Energy & Oil

Since its discovery, petroleum has played a prominent role in the growth of the world economy and in the quality of life of societies around the world. It will continue to do so in the future. The world has changed considerably over the last century and the pace of change will continue to accelerate into the future as the world population grows.

Crude oil and other liquids produced from fossil fuels are refined into petroleum products that people use for many different purposes. Biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are also used as petroleum products, mainly in mixtures with gasoline and diesel fuel.

According to OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ), more than 70 million barrels are produced worldwide every day. That is almost 49,000 barrels per minute.

Today, not only oil reservoirs are running dry, but also the oil industry causes tremendous environmental problems.

 


Oil Industry

Petroleum is a leading global energy commodity and feedstock for materials and chemicals production, especially when the economic significance to modern industrialized economies rivaled in few regions in natural gas. Basically, petroleum is accounted for more than 30% of the global total primary energy supply, and US is the leading nation in maximum consumption of petroleum products across its various manufacturing industries and general public. Among various countries, China comes close second after US in major petroleum consumption. And as the trading of the petroleum and crude oil continues, petroleum refineries are expected to contend with government regulations that will be designed to increase the use of renewable and environmentally friendly fuels.

The World's Biggest Oil Companies Dominating the World Economy (Full Documentary)

 

How much petroleum does the world consume?

Total world consumption of petroleum in 2015 was about 93 million b/d. The five largest petroleum-consuming countries in 2015 and their shares of total world petroleum consumption

  1. United States—20.5%

  2. China—12.6%

  3. Japan—4.3%

  4. India—4.3%

  5. Russia—3.7%

The geology and geography of petroleum and typical exploration and extraction techniques, all explained in this video.

 

Oil

Crude Oil is a fossil fuel that has formed over time from prehistoric plant and animal organisms. When alive, these plants and animals used and stored energy from the sun as carbon molecules. When they died, they settled at the bottom of oceans and lakes and were covered by sediment. Over time, more and more layers of sediment and other organisms settled and the weight of the sediment compressed (squished) the material. With the buildup of pressure came a rise in temperature and the mixture of pressure and high temperature helped transform the dead organisms into oil. Some of the crude oil escapes through cracks in the earth, but other pockets are still trapped underground. These pockets are what we drill into today to get our oil supply.

Crude oil, or petroleum (literally “rock oil” in Latin), is a liquid fossil fuel made up mostly of hydrocarbons (hydrogen and carbon compounds). Oil can be found in underground reservoirs; in the cracks, crevices, and pores of sedimentary rock; or in tar sands near the earth’s surface. It’s accessed by drilling, on land or at sea, or by strip mining in the case of tar sands oil and oil shale. Once extracted, oil is transported to refineries via supertanker, train, truck, or pipeline to be transformed into usable fuels such as gasoline, propane, kerosene, and jet fuel—as well as products such as plastics and paint.


Uses of Oil
Liquid oil is many uses to us. This liquid oil is most commonly used in generating electricity and as a fuel in cars. Oil is burnt to run steam turbines to produce electricity. This is highly efficient way of generating heat to support production of electricity. However it is getting expensive day by day due the soaring prices of oil and scarcity of this resource. Natural oil is found in many parts of the world but is most commonly found in Middle East and in some parts of Europe.

Oil is used as a fuel in cars, buses, tractors and industrial machinery. The oil which is used in vehicles is known as petrol and diesel. Crude oil is used in many industrial products like in detergents, in fertilizers, paints, plastics, petroleum products, medicines and in the formation of synthetic rubber.

Yossie enlightens the audience about the value of the world's oil reserves, the impact of our oil addiction, and the ways we can develop cleaner and less expensive American-made fuels.

 


Disadvantages

Non-Renewable Source of Energy
Petroleum is taken from fossil fuels, which require millions of years and special environmental conditions before they can be produced. This means that petroleum is essentially a finite fuel source and can run out in the next few decades. In fact, fuel companies already find it hard to extract petroleum from the usual sources, which is why they now have to explore deep oceans and other areas.

Oil reserves: 16 of the 20 largest oil fields in the world have reached peak level production – they’re simply too small to keep up with global demand.

If people can’t find other energy sources and remain entirely dependent on petroleum, there will come a time when there won’t be enough left to sustain the world.


Effects on the Environment
Although the use of oil energy can increase the productivity of every nation, it can also leave hazardous gases such as methane or carbon dioxide as its residue. Thus, the gases will trap the heat and pollute the air, causing problems such as global warming.

The new feature-length documentary Crude Impact directed by James Wood examines how deeply our current existence relies on fossil fuels, and the cost that extracting oil has had on indigenous populations and the environment.

 

In more detail:

Air pollution hazards
Petroleum refineries are a major source of hazardous and toxic air pollutants such as BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene). They are also a major source of criteria air pollutants: particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Refineries also release less toxic hydrocarbons such as natural gas (methane) and other light volatile fuels and oils. Some of the chemicals released are known or suspected cancer-causing agents, responsible for developmental and reproductive problems. They may also aggravate certain respiratory conditions such as childhood asthma.

