Fossil Fuels Review

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to fossil fuels, their formation, extraction, usage, and environmental impacts as discussed in the lecture notes.

Fossil Fuels

Natural fuels formed from the remains of ancient organisms, such as oil, coal, and natural gas.

Bitumen

A viscous, tarry type of petroleum found in oil sands.

EROI (Energy Returned on Investment)

A metric used to evaluate the efficiency of energy production, calculated as the energy returned divided by the energy invested.

Keystone XL Pipeline

A proposed extension of a pipeline to transport tar sands oil from Canada to the United States.

Subsurface Mining

An extraction method used to access fossil fuels located deep underground.

Strip Mining

A mining method that involves removing layers of soil and rock to access fossil fuel deposits close to the surface.

Methane Hydrate

A solid form of water that contains methane gas, found in Arctic and ocean sediment.

Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)

A technique to extract oil and gas by injecting high-pressure fluid into the ground to fracture rock formations.

Natural Gas

A fossil fuel primarily composed of methane (CH4), used for heating, electricity, and cooking.

Coal

A solid fossil fuel formed from the remains of woody plants that have been compressed over millions of years.

Formation of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of ancient organisms subjected to heat and pressure over time in anaerobic conditions.

Petroleum

Crude oil that can be refined into various fuels and other products.

Oil Shale

Sedimentary rock that contains organic matter which can be processed into oil.

Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuels

Negative effects caused by fossil fuel extraction and use, including habitat destruction, air pollution, and health risks.

Reserves-to-Production Ratio (R/P Ratio)

A measure of the amount of fossil fuel reserves left compared to the yearly production rate.

Coal-fired Power Plant

An energy facility that burns coal to produce electricity.

Energy Sources

Various forms of energy that can be harnessed, including fossil fuels, renewables, and nuclear energy.