Energy and the Environment Final
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122 Terms
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
In coal mining regions, acid mine drainage is the result of __________ .
Oxidation of sulfur-bearing minerals (pyrite) in coal
Oxidation of sulfur-bearing organic matter in the coal.
Acids used to extract coal
Pulverized limestone used as rock dust in underground mines.
Oxidation of sulfur-bearing minerals (pyrite) in coal
The U.S. energy economy shows two major transitions over its history.
Which of the following options correctly describes one of these transitions?
Hint: "A direct transition" means a transition from one resource to another without an intermediate step.
A direct transition from a natural gas-dominated economy to a renewables-dominated economy without intermediate steps.
A direct transition from a wood-dominated economy to an oil and natural gas dominated economy without intermediate steps.
A direct transition from a coal-dominated economy to a nuclear-dominated economy without intermediate steps.
A direct transition from a coal-dominated economy to an oil-dominated economy without intermediate steps.
A direct transition from a coal-dominated economy to an oil-dominated economy without intermediate steps.
Which of the following units describes the largest quantity of energy?
British Thermal Unit (Btu)
Joule (J)
Kilocalorie (kcal)
Quad (Q)
Quad (Q)
What percentage of U.S. energy (i.e., total energy consumption) was derived from fossil fuels in 2021?
75-84%
65-74%
85-95%
55-64%
75-84%
Which of the following energy resources has the lowest energy density?
Oil
Uranium
Wood
Coal
Wood
What is burial diagenesis?
The process responsible for peat formation in coastal wetlands.
All the chemical and physical changes experienced by sediment at the seafloor.
The gradual sinking of crust without significant deformation.
All the chemical and physical changes experienced by Earth materials as they are buried under the Earth’s surface.
All the chemical and physical changes experienced by Earth materials as they are buried under the Earth’s surface.
Which of the following options is a unit of power?
Kilocalories (kcal)
Joules (J)
Watts (W)
British thermal units (Btu)
Watts (W)
There is substantial economic inertia against transitioning away from a fossil fuel-dominated energy economy in the U.S.
Which of the following is NOT a contributing factor to this inertia?
extensive infrastructure supporting fossil fuel consumption
fossil fuel revenues
comparably high EROI values for renewable energy resources
financial contributions to political campaigns by fossil fuel companies
comparably high EROI values for renewable energy resources
Choose the option that best completes the following statement:
Low concentrations of metals, such as selenium, in surface waters can lead to toxicity symptoms in aquatic organisms via ________ .
mine remediation
bioaccumulation
metal excretion rates exceeding metal intake rates
lower photosynthetic productivity
bioaccumulation
Choose the answer that best completes the following sentence:
Current financial investments in future fossil fuel production may lead to an economic crisis, commonly called the ________ , should fossil fuel resources be left untouched to prevent further climate change.
carbon bubble
Brent Benchmark Price
peak oil
Gross Domestic Collapse
carbon bubble
Which of the following regions exhibits the highest level of energy poverty?
South America
North Africa
North America
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
There are many economic risks of not reducing fossil fuel consumption in regional and global energy systems.
Which of the following options is NOT one of these risks?
Substantial decrease in economic activity due to climate change.
The economic cost of environmental disasters associated with producing and transporting fossil fuels (e.g., Deepwater Horizon Disaster).
Gradual decline in energy returned on investment (EROI) of nuclear and renewables.
Loss of investment in the context of the Carbon Bubble.
Gradual decline in energy returned on investment (EROI) of nuclear and renewables.
As developing nations continue to experience economic growth, we should expect to see growth in global energy consumption.
Which of the following energy resources has been preferentially used by developing nations to generate electricity?
Natural Gas
Wind energy
Coal
Oil
Coal
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
One of the "myths" regarding energy poverty, as described in our Week 2 reading assignment, is ______________ .
that developing countries will skip an industrialization stage, and the associated need for high capacity energy systems, on their way out of energy poverty.
that climate change should not be considered when deciding how to solve energy poverty.
that lights and air conditioning equal a modern energy system.
that providing reliable energy to the industrial sector of a developing country takes priority over the commercial sector.
that developing countries will skip an industrialization stage, and the associated need for high capacity energy systems, on their way out of energy poverty.
Which of the following statements is FALSE about the different types of coal mining?
Coal mines include surface mines and underground mines.
Mountaintop removal mining involves placing overburden in adjacent valleys.
Longwall mining involves placing overburden in adjacent stream valleys.
Underground mines are categorized by how the coal is extracted.
Longwall mining involves placing overburden in adjacent stream valleys.
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
Sulfate (SO42-) concentrations in surface water can be used as a proxy for extent of coal mining in a watershed due to the ________ that occurs at both surface and underground coal mines.
acid mine drainage
selenium
bioaccumulation
fugitive methane
acid mine drainage
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
Peat layers that are __________ will be transformed into a coal with a __________ sulfur content.
periodically flooded by freshwater; high
buried under river sediment; high
buried under marine sediment; low
periodically flooded by seawater; high
periodically flooded by seawater; high
Read the following statement very carefully and determine whether it is True or False.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies coal ash as a non-hazardous waste and has established rules for coal ash disposal similar to those for household garbage.