Air emissions can come from a number of sources within a petroleum refinery including: equipment leaks (from valves or other devices); high-temperature combustion processes in the actual burning of fuels for electricity generation; the heating of steam and process fluids; and the transfer of products. Many thousands of pounds of these pollutants are typically emitted into the environment over the course of a year through normal emissions, fugitive releases, accidental releases, or plant upsets. The combination of volatile hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen also contribute to ozone formation, one of the most important air pollution problem.

Water pollution hazards
Refineries are also potential major contributors to ground water and surface water contamination. Some refineries use deep-injection wells to dispose of wastewater generated inside the plants, and some of these wastes end up in aquifers and groundwater. These wastes are then regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Wastewater in refineries may be highly contaminated given the number of sources it can come into contact with during the refinery process (such as equipment leaks and spills and the desalting of crude oil).

This contaminated water may be process wastewaters from desalting, water from cooling towers, stormwater, distillation, or cracking. It may contain oil residuals and many other hazardous wastes. This water is recycled through many stages during the refining process and goes through several treatment processes, including a wastewater treatment plant, before being released into surface waters. The wastes discharged into surface waters are subject to state discharge regulations and are regulated under the Clean Water Act (CWA). These discharge guidelines limit the amounts of sulfides, ammonia, suspended solids and other compounds that may be present in the wastewater. Although these guidelines are in place, sometimes significant contamination from past discharges may remain in surface water bodies.

The Niger-Delta is full of oil. Oil spilled by companies like Shell. Shell hardly cleans up the mess or compensates the inhabitants. People who live in the area eat, breath and drink crude oil. Day in day out. This causes several life threatening diseases.

 


Soil pollution hazards
Contamination of soils from the refining processes is generally a less significant problem when compared to contamination of air and water. Past production practices may have led to spills on the refinery property that now need to be cleaned up. Natural bacteria that may use the petroleum products as food are often effective at cleaning up petroleum spills and leaks compared to many other pollutants. Many residuals are produced during the refining processes, and some of them are recycled through other stages in the process. Other residuals are collected and disposed of in landfills, or they may be recovered by other facilities. Soil contamination including some hazardous wastes, spent catalysts or coke dust, tank bottoms, and sludges from the treatment processes can occur from leaks as well as accidents or spills on or off site during the transport process.

The Niger delta, home to some of the biggest oilfields in the world, is heavily polluted from five decades of living with the oil industry.

 

Oil drilling in Ecuador has caused long-term environmental damage. And a toxic legal battle. Now, frustrated indigenous communities are cleaning up the contamination themselves. A quarter of a century after Ecuador filed a lawsuit against oil giant Chevron for allegedly dumping 18 billion gallons of toxic wastewater and crude oil into the Amazon rainforest, the battle for compensation goes on. The pollution, disease and poverty caused by the calamity have made it one of South America’s worst environmental disasters. Farmers and indigenous people have formed an alliance to devise their own solutions to resolve the contamination crisis.

 

Global Warming
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, offshore oil and gas production was responsible for the release of 6.2 million metric tons of combustion gases in 2013.

Carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels has been on the increase since the industrial era; and with more than 85% of the world’s energy coming from fossil fuels, it will remain an important energy source well into the future. As the demand for fossil fuels is growing, so is the volume of CO2 emitted each year. This has led to concerns over the impact of CO2 emissions on global climate change.


Oil Leaks can Occur
There are possibilities leading to the occurrence of oil leaks around the extraction points. Oil leaks are said to be a potential hazard for wildlife and mankind alike. Thus, it will cause disasters to the environment as a result to pollution and explosion. More so, it will be difficult to clean up the environment that has been polluted by oil leaks.


Oil Drill Disasters
Those who work within extraction areas could face huge risks of explosion and disasters. In fact, a lot of workers have suffered and many have cost their lives due to mishaps that occurred when drilling oil.

 


Oil Spills
In general, oil spills can affect animals and plants in two ways: from the oil itself and from the response or cleanup operations. Understanding both types of impacts can help spill responders minimize overall impacts to ecological communities and help them to recover much more quickly.

Spilled oil can harm living things because its chemical constituents are poisonous. This can affect organisms both from internal exposure to oil through ingestion or inhalation and from external exposure through skin and eye irritation. Oil can also smother some small species of fish or invertebrates and coat feathers and fur, reducing birds' and mammals' ability to maintain their body temperatures.

Oil spills may under certain circumstances have serious effects on the marine ecosystem. In particular, the impacts on seabirds have been well documented (see, for example, NRC, 2003). Even relatively small single spills may cause significant mortality among seabirds such as long-tailed duck, eiders, and penguins. It is estimated that between 100,000 and 500,000 seabirds are killed due to oil spills every winter in the North and Baltic Seas.

