane,and ethane. The gases produced rise, dissolving in the water between the ocean sediments. When the temperature, and pressure conditions at the ocean bottom are appropriate (high pressure and low temperature) hydrates are formed. In addition to the formation of hydrates, vast reservoirs of methane gas often form beneath hydrate layers. Where are gas hydrates distributed? Gas hydrates are mainly found at ocean depths of at least 300m. The hydrate layer is then typically m below the ocean floor. Hydrates may be found in solid layers, veins, nodules, or as dispersed particles in the ocean floor. Hydrate layers are often several meters thick. Hydrates appear to be found at the edges of many of earth's continents. Gas hydrates have also been found at shallower depths in permafrost. A list of several gas hydrate discoveries noted by USGS expert Keith Kvenvolden: -the Oregon coast -the Pacific coast of Central America -the permafrost of Alaska -the coast of Norway -the California coast -the Gulf of Mexico -the coast of Japan -the coast of the Carolinas -the Artic coast of Canada's NW Territories -the Antarctic ice sheet -the West Indes

Gas hydrates.

Peak shifted forward from 1962 to post 2000 due to: 1.Technology developments: aid in finding and producing oil. i.e. 3D seismic, drilling refinements, construction developments… 2. More efficient use of hydrocarbons: cars, home, business Foreseeable problems in future-not exactly sure when….. 1.Population increase worldwide 2.3 rd world countries- economic expansion 3.Chinese expansion- bicycle for car…. 4.Kyoto treaty- 3 rd world nations don’t have to adhere to pollution standards… 5.Alternative energy developments possibly tied to oil price…??

Global Climatic Cycles in Geologic Time from L E Waite (2002), modified from Fischer (1984)

Temperature change last 2000 years

Temperature different time scales… Glacial and Interglacial Periods

Greenland ice cores- paleo- temperatures over last 40,000 years a. Top- shows long term warming trend following cold trend- Gulf Stream further north now. B. bottom 3 show significant warming beginning 16,500 yrs ago

Alternative energy sources: a.Nuclear- still some resistance due to Chernobyl b.Biomass- waste use, not volumetrically important? c.Solar and wind: locally useful… d.Gas to Liquids: possibilities, process used by Nazi Germany in WWII….hydrates…. e. Hydrogen: ‘fusion’ type reactions… f. Fuel cells/batteries…

Global Warming??