True
False
True
Which of the following is not a relevant factor when estimating the power density of a coal-fired power plant?
The area of land disturbed by coal mining.
The overall efficiency of converting the chemical energy of coal to electricity.
The area of land used to store/dispose coal ash.
The area of the wetland that produce peat in the geologic past.
The area of the wetland that produce peat in the geologic past.
Choose the answer that best completes the following sentence:
On average, doing one squat (an unfortunate form of exercise) requires 100 joules of energy. Doing a squat every 2 seconds, therefore, would involve a rate of energy conversion equal to ________.
20 W
200 W
50 W
100 W
50W
Recall the 2010 Science article by Palmer et al. that discussed the effects of mountaintop mining and valley fill techniques (MTM/VF) on watersheds in West Virginia.
Based on that reading which of the following statements is NOT true?
Increased sulfate concentrations correlate with increased MTM/VF mining in watersheds.
MTM/VF only imposes human health hazards to miners at active mine sites.
Concentrations of heavy metals such as selenium increase with higher sulfate concentrations in areas affected by MTM/VF.
Populations of stream invertebrates decrease with higher sulfate concentrations in areas affected by MTM/VF.
MTM/VF only imposes human health hazards to miners at active mine sites.
Producing electricity at a power plant involves a serial conversion of various types of energy. Which of the following energy conversions has the lowest efficiency?
All of the conversions listed are equally efficient
Mechanical energy to electrical energy
Thermal energy to mechanical energy
Chemical energy to thermal energy
Thermal energy to mechanical energy
Imagine that a coal-fired power plant has the option to buy either a lignite coal with 5% sulfur content or a bituminous coal with 2% sulfur content.
Assuming both types of coal have the same price, which type of coal would be preferred by the power plant operators? Why?
The bituminous coal with 2% sulfur content would be preferred, because it has a lower energy density. Less effort and expense would be required to reduce sulfur emissions from the power plant.
The bituminous coal with 2% sulfur content would be preferred, because it has a higher energy density. Less effort and expense would be required to reduce sulfur emissions from the power plant once the coal was burned.
The lignite coal with 5% sulfur content would be preferred, because it has a higher energy density. Less effort and expense would be required to reduce sulfur emissions from the power plant once the coal was burned.
The lignite coal with 5% sulfur content would be preferred, because it has a lower water content. Less effort and expense would be required to reduce sulfur emissions from the power plant.
The bituminous coal with 2% sulfur content would be preferred, because it has a higher energy density. Less effort and expense would be required to reduce sulfur emissions from the power plant once the coal was burned.
Choose the option that correctly completes the following statement.
__________ can lead to acid deposition (i.e., dry acid deposition and acid rain) when coal is burned to generate electricity.
Volatiles derived from the organic component of coal
Sulfur contained in the "fixed carbon" of coal
The incombustible mineral matter in coal
Sulfur contained in the mineral content of coal
Sulfur contained in the "fixed carbon" of coal
Which of the following best describes the meaning of economic sustainability at a national scale?
A nation that operates within the means of natural systems that provide resources and a sink for wastes.
A nation that uses its resources efficiently and responsibly in such a manner that allows continued economic activity and long-term economic growth.
A nation that produces sufficient economic prosperity to support the current generation of citizens.
A nation that provides a good quality of life (e.g., education, health, and equality) for current citizens and future generations.
A nation that operates within the means of natural systems that provide resources and a sink for wastes.
Longwall coal mining causes sinking, or subsidence, of the ground surface above the mine.
Which of the following is a negative consequence of this subsidence?
Crops grown above the mine can more easily flood due to their lower elevation.
Buildings built above or near the mines may develop damaged foundations.
All of the answer options are negative consequences of longwall mine subsidence.
Roads above a longwall mine may become gradually deformed over time and require additional maintenance.
All of the answer options are negative consequences of longwall mine subsidence.
What happens to the overburden at surface coal mines, like open pit mines and mountaintop removal mines?
The overburden at an open pit mine is typically used to back fill mining pits and return the landscape to its approximate original contours (i.e., original topography). The overburden at a mountain top removal mine is placed in adjacent stream valleys, resulting in a lower relief landscape.
The overburden at both types of surface mines is placed in adjacent stream valleys, resulting in a lower relief landscape.
The overburden at a mountaintop removal mine is typically used to back fill mining pits and return the landscape to its approximate original contours (i.e., original topography). The overburden at an open pit mine is placed in adjacent stream valleys, resulting in a lower relief landscape.
The overburden at both types of surface mines is typically used to back fill mining pits and return the landscape to its approximate original contours (i.e., original topography).
The overburden at an open pit mine is typically used to back fill mining pits and return the landscape to its approximate original contours (i.e., original topography). The overburden at a mountain top removal mine is placed in adjacent stream valleys, resulting in a lower relief landscape.
