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Fossil Fuel Creation; millions of years
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
22
39
23
84
We use more oil than we produce…… imports
2002 Top 10 Countries from which the United States
Imports Oil (thousand barrels per day)
Source:Energy Information Administration, Monthly Energy Review, October 2002
Americans like gas guzzling “cars”
But see……………..http://www.fuh2.com/
10 largest producers: Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Iran,
China, Mexico, Norway, Venezuela, United Kingdom, and Canada
External costs of fossil fuels
(not included in price at the pump)
Protection (military)
Environmental and Health
Risk of economic disruption
Traffic accidents and time lost in traffic
Include these costs and gas should cost >$4/gallon
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
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
More about costs, oil from Nigeria
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2933435
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
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 don’t know when
Alternative energy sources needed
Olduvai theory: industrial civilization will only last ~ 100
years, we’re going back to hunter gatherers by 2030. Pretty
pessimistic!
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?