Energy from Petroleum – An Introduction

1. Energy from Petroleum – An Introduction Kenneth M. Klemow For BIO / EES 105 at Wilkes University

2. What is petroleum? • Thick flammable liquid, ranging from yellow to black • Word derived from Greek • Petros = rock • Oleum = oil

3. Petroleum includes a mixture of organic substances rich in carbon (and hydrogen) Natural gas (methane) Gasoline Naphtha Asphalt Kerosene Lubricating oil Paraffin

4. Classification of petroleum • Crude vs refined • Light vs intermediate vs heavy • Sweet vs sour

5. How does it form?

6. Oil in earth’s crust http://www.green-planet-solar-energy.com/fossil-fuel-formation.html

7. How much oil is available? • Need to consider: • Reserves • Different forms • Proven and unproven • By country • Within US • Production • By country • Within US

8. Forms of oil availability

9. Petroleum reserves worldwide http://sevencolors.org/images/photo/original/oilmap.jpg

10. Petroleum reserves worldwide http://www.earthsci.org/education/teacher/basicgeol/fossil_fuels/fossil_fuels.html

11. Proven vs Unproven Reserves http://prienceshrestha.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/the-geo-political-issues-regarding-global-oil-reserve/

12. World production by country

13. U.S. Petroleum Reserves

14. Production by state

15. Extracting petroleum • Three main steps • Oil exploration • Drilling • Pumping

16. Oil exploration • Done by geologists • Look for evidence of source and trap rock • Interpret maps • Test drilling • Look for oil bearing strata • Presence of certain micro-algae • Additional methods • Magnetometers / gravity meters • Seismic testing • “Sniffers” detect hydrocarbons in the air

17. Oil drilling • Clear land • Secure source of water • Install rig - derrick • Commence drilling • Drillbit • Establish casing • Introduce drilling mud http://www.encapgroup.com/drilling/

18. Pump oil from the ground • Place pump at wellhead • Place rods in the borehole • Motor drives assembly • Suction created in upstroke, drawing oil upward http://www.encapgroup.com/drilling/

19. Crude oil must be refined to separate components • Done at fractionating column (cracker)

20. Inside a column http://www.propertiesofmatter.si.edu/boilingoil.html

21. Energy from petroleum products http://energy.gov/articles/hows-and-whys-replacing-whole-barrel

22. History of Petroleum • Oil well known in ancient world • Ancient Babylonians, Greeks, Chinese used for paving streets, lighting, medicines, producing salt • By middle ages, kerosene isolated, used for lighting • In US, oil obtained in PA and NY from shallow pools.

23. Petroleum in 19th Century • Production increased greatly in US and Europe due to improved drilling technology • Drake well in Titusville in 1859 • Other wells in California, Europe, and Canada in next few years • Development of internal combustion engine in late 1800s increased demand.

24. Petroleum in 20th Century • Demand and production increased throughout the first half of century. • Cars, Trains, Planes, Home heating • Rise of plastics • Drilling increasingly shifted offshore • Middle-Eastern countries became large-scale producers by 1950s. • OPEC formed in 1960. • Oil embargos in 1973 / 79 had worldwide economic impact. • Environmental issues noted by 1980s. • Focus on finding alternatives.

25. Worldwide petroleum use over time

26. Worldwide patterns of petroleum use – by country

27. Petroleum use – US

28. Petroleum use per capita http://www.realitybase.org/journal/2010/12/13/the-history-of-us-per-capita-petroleum-consumption-will-surp.html

29. Benefits of petroleum as an energy source • High energy density • Convenient to transport • Burns relatively cleanly • Produces many forms of energy • Byproducts common in our modern lives

30. Drawbacks of petroleum as an energy source • Often unreliable, especially if imported • Drilling causes habitat impacts • Spills can be devastating, ecologically • Greenhouse gas emissions