Why can one not compare solar and wind power to fossil fuels in terms of energy density?
Solar and wind power are intermittent unlike fossil fuels.
The area occupied by a solar or wind installation can be co-opted for other purposes.
No mass is consumed when using solar or wind power to produce electricity.
EROI values of wind and solar are below the economic threshold of 7.
No mass is consumed when using solar or wind power to produce electricity.
From which country does the United States derive most of its oil imports?
Iraq
Canada
Venezuela
Saudi Arabia
Canada
Which of the following units would be best for describing the amount of electricity you consume each month?
Power density (watts per square meter)
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
British Thermal Unit (Btu) per hour
Kilowatt (kW)
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Which of the following best describes the meaning of social sustainability at a national scale?
A nation that consistently produces an operational profit that ensures continued economic activity.
A nation that operates within the means of natural systems that provide resources and a sink for wastes.
A nation that produces sufficient economic prosperity to support the current generation of citizens.
A nation that provides a good quality of life (e.g., education, health, and equality) for current citizens and future generations.
A nation that provides a good quality of life (e.g., education, health, and equality) for current citizens and future generations.
What is the definition of energy returned on investment (EROI) for an energy resource?
EROI is the ratio of energy output (beneficial end-use energy) to the overall monetary cost of acquiring, distributing, and utilizing the resource.
EROI is the energy output (beneficial end use energy) of a resource per unit mass consumed.
EROI is the ratio of energy output (beneficial end-use energy) to the energy input (energy consumed in acquiring, distributing, and utilizing the resource).
EROI is the ratio of energy output (beneficial end-use energy) of a resource to the carbon emissions of the resource.
EROI is the ratio of energy output (beneficial end-use energy) to the energy input (energy consumed in acquiring, distributing, and utilizing the resource).
Read the following statement very carefully and determine if it is True or False.
In his TED talk entitled "Magic Washing Machine", statistician Hans Rosling argues that future population growth and economic stagnation in developing countries will greatly increase global energy consumption.
True
False
False
Which of the following statements best describes the importance of the energy flow from Earth’s interior (geothermal energy) in the context of human energy consumption?
Energy from Earth's interior drives wind currents that are harnessed for generating electricity at wind farms.
Energy from Earth's interior drives tectonic processes that store the products of photosynthesis as fossil fuels.
Energy from Earth's interior is a result of solar energy being stored within the Earth's core.
Energy from Earth's interior comprises 99% of the energy that reaches Earth's surface.
Energy from Earth's interior drives tectonic processes that store the products of photosynthesis as fossil fuels.
Choose the option that best completes the statement below.
Energy transitions that are perceived to __________________________ often face significant inertia that prevent or slow large-scale evolution of energy systems.
result in greater operational profit
result in lower consumer prices and greater environmental sustainability
result in higher energy intensity economies
result in riskier, unreliable energy access
Unknown
A thorough power density estimate should include the full life cycle of an energy resource and the technologies used to extract and/or consume it.
Which of the following scenarios could potentially lead to an increase in power density?
Wind power: A national-scale recycling program for turbine blades is established, reducing the amount of material buried in landfills.
Biofuels: The global demand for sugar cane ethanol increases. Farmers in South and Central America clear tropical forests at an increasing rate for additional sugar cane production. The amount of sugar cane produced per square meter of land remains the same.
Coal: The demand for coal ash as structural fill decreases nationwide, increasing the amount of coal ash buried in landfills.
Biofuels: Climate change causes long-term drought in the Midwest. Numerous reservoirs (man-made lakes) are constructed to provide sufficient irrigation water for energy crops (i.e., corn for ethanol).
Wind power: A national-scale recycling program for turbine blades is established, reducing the amount of material buried in landfills.
When estimating power density of a coal power plant in lecture, the power plant's electrical capacity was 1 gigawatt (GW) whereas its thermal capacity was 3 GW.
Why is the thermal capacity of a power plant always higher than its electrical capacity?
Converting electrical energy to thermal energy at the power plant is a very efficient process. In some instances, a power plant can generate 3 units of heat energy for every unit of electrical energy it consumes.
Converting electrical energy to thermal energy at the power plant is an inefficient process. A large proportion of the electrical energy is lost to the environment as waste heat.
Thermal energy is a higher quality form of energy than electrical energy, hence the 3-fold increase in capacity.
Converting thermal energy to mechanical and electrical energy is an inefficient process. A large proportion of heat produced by burning a fuel is lost to the environment as waste heat.
Converting thermal energy to mechanical and electrical energy is an inefficient process. A large proportion of heat produced by burning a fuel is lost to the environment as waste heat.
U.S. oil imports have declined since 2006.
Which of the following statements correctly describes a reason for this decline?
The systematic shutdown of coker units among U.S. oil refineries has lowered demand for oil imports.
The lack of investment in pipeline infrastructure since 2008 has dramatically increased the price of oil, lowering the demand.
The widespread adoption of hydraulic fracturing techniques has significantly increased domestic oil production in the U.S.
