NONRENEWABLE RESOURCE DEPLETION

HOW ARE NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES OBTAINED?

Resources- amounts of materials that are known/assumed to exist and for which extraction is economically possible now or in the near future with potential technology. Reserves- known amounts of materials that can be extracted profitably with existing technology.

Resources are always larger than reserves, but they are less certain because you do not always know for sure how much exists. Some amount of resources have not been discovered yet. Sometimes, resources are too expensive to mine at a profit with present technology. Reserves are deposits that have been studied and the quality And amount of the reserve is known. QUESTION: WHY DO RESERVES OF RESOURCES USUALLY LAST MUCH LONGER THAN MOST EARLY ESTIMATES PREDICT?

Estimating the size of a resource is complicated. But interpreting the data is even more difficult. 1- Opinions vary on how much of a resource can be mined economically (and still make money) 2- Who makes and pays for the estimates? 3- Why are the estimates being made? 4- What techniques are being used? Remember, you cannot always trust the data you are given. You must take in to account the questions above- always question your sources.

9.5 The area under the curve is the total quantity of the resource available. King Hubbert predicted that if bbl/yr were pumped, then oil production would peak in1970. It did, but these numbers change as alternative energy sources and technologies increase.

Oil= sold by the barrel Coal= sold by the ton Natural gas= sold by the cubic foot To make comparisons among these 3 energy sources, we look at the amount of energy available by a barrel or oil, a ton or coal or a cubic foot of natural gas.

Natural gas – supplies the most energy Oil Coal – supplies the least energy Because the uranium used for nuclear power plants, it is also a nonrenewable resource. The amount of energy produced by uranium is more than that of natural gas.

The United States relies mostly on fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gas) for its energy. However, the deposits of fossil fuels and uranium are finite. Remember, even the experts disagree on the estimated amounts of these resources.

How long will the supply of coal last? The world has relatively large reserves of coal, more so than oil and gas. Estimates vary, but suggestions are that supplies will last well into the next century. Advantages of using coal Coal is relatively cheap, with large deposits left that are reasonably easy to obtain, some coal being close to the surface. It is relatively easy to transport because it is a solid. Disadvantages of using coal Some sources of coal are deep below the ground, as in the UK. They can be difficult, costly and dangerous to mine. Burning coal without first purifying it contributes to global warming, as well as to the production of smog (smoke and fog), which is harmful to health. It is a finite resource and will eventually run out.

How long will they last? Oil and gas are non-renewable: they will not last forever. New sources of oil and gas are constantly being sought. It is thought that the current resources under the North Sea will last about another 20 years and the world resources will last for about 70 years. Largest oil reserves in U.S. are in Alaska (Prudhoe Bay), the Gulf of Mexico, Texas and California. Estimates vary, however, because we do not know where all the resources are and we do know how quickly we will use them. It is thought that with new discoveries these fossil fuels will last well into the next century. Advantages of oil and natural gas These sources of energy are relatively cheap and most are easy to get and can be used to generate electricity. Disadvantages of oil and natural gas When these fuels are burned they produce the gas carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas and is a major contributor to global warming. Transporting oil around the world can produce oil slicks, pollute beaches and harm wildlife.

How long will the supply of nuclear fuel last? The world supply of radioactive material will provide a source of energy well into the next century and beyond. Advantages of nuclear power Nuclear fuel does not produce greenhouse gases, so will not contribute to global warming. There is a relatively long-lasting supply of raw material. Disadvantages of nuclear power The waste remains radioactive for a long time (100+ years). If the reaction is not contained and controlled well, then the nuclear reduction could go out of control, as at Chernobyl in Radioactive material could then escape into the environment.

Oil Shale - a sedimentary rock containing kerogen, a solid organic substance. When heated, it produces oil and gas. The U.S. has the largest reserves. The two most important deposits are in the Eocene Green River Formation in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah and in the Devonian-Mississippian black shales in the eastern United States. Tar Sands – tar like fuel from very old rock deposits.

The bitumen in tar sands cannot be pumped from the ground in its natural state; instead tar sand deposits are mined, usually using strip mining or open pit techniques, or the oil is extracted by underground heating with additional upgrading.

No resource is consumed at an ever-increasing rate until the day it is exhausted. As demand of the resource increases, it gets harder to find and extract. This results in higher prices, which lowers the demand. When gasoline prices increase, do you change your driving habits? What do you do?

Problems associated with a depletion of resources can be reduced by: Exploration for new reserves Improve technology for extraction Improve efficiency of machines (cars) that use the resource Improve quality of technical devices that reduce pollution related to the combustion of these fuels (scrubbers/catalytic converters) Expand the use of renewable energy resources Look for wasteful consumption Plant trees and conserve forests to tie up excess CO 2 emissions

1 barrel of oil is 42 gallons The price of a barrel of oil in 12/2012 was about $90.00

5- Iraq 4- Iran 3- Canada (11.9%) 2- Venezuela (14.4 %) 1- Saudi Arabia (17.9%) U.S ranks 13 th with 1.4%