Fossil Fuel Creation; millions of years

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Fossil Fuel Creation millions of years
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Three main types of fossil fuels
Coal (rock) Once 80 of US energy, now
22 Crude oil (gasoline, liquid) 39 US
energy Natural gas 23 US energy burns to CO2
and water, few other pollutants
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We use more oil than we produce imports
2002 Top 10 Countries from which the United
States Imports Oil (thousand barrels per day)
SourceEnergy Information Administration, Monthly
Energy Review, October 2002
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Americans like gas guzzling cars
But see..http//www.fuh2.com/
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10 largest producers Saudi Arabia, Russia,
United States, Iran, China, Mexico, Norway,
Venezuela, United Kingdom, and Canada
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External costs of fossil fuels (not included in
price at the pump) Protection (military) Environ
mental and Health Risk of economic
disruption Traffic accidents and time lost in
traffic Include these costs and gas should cost
gt4/gallon
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History 1973 Arab leaders began oil embargo
because of US support of Israel. Prices soared,
55 mph speed limit 1978 revolution in Iran cut
of export. Prices up, fuel efficient cars
developed, domestic oil exploration Ongoing
conflict in Middle East Continued Israeli Arab
tension Iran- Iraq war Iraqi invasion of
Kuwait, 1991 Gulf War US invasion of Iraq,
2003-present
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Most new oil (conventional) in North America
likely to come from off shore, and
Alaska Deposits of oil laden tar sand in
northern Canada abundant, but require lots of new
technology for cost efficient extraction
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More about costs, oil from Nigeria
http//www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/293
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1995 Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 others of the Ogoni
people hung by the military government. Accused
of murder- they claim it was work for local oil
control and against pollution. Current (2004)
Fighting between ethnic groups and with
government over control and profits from
oil ChevronTexaco and Royal Dutch/Shell major
companies. Accused of promoting ethinic fighting
to keep people from being unified front Towns
destroyed by government troops, high unemployment
and crime
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Lots of disagreements among geologists and
economists about when it will run out But it is
a finite resource, it will run out eventually We
dont know when Alternative energy sources needed
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Olduvai theory industrial civilization will only
last 100 years, were going back to hunter
gatherers by 2030. Pretty pessimistic!
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Controversial questions
How does oil influence US policy
politics? What role if any did oil play in the
invasion of Iraq? Is civilization as we know it
going to end in 25 years? What would life be
like? Would it be all bad?