The rapid adoption of all-electric vehicles has cut overall demand for oil in half.
The widespread adoption of hydraulic fracturing techniques has significantly increased domestic oil production in the U.S.
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
Under increasing heat and pressure, the formation of conventional hydrocarbons proceeds in a prescribed order as follows ________ .
Organic remains, kerogen, graphite, oil, natural gas
Coal, bitumen, oil and natural gas
Peat, lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, anthracite
Organic remains, kerogen, oil, natural gas
Organic remains, kerogen, oil, natural gas
What is the role of a migration pathway in a conventional hydrocarbon system?
A migration pathway is the optimized path for drilling a conventional hydrocarbon reservoir.
A migration pathway serves a conduit through which hydrocarbons travel from the source rock to the reservoir rock.
A migration pathway naturally increases the permeability of the reservoir rock allowing hydrocarbons to travel to the source rock.
A migration pathway is a natural "arch" in the reservoir rock in which hydrocarbons accumulate.
A migration pathway serves a conduit through which hydrocarbons travel from the source rock to the reservoir rock.
Choose the option that best completes the following sentence:
Anthropogenic oil spills have a detrimental impact on wildlife and ecosystems by ________ .
All of the answer options are correct.
Causing phytoplankton blooms through input of nitrogen and phosphorous nutrients.
Increasing productivity while decreasing biodiversity.
Releasing carcinogenic materials, like PAHs, into the environment.
Releasing carcinogenic materials, like PAHs, into the environment.
What is the most likely direct cause for the increase in the number of 3.0 magnitude earthquakes in the U.S. (i.e., 100+ events per year after the year 2000)?
Growth in underground coal mining operations
Increase in wastewater disposal well injections
The decline in ex situ oil shale mining
Increasing trend in hydraulic fracturing stimulations in shallow aquifers.
Increase in wastewater disposal well injections
Which of the following statements is TRUE about the response to the Deepwater Horizon spill?
The blowout preventer (BOP) operated perfectly despite the failed cement and casing at the Macondo well.
All of the answer options are correct.
The National Environmental Policy Act was signed into law as a consequence.
Only 25% (1.25 million barrels) of the oil released is currently accounted for.
Only 25% (1.25 million barrels) of the oil released is currently accounted for.
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
"Cooked”, wax-like organic matter that is the precursor to oil and natural gas is called ________ .
Graphite
Bitumen
Kerogen
Plankton
Kerogen
According to the Scientific American article entitled "Drilling for Earthquakes", the risk of anthropogenic earthquakes, such as those that have occurred in Oklahoma, should immediately decrease once wastewater injection has ceased.
True
False
False
Choose the option that best completes the following sentence:
The fracking water cycle has 5 general stages including ________ .
Chemical mixing and wastewater treatment
Well injection and steam assisted gravity drainage
Brine acquisition and aquifer communication
Water acquisition and steam production
Chemical mixing and wastewater treatment
What is pore pressure?
a measure of the connectivity between pores
the proportion of open space within rocks and volumes of sediment
the pressure exerted by fluids within the pores of rocks
the pressure exerted on pore fluids by the overlying rock and sediment
the pressure exerted by fluids within the pores of rocks
Which of the following terms is defined as the ability of fluids to flow between open spaces (i.e., pores) in rock?
Conductivity
Porosity
Professional networking
Permeability
Permeability
Which of the following is TRUE about wastewater related to conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon production?
Wastewater from conventional and hydraulic fracturing production can be recycled for secondary phase recovery and future frack treatments (i.e., stimulations).
Disposal of waste water underground is regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act
Produced water can have a salt content that exceeds that of seawater by 10,000 times.
All of the answer options are true.
All of the answer options are true.
What is the largest contributor to hydrocarbons “leaked” into the oceans?
Deepwater Horizon disaster
Oil tanker accidents
Natural seeps
End-user oil consumption
Natural seeps
Choose the option that completes the following statement.
A geographic area in which _____________ is often described as having low water stress.
the rates of recycling of hydraulic fracturing wastewater are greater than deep injection rates
human activity consumes less than 10% of available water resources
the water-oil ratio of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon production are equal
All of the answer options are correct.
human activity consumes less than 10% of available water resources
Oil and other hydrocarbons can leak into marine environments during production and transportation of the hydrocarbons.
What is the goal of the human response or mitigation to spills in marine environments?
(Select all that apply)
Remove hydrocarbons at the ocean surface and prevent them from reaching shore.
Remove hydrocarbons that have settled onto the seafloor.
Prevent the decomposition of hydrocarbons by microbial life.
Stop the leak of hydrocarbons into the marine environment (e.g., use of relief wells).
Remove hydrocarbons at the ocean surface and prevent them from reaching shore.
Stop the leak of hydrocarbons into the marine environment (e.g., use of relief wells).
