Energy Resources - Fossil Fuels

This lesson demonstrates an understanding of the various sources of energy that are tapped for human use. This module
focuses on fossil fuels as source of energy, how these are formed and extracted. This will also tackle the uses,
advantages and disadvantages of using such source of energy. Moreover, environmental issues and concerns will be
given emphasis at the end of this module. This topic will help you explore earth’s abundance in terms of energy
resources, and how earth produces such energy resource. You will discover and at the end infer why humans should
preserve and conserve natural resources, and the impact of using these resources to humans and the environment.

Our planet earth, aside from its distinctness from other planets due to inhabitation of human and other life forms, is
blessed with the bounty of its natural resources. From its abiotic resources (water, air, soil, land, minerals, etc.) to its
biotic resources (plants, animals, etc.), it can be said that living in this planet is a blessing. Earth provides vast amount of
resources for human needs and consumption, for its survival and advancement.

Try to look at your surrounding? Do you know what they are made of? Look at the things inside your home. Can you site
the materials needed and where they came from? Everything comes from the resources that the earth possesses. You
may notice that most of the materials used in your home came from abiotic resources, from your gadgets to your
appliances. How about biotic resources? Is it only for food and the uses of wood? Let us dwell on the abiotic resources.
Get ready to discover and be amazed on some of its important uses of these resources.

Fossil fuels are source of energy derived from the fossilized remains of once living plants and animals million years ago.
Those remains of dead plants and animals long time ago were buried and fossilized in the earth’s crust, thus this fuels
are found beneath the earth’s surface. Since this fuel originated from the remains of once living organisms, fossil fuels
composed mainly of high content of carbon and hydrogen, called hydrocarbons. Fossil fuels includes coal, oil (includes
petroleum or crude oil) and natural gas.

Coal is a type of fossil fuel that is non-renewable source of energy. It is a solid rock form of fossil fuel that originated
from the dead plant and animal matter that piled up in layers for over million years ago. Its material is highly composed
of carbon content.

Coal can be extracted using two methods: surface mining and underground mining. Surface mining, also known as strip
mining, involves the removal of the entire layer of rock and soil to access the coal deposit beneath the surface.
Underground mining involves the usage of heavy machinery to cut coal from deep underground deposits. Oil / Crude oil
or also known as Petroleum is another type of fossil fuel that is nonrenewable. It is a liquid type of fossil fuel composed
mostly of hydrocarbons. Like coal, petroleum originates from the remains of living organisms.

Petroleum comes from ancient marine organisms like marine plants, algae and bacteria. This can be extracted by drilling
on land or at sea. It can also be extracted through strip mining in the case of tar sands oil and oil shale. Once extracted,
this oil will be transported to refineries to transform oil into usable fuels like propane, kerosene, gasoline and other fuel
products. Also it is used in making plastic and paint products.

Natural gas is a type of fossil fuel that is odorless, colorless hydrocarbon gas. It made up of hydrocarbon that is mostly
methane (CH4). Natural gas, like other types of fossil fuels, is originated from the remains of plants, animals,
microorganisms that once lived millions of years ago. If a natural gas is found in porous and permeable rock beds or
mixed into oil reservoirs which can be extracted through drilling, this is called conventional natural gas. On the other
hand, unconventional natural gas are those that are too difficult or expensive to extract and require a special stimulation
technique like fracking

Process of formation of the different types of fossil fuels is almost the same. They both originated from the remains of
living organisms that lived millions of years ago. However, coal formed from vegetation while oil came from marine
organisms. Over millions of years, the remains of these organisms were buried deeper beneath the earth’s surface as
time passes by. As the remains buried deeper, it will experienced extreme heat and pressure beneath. Due to high
pressure and temperature, this will result to the formation of fossil fuels. Nowadays, these fossil fuels are drilled and
extracted for human used. Coals are fuelled in power plants to generate electricity. Oils are refined and transformed into
usable fuel like gasoline that fuels your engine. Natural gas is now used for fuel and a source of energy for electricity.

Summary

1. Fossil fuels are source of energy derived from the fossilized remains of once living plants and animals million years
ago.

2. Fossil Fuels are non-renewable type of energy resource.

3. Fossil fuels are composed of hydrocarbons.

4. There are three types of fossil fuels: coal, oil and natural gas.

5. Coal is a solid rock form of fossil fuel that originated from the dead plant and animal matter that piled up in layers for
over million years ago.

6. Oil also known as petroleum, is a liquid type of fossil fuel composed mostly of hydrocarbons.

7. Natural gas is a type of fossil fuel that is odorless, colorless hydrocarbon gas. And is made mostly of methane (CH4).

8. Fossil fuels are commonly used as energy to power engines and other materials at home and industries for these to
work.

9. Fossil fuels as non-renewable source of energy have disadvantages and could impact negatively to the environment
especially during its combustion since it produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.