Fossil FuelsEssay Preview: Fossil FuelsReport this essayFossil fuels or mineral fuels are hydrocarbons found within the top layer of the earths crust. They range from very volatile materials with low carbon:hydrogen ratios like methane, to liquid petroleum to nonvolatile materials composed of almost pure carbon, like anthracite coal. It is generally accepted that they formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants and animals[1] by exposure to heat and pressure in the Earths crust over hundreds of millions of years[2]. This is known as the biogenic theory and was first introduced by Mikhail Lomonosov in 1757. There is an opposing theory that the more volatile hydrocarbons, especially natural gas, are formed by abiogenic processes, that is no living material was involved in their formation.
It was estimated that in 2004 86% of human-produced energy came from burning fossil fuels.[3]Fossil fuels take millions of years to form and reserves are being depleted much faster than new ones are being formed and so are non-renewable resources. Concern about fossil fuel supplies is one of the causes of regional and global conflicts. The production and use of fossil fuels raise environmental concerns. A global movement toward the generation of renewable energy is therefore under way to help meet increased energy needs.
The burning of fossil fuels accounts for about 6.3% of the total emissions of carbon dioxide, but it is estimated that natural processes can only absorb about half of that amount so there is a net increase of 6.2 billion tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year. [4] Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that enhances radiative forcing and contributes to global warming raising concerns that solar heat will be trapped and the average surface temperature of the Earth will rise in response.
Contents [hide]1 Importance2 Limits and alternatives3 Levels and flows4 Environmental effects5 See also6 References7 External links[edit] ImportanceFossil fuels are of great importance because they can be burned (oxidized to carbon dioxide and water), producing significant amounts of energy. The use of coal as a fuel predates recorded history. Semisolid hydrocarbons from seeps were also burned in ancient times[5], but these materials were mostly used for waterproofing and embalming. [6] Commercial exploitation of petroleum, largely as a replacement for oils from animal sources (notably whale oil) for use in oil lamps began in the nineteenth century.[7] Natural gas, once flared-off as an un-needed byproduct of petroleum production, is now considered a very valuable resource.[8] Heavy crude oil, which is very much more viscous than conventional crude oil, and tar sands, where bitumen is found mixed with sand and clay, are becoming more important as sources of fossil fuel.[9] Oil shale and similar materials are sedimentary rocks containing kerogen, a complex mixture of high-molecular weight organic compounds which yields synthetic crude oil when heated (pyrolyzed), have not yet been exploited commercially.[10].
Prior to the latter half of the eighteenth century windmills or watermills provided the energy needed for industry such as milling flour, sawing wood or pumping water, and burning wood or peat provided domestic heat. The wide scale use on fossil fuels, coal at first and petroleum later, to fire steam engines enabled the Industrial Revolution. At the same time gas lights using natural gas or coal gas were coming into wide use. The invention of the internal combustion engine and its use in automobiles and trucks greatly increased the demand for gasoline and diesel oil, both made from fossil fuels. Other forms of transportation, railways and aircraft also required fossil fuels. The other major use for fossil fuels is in generating electricity.
Fossil fuels are also the main source of raw materials for the petrochemical industry.[edit] Limits and alternativesMain article: Hubbert peak theoryAnnual carbon dioxide emission broken down into various fuel types during 1800-2000 AD.The principle of supply and demand suggests that as hydrocarbon supplies diminish, prices will rise. Therefore higher prices will lead to increased alternative, renewable energy supplies as previously uneconomic sources become sufficiently economical to exploit. Artificial gasolines and other renewable energy sources currently require more expensive production and processing technologies than conventional petroleum reserves, but may become economically viable in the near future. See Future energy development. Different alternative sources of energy include alcohols, hydrogen, nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and geothermal.
[edit] Levels and flowsLevels of primary energy sources are the reserves in the ground. Flows are production. The most important part of primary energy sources are the carbon based fossil energy sources. Oil, coal, and gas stood for 79.6% of primary energy production during 2002 (in million tonnes of oil equivalent (mtoe)) (34.9+23.5+21.2).
Levels (reserves) (EIA oil, gas, coal estimates, EIA oil, gas estimates)Oil: 1,050,691 to 1,277,702 billion barrels (167 to 203 kmĂ‘-) 2003-2005Gas: 6,040,208 – 6,805,830 billion cubic feet (171,040 to 192,720 kmĂ‘-) 6,805.830*0.182= 1,239 BBOE 2003-2005Coal: 1,081,279 million short tons (1,081,279*0.907186*4.879= 4,786 BBOE) (2004)Flows (daily production) during 2002 (7.9 is a ratio to convert tonnes of oil equivalent to barrels of oil equivalent)Oil: (10,230*0.349)*7.9/365= 77 MBDGas: (10,230*0.212)*7.9/365= 47 MBOEDCoal: (10,230*0.235)*7.9/365= 52 MBOEDYears of production left in the ground with the most optimistic reserve estimates (Oil & Gas Journal, World Oil)[citation needed]Oil: 1,277,702/77/365= 45 yearsGas: 1,239,000/47/365= 72
Oil: 1,010,686/47,362= 18.7 billion Btu (Gas and#13,935; AER, International Business Times, March 13, 2003)
*Oil:
The International Agency for Research on Drought Reduction estimates that the oil market for 2002 was in the range of $6.5-9.6 billion. This crude represents about 15 percent of the market for 2001. There are many other sources of revenue but, unlike gas, oil is not an oil substitute.
Oil and Natural Gas, Volume I: Energy Outlook for the 20th Century, January 1998 [citation needed] [pdf]Oil: (10-15 mA)*
*The average of oil and natural gas producers of 1-3,000 bpd;
This is the “average” because prices are not expected for at least 20 years, a year or two from now.
[/citation][citation needed][/citation]Oil:
The “average” for oil and natural gas producers of 1-3,000 bpd
The “inflation rate” is the number of years that producers produce for every one to one share.
In 1999, the average is <3 Bpd. Since 2010, the rate has increased to 25 BPD.
Natural Gas Production, Energy Outlook for the 20th Century 2011-12 [csv]Oil/N/o Gas/G. EIA – Natural Gas/F. EIA, Oil, Total Gas, Oil/N/O Gas/G. EIA, Natural Gas 1-3,000 Bpd 2010-2012[/csv]
Natural Gas Production, Economic Outlook for the 20th Century, November 2012 [csv]Natural Gas Production, Economic Outlook for the 20th Century, November 2012 2016[/csv]
Numerous factors may result in different production schedules. For instance, the “business climate” varies among supply chains, whether by industry or by price range, while global demand varies among suppliers but also influences commodity prices. The fact that demand will have to be less than demand for a certain product might have an effect on production, particularly in the case of production with