Choose the option that best completes the following statement:
Corexit, the dispersant chemical used in the Deepwater Horizon clean up, was found to be moderately toxic, because it facilitated __________ the tissue of aquatic organisms.
the removal of nutrients and oxygen from
the precipitation of iron hydroxides within
the absorption of small hydrocarbon particles into
an increase in deliciousness and human consumption of
the absorption of small hydrocarbon particles into
The application of bacteria, along with nitrogen- and phosphorous-based fertilizers, to oil spills in marine environments is thought to increase the biological breakdown of the hydrocarbons.
True
False
True
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
Treating frac wastewater at municipal wastewater treatment plants was determined to be insufficient because ________ .
the effluent from the treatment plants had a high concentration of volatile hydrocarbons.
the effluent from the treatment plants deposited naturally-occurring radioactive material in stream sediment.
the effluent from the treatment plants had a high concentration of sulfuric acid.
the effluent from the treatment plants had a salt content that was abnormally low, even for freshwater ecosystems.
the effluent from the treatment plants deposited naturally-occurring radioactive material in stream sediment.
What are mature fine tailings in the context of oil sand extraction?
a mixture of naphtha and natural gas condensates used to dilute bitumen into a crude-like substance
a mixture of high salinity water, fine-grained sediment, and sulfur compounds from acid mine drainage
a mixture of high salinity water, fine-grained sediment, and unrecovered bitumen
the low viscosity bitumen that is produced during in situ extraction
a mixture of high salinity water, fine-grained sediment, and unrecovered bitumen
Which of the following correctly lists a human or mechanical error that contributed to the Macondo Well blowout and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill?
BP chose to use only 6 casing centralizers instead of the suggested 21. This caused cement around the casing to be thin in some places, creating a weak points where natural gas can escape.
The initial explosion on the Deepwater Horizon bent the production pipe within the blowout preventer (BOP). The ram shear within the BOP cut a gash in the production pipe allowing hydrocarbons to spill at a higher rate.
All of the answer options are correct.
The heavy drilling mud used to create pressure control prior to production was withdrawn from the well too early.
All of the answer options are correct.
The majority of cases of hydrocarbon contamination in marine environments during oil exploration and extraction can be attributed to what?
Loss of pressure control at the well or borehole (i.e., well blowout).
Catastrophic failure of the trap and seal geometry.
Corroded pipelines that transport crude oil and natural gas.
The stimulation stage of offshore hydraulic fracturing.
Loss of pressure control at the well or borehole (i.e., well blowout).
Which of the following options is NOT a major cause of hydrocarbon pipeline spills?
excavation damage by third parties
All of the answer options are correct.
mechanical failure of materials/welds used at the pipeline
internal corrosion
unknown
How does water demand for oil sand production compare with water demand during conventional oil production?
The water-oil ratio (WOR) for in situ extraction is on the low end of the conventional oil WOR range. The ex situ extraction WOR may be equal to or exceed the conventional WOR range.
The water-oil ratio (WOR) for ex situ and in situ extraction methods may be equal to or exceed the conventional oil WOR range.
The water-oil ratio (WOR) for ex situ and in situ extraction methods is on the low end of the conventional oil WOR range.
The water-oil ratio (WOR) for ex situ extraction is on the low end of the conventional oil WOR range. The in situ extraction WOR may be equal to or higher than the conventional WOR range.
The water-oil ratio (WOR) for ex situ extraction is on the low end of the conventional oil WOR range. The in situ extraction WOR may be equal to or higher than the conventional WOR range.
When hydrocarbons "leak" into the ocean, either at natural seeps or due to anthropogenic spills, what is the expected fate of the heavy, tar-like hydrocarbons?
The heavy hydrocarbons will be incorporated into the sediment on the seafloor.
The heavy hydrocarbons will evaporate into the atmosphere within 24 hours.
None of the answer options are correct.
Bacteria will consume the heavy hydrocarbons that float within the water column.
The heavy hydrocarbons will be incorporated into the sediment on the seafloor.
Read the following statement very carefully and determine whether it is true or false.
The majority of water consumption during hydraulic fracturing occurs late in the life of a well during enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
True
False
False
Read the following statement very carefully and determine if it is True or False.
Multiple fluids may travel upward through an oil and natural gas well and "leak" into sources of drinking water. These fluids include hydrocarbons from the reservoir rock, methane from shallow sources, and salt-rich formation water.
True
False
True
What is a "well blowout"?
A process similar to the "top kill" procedure used to regain pressure control at a leaking oil well.
None of the answer options are correct.
The final stage of well completion at a hydraulic fracturing site during which flowback water returns to the surface.
An uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons due to loss of pressure control at the production site.
An uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons due to loss of pressure control at the production site.
Read the following statement very carefully and determine if it true or false.
The horizontal length of a hydraulic fracturing (HF) well typically varies from 1-3 kilometers whereas the artificial fracture network only extends 30-100 meters from the HF well.
True
False
True
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
Casing and cementing an oil well prevents which of the following _______ .
Inward collapse of the well.
All of the answer options are correct.
Uncontrolled release of fluid pressure.
Contamination of potable groundwater sources that were intersected by the well.
All of the answer options are correct.
