ENVR 1301 - Fossil Fuels

Flashcards for ENVR 1301 Lecture Notes

Fossil Fuels

Formed from buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Examples include coal, oil, petroleum, and natural gas. All are nonrenewable.

Coal Formation

Giant plants died in swamps, were buried under water and dirt over millions of years, and heat and pressure turned the dead plants into coal.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Formation

Tiny sea plants and animals died and were buried on the ocean floor, covered by layers of silt and sand over millions of years, and heat and pressure turned them into oil and gas.

Conservation of Matter

Matter is neither created nor destroyed; it is conserved during chemical reactions, although it may change forms.

Carbon Cycle

The global movement of carbon between organisms and the abiotic environment.

Coal Power Plant States

In 2015, the top 5 states for coal production were Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.

Natural Gas-Powered Electric Plant States

In 2015, the top 5 states for dry natural gas production were Texas, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Louisiana.

Oil-Powered Electric Plant States

In 2016, approximately 65% of U.S. crude oil production came from Texas, North Dakota, California, Alaska, and Oklahoma.

Major Types of Coal

Occurs in different grades based on variations in heat and pressure during burial.

U.S. Coal Reserves

The US has 21% of world’s coal supplies

Surface Mining

Strip mining where coal is less than 30m from surface; accounts for 60% of coal mined in the U.S.

Subsurface Mining

Underground or deep mining; accounts for 40% of coal mined in the U.S.

Mountaintop Removal

Fills valleys and streams with overburden, a Clean Water Act violation.

Acid Mine Drainage

Sulfuric acid & other toxic minerals from coal and metal mines pollute nearby streams.

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA)

Mandated that areas that have been surface mined for coal be “reclaimed” once the mine closes.

Environmental Impacts - Burning Coal

Releases large quantities of CO2, mercury, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.

Clean Coal Technology - Scrubbers

Remove 98–99% of sulfur from power plant’s exhaust.

Fluidized Bed Combustion

Removes sulfur by mixing crushed coal with limestone to neutralize acidic sulfur compounds during combustion.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Techniques for capturing carbon dioxide emitted from coal combustion and other industrial processes, transporting it, and storing it underground.

Crude Oil/Petroleum

A liquid composed of hundreds of hydrocarbons, can be sweet or sour.

Natural Gas

Contains far fewer and lighter hydrocarbons than crude oil, such as methane, ethane, propane, and butane.

OPEC

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, members control ~73% of the world’s total proved crude oil reserves.

Peak Oil

Global peak in oil production, estimates vary between 2009-2021

Fracking

Used to extract natural gas or oil from deep reserves using horizontal drilling and pumping a mixture of fluids and sands.

Synfuels

A liquid or gaseous fuel that is synthesized from coal and other naturally occurring sources.

Coal Gasification

Creating synthetic natural gas from coal before combustion; sulfur impurities are converted to H2S and carbonyl sulfide then sulfur can be easily extracted

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

Created by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (1980).