Transcript Environmental Geology

October 28, 2009
Climate map shows human impacts
A map designed to show the predicted effects of a
4°C rise in global average temperature has been
unveiled by the UK government. It shows a
selection of the impacts of climate change on human
activity. These include extreme temperatures,
drought, effects on water availability, agricultural
productivity, the risk of forest fire and sea level rise.
According to the Department of Energy and Climate
Change, agricultural yields would be expected to
decrease for all major cereal crops in all major
regions of production. In addition, half of all
Himalayan glaciers will be significantly reduced by
2050, leading to 23% of the population of China
being deprived of the vital dry season glacial
meltwater.
 Exam 2 on Monday, Nov. 2
 Covers material in Ch. 7, 9-12
 Presentations begin Nov. 9 (Monday)
Energy Resources
(Ch. 14)
World Consumption
coal
hydro
nuclear
gas
World Production
oil
http://www.greenvalhalla.com/2007/11/
http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/1122main.html
http://www.ecofuels.ca/~ecofuels/alternatives/index.php
Fossil Fuels: Oil and Gas
 Composition?
 Formation?
 Rapid burial; organic matter
 Chemical reactions due to heat/pressure
• heavy oils, light oils and gas
• refining process
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=oil_refining
http://geoscape.nrcan.gc.ca/calgary/topics/fuels_e.php
Fossil Fuels: Oil and Gas
 Petroleum deposits
 Rocks
• Source rocks
• Reservoir rocks
• Cap rocks
 Seeps
 Traps
 Nonrenewable
http://www.consrv.ca.gov/dog/kids_teachers/Seeps/seep1/Pages/photo_01.aspx
Oil and Gas Reserves
 Reserves generally declining
 In US, oil supplies 40% of
energy, gas 25%
 Strategic Petroleum Reserve
• Prudhoe Bay, ANWR, NPRA
World Gas Reserves (proven)
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/blogs/tag/oil
http://www.unctad.org/infocomm/anglais/gas/market.htm
http://earthsci.org/education/teacher/basicgeol/fossil_fuels/fossil_fuels.html
Future Prospects
 More exploration
 Deepwater discoveries
• Jack (5 mi depth), Big Foot, St. Malo fields
 Enhanced recovery of reserves
 Thermal (steam)
 Pressurized gases (CO2)
 Surfactants
http://www.canopetro.com/technology.asp
https://www.llnl.gov/str/November01/Kirkendall.html
http://www.scandoil.com/moxie-bm2/news/mustang-awarded-feed-for-chevron-jack-st-malo-deep.shtml
Alternate Oil Resources
(Unconventionals)
 Oil Shale (kerogen)
 U.S. has 2/3 world supply
 Not used because:
• Not financially competitive
• Waste rock
– Strip mining
• Water shortage
– Reclamation of land
– Current technology
 Tar Sand
 Problems similar
 Canada mining
• Huff-n-puff
Alternate Natural Gas
 Coal-bed methane
 Problems with briny water
 Geopressurized gas
Pros and cons
 Methane hydrates
No technology