Which of the following options is not a common frac fluid additive?
Gels that thicken frac fluid to better transport proppant.
Surfactants that reduce the surface tension between hydrocarbons, water, and rock particles.
Acids used to slowly dissolve proppant particles.
Corrosion inhibitors to ensure casing integrity.
Corrosion inhibitors to ensure casing integrity.
What are relief wells in the context of well blowouts?
Relief wells are drilled to release pore pressure at wastewater injection sites, preventing anthropogenic earthquakes.
Relief wells are drilled to facilitate in situ oil sand extraction in low permeability rock layers.
Relief wells are drilled to facilitate enhanced oil recovery at convention oil and natural gas fields.
Relief wells are drilled to intercept and seal a production well that has lost pressure control.
Relief wells are drilled to intercept and seal a production well that has lost pressure control.
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
A recent studying combining satellite imagery, direct sampling, and oceanographic modelling indicates that oil from the Deepwater Horizon Disaster may have spread _____________________
only in the Gulf of Mexico without entering the greater Atlantic Ocean.
only via surface water currents and was not entrained in deep water currents.
All of the answer options are correct.
beyond closed fisheries and contaminated other areas of the Gulf of Mexico.
beyond closed fisheries and contaminated other areas of the Gulf of Mexico.
In the context of hydraulic fracturing, what is the purpose of proppant?
Proppant decreases the viscosity of hydrocarbons, increasing the production rate.
None of the answer options are correct.
Proppant ensures the network of fractures remains open, allowing flow of hydrocarbons.
Proppant prevents internal corrosion of casing in production wells.
Proppant ensures the network of fractures remains open, allowing flow of hydrocarbons.
Domestic drinking water wells in northeastern Pennsylvania were contaminated with methane in 2007-2009, coincident with the expansion of hydraulic fracturing operations in the area.
Which of the following statements explains the link between methane contamination and hydraulic fracturing (HF) in this context?
Drilling of HF wells disturbed shallow sources of methane. Then, improperly abandoned wells acted as migration pathways that connected the methane source and drinkable groundwater.
The artificial network of fractures created by HF techniques extended vertically for 1-10 kilometers connecting the source rock and the drinkable groundwater.
Short term storage of flowback and produced water at HF production sites leaked downward into drinkable groundwater sources.
All of the answer options are correct.
Drilling of HF wells disturbed shallow sources of methane. Then, improperly abandoned wells acted as migration pathways that connected the methane source and drinkable groundwater.
What is produced water (aka production water or formation water)?
A solvent added to drilling mud to enhance production of hydrocarbons.
Naturally-occurring freshwater withdrawn from the ground when extracting oil and natural gas.
Naturally-occurring, salt-rich water in subsurface rock strata
Potable groundwater produced during initial stages of drilling hydrocarbon wells.
Naturally-occurring, salt-rich water in subsurface rock strata
What is a trap/seal in the context of conventional hydrocarbon systems?
Rock layers with a particular geometry that prevent a large volume of hydrocarbons from concentrating in one area underground.
A natural conduit, such as a fault, through which hydrocarbons travel from the source rock to the reservoir rock.
Rock layers with a particular geometry that keep a large volume of hydrocarbons locally concentrated and prevents the hydrocarbons from seeping to the surface.
A fracture in the Earth's crust along which two blocks of earth material (i.e., hanging-wall and footwall blocks) move relative to each other.
Rock layers with a particular geometry that keep a large volume of hydrocarbons locally concentrated and prevents the hydrocarbons from seeping to the surface.
Steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), a form of in situ oil sand production, was found to generate more carbon dioxide emissions than ex situ bitumen mining.
Which of the following statements correctly explains the greater carbon emissions of SAGD?
The poor quality of the bitumen recovered from SAGD requires mandatory upgrading to synthetic crude oil, a process that requires 2000 cubic feet of natural gas for every barrel of synthetic crude.
All of the answer options are correct.
The greater carbon emissions of SAGD are due to the burning of natural gas for steam production. The carbon emissions due to steam production are roughly twice as high as emissions from diesel-fueled mining equipment.
SAGD techniques require large electrical heating elements to be inserted at depths of 75 meters or greater. These electrical heating elements are powered by electricity from gigawatt-capacity coal power plants.
The greater carbon emissions of SAGD are due to the burning of natural gas for steam production. The carbon emissions due to steam production are roughly twice as high as emissions from diesel-fueled mining equipment.
Scientific studies indicate that hydraulic fracturing (HF) operations near Pavillion, WY, did contaminate groundwater resources during the injection or well stimulation stage of production.
What component of these HF operations most likely allowed the contamination to occur?
(select all that apply)
Cement and steel casing at the HF wells did not extend to the production zone in the oil field.
Well injection occurred in the same geologic formation as the groundwater resources only 200 feet below the deepest groundwater well.
Abandoned oil wells served as artificial pathways for hydrocarbons to travel into groundwater resources.
