Oil and Gas Geology of Oil and Gas

Oil and Gas • Geology of Oil and Gas – Similar to coal (different source) – Second most abundant liquid in the crust – Formation incompletely understood – Environments • Contain clay minerals • Subsiding depositional basins – Rapid and deep burial – Heat and pressure – Formation (biogenic to thermogenic) – Initiate migration

Geology of Oil and Gas • Movement – Primary migration – Secondary migration – Mostly found in geologically young rocks • >100 My; mostly Cenozoic or late Mesozoic (Cretaceous) – May have escaped from older rocks (preservation) • • 85% of total production comes from 5% of the fields 65% from 1% of the fields 15% of known reserves are in the Middle East Most giant fields are located in tectonic belts that have been active in the past 60 -70 My

Geology of Oil and Gas • Oil traps – Cap rock-zone of impervious rock – Anticline (70%) – Fault – Unconformity (20%) – Stratigraphic traps – Salt domes (5%)

Geology of Oil and Gas • Production – Primary recovery – Enhanced recovery – Brine disposal • Distribution of Gas and Oil – US situation – Future • • New discoveries? Maybe Coal derived processes Nuclear fuels Alternative energy sources

Natural Gas Reserves

Oil Reserves

Impact of Oil and Gas Exploration and Development • Negligible to significant • Sensitive areas • Development – – Drilling wells Disposing of waste water Transporting Converting • Use – Greenhouse gases – Urban pollution

Impact of Oil and Gas Exploration and Development • Gas Hydrates – – Recently discovered in young geologic environments “Ice crystals" of gas and water In 1997, estimate was refined to 200, 000 trillion ft 3 Greater than all oil and coal reserves.

Oil Shales and Tar Sands • Geology of Oil Shales – Oil shale • Origin similar to other petroleum materials • Sedimentary rock containing kerogen • Heating yields significant hydrocarbons – Example • Green River Formation

Oil Shales and Tar Sands • Geology of Tar Sands – Tar sands • • Impregnated with tar oil, asphalt, and other organic materials Difficult to recover by conventional methods Berea Tar Pits in California Best know in Canada at Athabasca – Distribution of Oil Shale and Tar sands • US: about 2/3 of oil shale resources • Canada's tar sands: equal of about 50% of world oil reserves – Current Economics • Getting better • Canadian dollar has risen dramatically against the US dollar; has become a true "petrodollar"

Oil Shales and Tar Sands • Impact of Exploration and Development – – – Uses conventional near surface techniques Insufficient water for processing Tar sands are in small scale production Oil shales increase in volume after retorting (20 -30%) Modified in-situ processing

Fossil Fuel and Acid Rain • Environmental Effects of Acid Rain – Damage to Vegetation – Damage to Lake Ecosystems – Damage to Human Structures • A Solution to the Acid Rain Problem

Areas Sensitive to Acid Rain

Oil in the 21 st Century • Crisis Indicators: – – Consumed 50% of available resources Rate of discovery is low Peak world recovery will by 2020 US production will end by 2090 • Responses: – Education and planning – Develop known coal resources – Develop alternative technology

Nuclear Energy: Fission and Fusion • Energy from Fission – Chain reactions • Reactor design and operation – Burner reactor – Breeder reactor (uranium cycle; thorium cycle) – Geology and distribution of uranium – Risks associated with fission reactors – The future of energy from fission

Nuclear Reactor BWR No body would build a reactor where the recirculating fluid would be in contact with the nuclear material; too dangerous!!

Energy from Fusion – Tokamak magnetic bottle – Cold Fusion (Stanley Pons and Martin Fleishman)

Geothermal Energy • Geology of Geothermal Energy – Hydrothermal convection systems – Hot igneous systems – Geopressured systems – Groundwater systems • Environmental Impact of Geothermal Energy Development – The Future of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Energy

World Energy Resource Base Gas Hydrate not included

Renewable Energy Sources • Direct Solar Energy – Active and passive systems – Solar Cell – Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion • Water Power – Hydroelectric power – Tidal Power • Wind Power – Objections have been growing • Noise • Bird kills • Aesthetics • Energy from Biomass – Wood Wastes

Renewable Energy Sources

Policy and the Future • Conservation, Efficiency, and Cogeneration • Energy Policy for the Future – Hard Path vs. Soft Path – Sustainable Energy Policy • Technology – Hybrid vehicles (Honda, Toyota, etc. ) – Hydrogen economy – Fuel cells – Clean fossil fuel alternatives