ENERGY POLICY PROJECT |
SUMMARY: PETROLEUM (OIL)
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Oil is a nonrenewable
energy source that is classified as a fossil fuel, along with coal
and natural gas.
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Oil was formed
hundreds of millions of years ago.
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Because oil is
underground and under immense amounts of pressure from rock, you
have to drill into the ground in order to get the oil. Companies put
up exploratory wells, in some cases, to see if there are traces of
oil in the general area. If they find a favorable location, they
will set up a well and begin drilling. After they get the oil that
is easily retrieved, they will shoot water down into the well to
force out any other oil.
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Oil is then refined
into all the things we use it for. When it is refined, oil is boiled
in to a vapor, which is then cooled. Once the vapor is cooled, it
separates in to different liquids, which are collected. The liquids
are heavy gas oil, light gas oil, naptha, kerosene, and straight
gasoline.
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Gasoline is the most
common product used.
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Gasoline is the
biggest use of petroleum since cars are an everyday part of life. We
also use oil for many of our other activities of daily living such
as hot water, drying clothes, and cooking.
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It is also used for
processing and manufacturing most products in the home and
workplace. Oil can also be used for fueling power station turbines
and co-generation plants.
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Petroleum is
available is the United States and various places around the world.
Some of the leading states in oil production in the U.S. include
Texas, Alaska, and North Dakota. Saudi Arabia and Russia are some of
the world’s lead oil-producing countries.
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We, for the most
part, do not have any trouble buying oil or having it available for
consumer usage.
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Petroleum is not very
sustainable. Since it is a nonrenewable resource, it is not a
resource that will keep replenishing itself for our continued use.
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We will eventually
run out of oil altogether, especially since the entire world uses so
much of it.
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According to the U.S. Energy
Information Administration, it costs $33.76 per barrel of oil, which
includes operation and maintenance of oil and gas wells, along with
the appropriate equipment and facilities to bring gas and oil to the
surface, and the costs of exploring and purchasing property that
might contain gas and oil reserves.
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Social advantage: we
use oil for many different things, especially in our cars.
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Social disadvantage:
we will eventually run out.
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Other advantages: it
is easily transport, fairly inexpensive to transport, and is
available for our use all the time.
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Disadvantages: the
threat of oil spills, pollution when oil is burned, contributes to
acid rain, and onshore and offshore exploration also threatens oil
spills and damage to ocean habitats.
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Environmental
concerns: when burned,
it emits greenhouse gases, produces hazardous waste, airborne
particles contribute to disease.
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Environmental
benefits: its long time usage gives us much more knowledge of the
hazards of oil. We know what comes with using oil.
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Future prospects:
there is discussion of building pipelines to help relieve oil
build-up in places like North Dakota, which will create lots of jobs
in construction, along with opportunities for welders and
manufacturers.
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Do you think we are
close to running out of oil? Why or why not? Do you think the world
will be able to adjust with the loss of oil as a main resource?
http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=oil_home-basics |