The induced fracture pattern extended several kilometers upward into the shallow groundwater resources.
unknown
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
Ingestion of hydrocarbon poses a long-term health risk to organisms due to the fact that _______________ .
some hydrocarbons are lipid-soluble and have long residence times within tissues.
dense hydrocarbons are preserved in sediment at the sea floor.
some hydrocarbons are water-soluble and are quickly excreted.
light hydrocarbons easily evaporate into the atmosphere.
some hydrocarbons are lipid-soluble and have long residence times within tissues.
Which of the following provides a detailed record of Earth’s climate over the past 800,000 years?
Belemnites from the Peedee Formation
Measurements from the Mauna Loa Observatory
2-layer climate models
Ice cores from Antarctic ice sheets
Ice cores from Antarctic ice sheets
Boreal forests are being cleared for expansion of oil sand mining in Alberta, Canada.
Which of the following statements correctly describes an environmental impact of clearing boreal forests?
All of the answer options are correct.
Boreal forests are major freshwater reservoirs. Clearing the boreal forests may potentially decrease water resources, exacerbating water stress in the Alberta province.
Boreal forests occupy naturally-acidic soils. Clearing the boreal forests will exacerbate loss of biodiversity due to acid deposition.
Boreal forests are major carbon reservoirs. Clearing the boreal forests may potentially release a large quantity of carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change.
Boreal forests are major carbon reservoirs. Clearing the boreal forests may potentially release a large quantity of carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change.
Over the last 10 years, the number of retired nuclear power plants has greatly exceeded the construction of new nuclear reactors.
Which of the following partially explains this difference between retirements and new construction?
The mass of fuel needed at a nuclear power plant each year greatly exceeds the mass of fuel needed at a fossil fuel power plant.
The federal moratorium on natural gas usage was lifted 10 years ago, leading to a boom in natural gas power plant construction.
All of the answer options are correct.
Construction costs for a nuclear power plant are 6 times greater than costs for a natural gas power plant of same capacity.
Construction costs for a nuclear power plant are 6 times greater than costs for a natural gas power plant of same capacity.
What are the 3 major reservoirs of carbon besides the atmosphere?
Terrestrial plants/soil, the MacKenzie River Basin, and the lithosphere
Coal, oil, and natural gas
Terrestrial plants/soil, the deep ocean, and the lithosphere
Terrestrial plants/soil, permafrost, and the deep ocean
Terrestrial plants/soil, the deep ocean, and the lithosphere
Which of the following explains the gaps in the infrared emission spectrum (i.e., transmissivity spectrum) of the Earth?
Gaps in the emission spectra indicate infrared wavelengths that are not absorbed by the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases, such as water vapor, ozone, and CO2, absorb significant amount of energy at those infrared wavelengths.
Is your spectrometer plugged in? Have you tried turning it off and then on again?
Airborne pollutants, such as particulate matter, reflect incoming solar radiation.
Greenhouse gases, such as water vapor, ozone, and CO2, absorb significant amount of energy at those infrared wavelengths.
Read the following statement carefully and determine whether it is true or false.
NOx compounds form when atmospheric nitrogen oxidizes at high temperatures during combustion of fossil fuels.
True
False
True
What are proxy data in the context of studying Earth’s ancient climate?
Data interpreted from our understanding of how climate change impacts chemical, physical, and biological processes
Measurements taken from natural recorders of Earth’s climate in the past
All of the answer options are correct.
Climate data derived from sources such as plankton and stable isotopes.
All of the answer options are correct.
Which of the following is (are) evidence used in class to argue that natural climate forcings are not responsible for modern global warming?
Observed modern warming of 1°C per century is 2-5 orders of magnitude faster than temperature change associated with tectonic or solar forcings.
None of the answer options are correct.
Rates of temperature change during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum are similar to rates experienced today.
Temperature change during the last 2 glacial-interglacial cycles occurred at a rate of 2°C per century.
Observed modern warming of 1°C per century is 2-5 orders of magnitude faster than temperature change associated with tectonic or solar forcings.
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
Agricultural studies involving greater incorporation of organic carbon into soils reveal a ________ effect, suggesting that the terrestrial carbon reservoir may reach its capacity in the near future.
soil moderation
carbon saturation
soil fertilization
carbon antagonistic
carbon saturation
Which of the following correctly describes a process through which carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored in the lithosphere carbon reservoir?
Precipitation with dissolved silicic acid chemically weathers silicate minerals exposed at the surface.
Carbon-bearing sediment on the seafloor is thrust up onto continents due to tectonic forces.
Precipitation with dissolved carbonic acid chemically weathers silicate minerals exposed at the surface.
Volcanic eruptions release carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and other gases into the atmosphere.
Precipitation with dissolved carbonic acid chemically weathers silicate minerals exposed at the surface.
What is a land breeze in the context of photochemical smog?
A wind current flowing from the ocean to the adjacent coast that occurs during the morning. The land breeze often concentrates airborne pollution over coastal cities.
It's a sarcastic term often used to describe the lack of wind during morning rush hour in land-locked cities.