By day, a secluded bay in Prince William Sound is the site of spawning salmon destined for supermarkets. But when the tide goes out and the beach is exposed, evidence of oil can be found, 26 years after the Exxon Valdez spill.

 

As the world's attention focuses on the perils of oil exploration, we present Richard Sears' talk from early February 2010. Sears, an expert in developing new energy resources, talks about our inevitable and necessary move away from oil. Toward ... what?

 


Solutions


Businesses

There are many ways that businesses can reduce nutrient pollution, including:

  • Manage and Reduce Emissions

  • Leading businesses are taking steps to understand and manage their greenhouse gas emissions by preparing annual greenhouse gas inventories and setting long-term targets to reduce emissions.

  • Increase Energy Efficiency

  • Improving energy efficiency not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, it is good for a corporation's bottom line. Developing and implementing an effective corporate energy management program allows companies to manage energy with the same expertise used to manage other aspects of their business.

  • Buy Renewable Energy

  • Your organization's purchased electricity use can be a significant source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Buying renewable energy, can help reduce your organization's environmental impact while also providing a number of other valuable benefits.

Individuals

  • Conserve Energy

  • Air pollution from energy production leads to acid rain, excess greenhouse gases, and health risks. One important step you can take to minimize airborne nutrient pollution is to conserve energy. You can do this by:

  • Turning off lights, computers, televisions, video games and other electrical equipment when you're not using them.

  • Buying equipment that uses less electricity, including lights, air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators and washing machines. Energy Star-certified products and buildings use at least 10 less energy than standard models.

  • Limiting the use of air conditioning.

  • Installing a programmable thermostat.

  • Minimize the kilometers

  • Driving cars and trucks also produces significant amounts of nitrogen oxide emissions. To help cut down on air pollution from cars, you can consolidate driving trips, carpool or take public transportation, such as buses and trains. When possible, consider walking or biking instead of driving.

America, under President Donald Trump, is securing its “energy independence” with oil and gas. But unlike fossil fuels, renewables will not increase global warming —and China is moving fast.

 

Petroleum Alternatives


Individuals, industries, and organizations are increasingly concerned with peak oil and environmental consequences of petroleum extraction. Alternatives to oil are being developed in some areas, and governments and organizations are encouraging citizens to change their habits so we do not rely so heavily on oil.

Bioasphalts, for example, are asphalts made from renewable sources such as molasses, sugar, corn, potato starch, or even byproducts of oil processes. Although they provide a non-toxic alternative to bitumen, bioasphalts require huge crop yields, which puts a strain on the agricultural industry.

Algae is also a potentially enormous source of energy. Algae oil (so-called “green crude”) can be converted into a biofuel. Algae grows extremely quickly and takes up a fraction of the space used by other biofuel feedstocks. About 38,849 square kilometers of algae, less than half the size of the U.S. state of Maine, would provide enough biofuel to replace all of the U.S.’s petroleum needs. Algae absorbs pollution, releases oxygen, and does not require freshwater.

Hydrogen and fuel cells.
These are not strictly renewable energy resources but are very abundant in availability and are very low in pollution when utilized. Hydrogen can be burned as a fuel, typically in a vehicle, with only water as the combustion product. This clean burning fuel can mean a significant reduction of pollution in cities. Or the hydrogen can be used in fuel cells, which are similar to batteries, to power an electric motor. In either case significant production of hydrogen requires abundant power. Due to the need for energy to produce the initial hydrogen gas, the result is the relocation of pollution from the cities to the power plants. There are several promising methods to produce hydrogen, such as solar power, that may alter this picture drastically.

Carbon Engineering
Imagine driving up to your local gas station and being able to choose between regular, premium, or carbon-free gasoline.

Carbon Engineering, a Canadian company, is already making a liquid fuel by sucking carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the atmosphere and combining it with hydrogen from water. This is an engineering breakthrough on two fronts: A potentially cost-effective way to take CO2 out of the atmosphere to fight our climate crisis and a potentially cost-competitive way to make gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel that doesn’t add any additional CO2 to the atmosphere.

Plastic
Of all the plastics produced over the past 65 years (8.3 billion tons), about 12% have been incinerated and only 9% have been recycled. The remaining 79% have gone into landfills or the oceans. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2050, the oceans will hold more plastic waste than fish if the waste continues to be dumped into bodies of water.

PlasticWaste2Fuel is committed to actually solving the plastic waste problem worldwide. We really have a working solution for that. A machine that converts 20,000 kilos of plastic waste to 15,000 to 18,000 liters of oil per day. The production process is 100% emission free, the oil is Ultra-Clean and has a
Ultra-Low Sulphur content. So this oil is many times cleaner than what we are currently using.



What do you do regarding more sustainable energy use? By tagging us with #theconsciouschallenge you can share your ideas!


Want to contribute to our Ecological Footprint Bible? Submit us your scientific articles! Mail us at info@theconsciouschallenge.org



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