University:
Sam Houston State University
Course:
GEOL 1405 | Geologic & Environmental Hazards
Academic year:

2023
Views:

370

Pages:

13
Author:

larbiwxcvbn

Human Health Issues Surround Coal Mining and its Use • Workers can contract lung diseases, skin diseases and ulcers from coal dust and other impurities mined. • Burning coal produces huge amounts of smog, also related to illness. Photos courtesy of coalcampmemories.com Another Important Fossil Fuel is OIL • Oil is derived from Petroleum, the definition of which is : a thick, flammable, yellow-to-black mixture of gaseous, liquid, and solid hydrocarbons that occurs naturally beneath the earth's surface, can be separated into fractions including natural gas, gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, fuel and lubricating oils, paraffin wax, and asphalt and is used as raw material for a wide variety of derivative products. How OIL is Formed Where Do We Get Today’s OIL? • Crude oil is a smelly, yellow-to-black liquid and is usually found in underground areas called reservoirs (crude oil = petroleum). • The top 5 OIL-producing nations are Saudi Arabia, USSR, USA, Iran, China. • 58% of the crude oil used for fuel and products in the US is imported from other nations. • The top 5 oil-producing states are Texas, Alaska, California, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. OIL Production in the USA (2005) Why is OIL in such Demand? • Here’s a partial list of what oil is currently used for: • Cooling, computers, fertilizer, feedstocks, heating, adhesives, paint, plastics, clothing, building materials, medicine, trucks, cars, tractors, fencing, tools, rope, diesel, gasoline, solvents, lubricants, laboratory materials, colognes, detergents, and much, much more … (you are probably wearing oil-related products right now!) Why Do We Need So Much OIL? • The world population has been steadily increasing, more people means greater energy demand. • Several countries are achieving higher levels of development today, more building and transportation means greater demand for energy. • Oil is an extremely versatile fuel, it can be transformed into many other products. • Oil-derived fuels (such a gasoline) burn easily, burn HOT, and the current transportation industry is designed to use it nearly exclusively. Oil Must be Drilled from Deep Within the Earth • Drilling “Rigs” are constructed both on land and in the ocean to dig into oil reservoirs and search for new oil deposits. • Working these rigs can be very hazardous, safety is a major concern since any petroleum found is under pressure and highly flammable. Drilling Rigs • Land-based rigs are smaller and more numerous than offshore. • Smaller crews are needed to operate (usually 5–8 workers). • Fairly easily moved from place to place. Drilling Rigs • Offshore rigs are much larger and more expensive to build. • Larger crews are needed to operate (usually 25-40 workers). • Extremely hard to move from place to place. Once the Petroleum Deposit is Found, the “Crude” Must be Pumped and Transported • “Pump jacks” move the crude up from the well into pipelines and storage tanks. • Other stations pump the oil to larger tanks or waiting barges. • Crude is taken to refinery for production into fuel. Petroleum Must First be REFINED to derive Oil, Gas, and other Fuels! • Refineries are tremendously expensive operations. • Petroleum (crude) is carefully heated to specific temps, and the fumes are collected and cooled back into liquid form (condensates). • Gasoline, diesel, kerosene, etc, all are products of various fume-collection and distillation. • The danger of explosions is constant and extreme. • A typical refinery can process 500,000gal of petroleum per day. Well Blowout on Atchafalaya Bridge Dec. 2007