A wind current flowing from land to the adjacent ocean that occurs during the evening. The land breeze often concentrates airborne pollution over coastal cities.
A wind current flowing from land to the adjacent ocean that occurs during the evening. The land breeze often prevents airborne pollution from concentrating over coastal cities.
A wind current flowing from land to the adjacent ocean that occurs during the evening. The land breeze often prevents airborne pollution from concentrating over coastal cities.
In one of our lectures, we used a simple two layer model of the Earth to test the hypothesis that modern global warming is due to an enhanced greenhouse effect. The hypothesis was supported by the observation that the stratosphere is warming at the same rate as the lower troposphere.
True
False
False
Choose the option that best completes the following statement.
Exposure to acid deposition, and subsequent [ Select ] ["root exposure to aluminum", "excess soil nutrients", "leaching of calcium from needles", "accumulation of bicarbonate ions"] , causes conifers, like the red spruce, to be [ Select ] ["more susceptible to frost damage and infections", "less susceptible to fire damage and extreme heat", "unsustainable root growth", "more susceptible to eutrophic soil conditions"] .
Answer 1:
leaching of calcium from needles
Answer 2:
more susceptible to frost damage and infections
Which of the following is an effect of climate change already happening in Iowa?
An increase in annual precipitation
A shorter growing season
An increase in the extent of ice coverage
A decrease in flood risk
An increase in annual precipitation
What carbon reservoir has the largest capacity for storing atmospheric carbon?
Permafrost
The lithosphere
Energy crops
The deep ocean
The lithosphere
Choose the options that best complete the following statement.
Under current and future climate change, [ Select ] ["cooler", "warmer", "higher salinity", "higher pH"] water in high latitude oceans will [ Select ] ["increase chemical weathering rates", "weaken ocean convection currents", "strengthen ocean convection currents", "increase the rate of downwelling"] , decreasing the transport of carbon into the deep ocean reservoir.
Answer 1:
warmer
Answer 2:
weaken ocean convection currents
What is the atmospheric lapse rate?
The rate at which ultraviolet radiation enters Earth's atmosphere.
The rate at which temperature changes with altitude in Earth's atmosphere.
The rate at which pollutant concentrations changes with altitude in Earth's atmosphere.
The rate at which greenhouse gas changes with altitude in Earth's atmosphere.
Choose the options that best complete the following statement.
The Stefan-Boltzmann Radiation Law was used in lecture to test hypotheses concerning the cause of recent global warming.
Generally speaking, the Stefan-Boltzmann Law describes the relationship between the [ Select ] ["temperature", "emissivity", "transmissivity", "reflectivity"] of an object and the [ Select ] ["proportion of energy transmitted through the object", "rate of energy radiated from the object.", "the temperature of its atmosphere", "proportion of energy reflected by the object"] .
Answer 1:
temperature
Answer 2:
rate of energy radiated from the object.
Changes in the characteristics of severe weather events over long time scales (e.g., decades to centuries) are evidence of climate change.
True
False
True
Which of the following correctly lists a fossil fuel-derived airborne pollutant and its corresponding impact on human health?
Carbon monoxide; atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular disease
NOx compounds; bind to blood hemoglobin preventing uptake of oxygen
PM2.5; cardiovascular diseases
PM2.5; bind to blood hemoglobin preventing uptake of oxygen
PM2.5; cardiovascular diseases
What information can be directly measured from bubbles in ice cores?
The temperature of the atmosphere in Earth's past
The age of the ice core
The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth’s past
Changes in solar irradiance (i.e. the amount of incoming solar radiation) in Earth’s past
The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth’s past
Choose the options that best complete the following statement:
Spent nuclear fuel (i.e., nuclear waste) in the United States is stored in two stages. Spent fuel rods are temporarily stored in cooling pools until they sufficiently decrease in temperature and radioactivity and then transferred to dry casks .
Answer 1:
cooling pools until they sufficiently decrease in temperature and radioactivity
Answer 2:
dry casks
Choose the options that best complete the following statement.
Under geoengineering, examples of solar radiation management and carbon cycle management, respectively, are [ Select ] ["diminished reflectivity", "induced volcanic eruptions", "dampened chemical weathering", "atmospheric aerosols"] and [ Select ] ["inhibited albedo", "deforestation", "ocean fertilization", "diminished chemical weathering"] .
Answer 1:
atmospheric aerosols
Answer 2:
ocean fertilization
Why did the 2010 Kalamazoo River dilbit spill require two phases of clean-up?
A second, previously undetected rupture was discovered in the Enbridge pipeline.
One of the tank rail cars that did not explode in the accident derailed at a bridge upstream from the primary spill site.
The first phase of the clean-up primarily removed the low-density diluent. A second phase of dredging river sediment was necessary to remove settled, high-density bitumen.
The first phase of the clean-up primarily removed the low-density bitumen. A second phase of dredging river sediment was necessary to remove settled, high-density diluent.
The first phase of the clean-up primarily removed the low-density diluent. A second phase of dredging river sediment was necessary to remove settled, high-density bitumen.