Examine the environmental, economic and sociocultural implications of obtaining and using hydrocarbons from the Earth
Petrol Natural Gas
Origin/produc Formed from the remains
tion of ancient marine
organisms, such as plants,
algae and bacteria
When these dead
organisms are buried under
sedimentary rock and
subjected to prolonged
heat and pressure,
petroleum is formed,
which is accessed through
drilling
The production process
includes thermal cracking,
which breaks down the
residue from vacuum
distillation. Lighter
elements can be made into
distillate fuels and petrol
Renewability Non - renewable: fossil
fuel source
Bioethanol Biogas Biodiesel
Also formed from Bioethanol is Occurs naturally Biodiesel is
decaying organic ethanol produced in compost heaps, produced from
materials such as from the as swamp gas and vegetable oils,
plants, animals and fermentation of as a result of yellow grease,
microorganisms. glucose obtained enteric used cooking
from cellulose and fermentation in oils, or animal
Extracted through sugar cane cattle and other fat.
fracking, where ruminants
machinery drills into - cellulose is a (usually a Fuel is produced
abundant coal beds polymer gaseous mixture by
and oil wells made of of methane) transesterificatio
repeated n which converts
Natural gas is also glucose It is then burned fats and oils into
more ubiquitous than subunits to generate heat biodiesel and
other types of fossil and produce glycerin
fuels since it is thus: energy
formed in its gaseous
state. It is a gaseous C6H12O6(aq) →zymase
mixtures of alkanes, 2C2H5OH(aq) +
particularly methane 2CO2(g)
Non - renewable: Renewable Renewable Renewable
fossil fuel source But not Readily so But not Readily But not Readily
so so
Energy Very energy efficient when Also very energy Not as energy Biogas is only Rather energy
Efficiency used in motor vehicles due efficient compared to efficient when slightly less efficient, similar
to its high molar other forms of fossil compared to energy efficient to that of petrol,
combustion of enthalpy. fuels → used mainly gasoline/petrol → compared to and can be used
in domestic homes has a 34% lower natural gas as a in traditional
Conventional gasoline energy efficiency fuel, and it is diesel engines
vehicles only convert Has an 92% rate predicted that without any
about 12~30% of energy efficiency rate 64% of natural problems.
stored in gasoline to power compared to coal This is because gas fuels can be
at the wheels which only has 32% bioethanol, due to replaced by
its shorter carbon biogas. This is
chain, has a lower because biogas
molar enthalpy of has a similar
combustion. Thus, composition to
a greater volume of that of natural
fuel is required to gases, consisting
produce the same of alkanes in their
amount of energy gaseous form
as gasoline
Products of Carbon Dioxide Carbon Dioxide Carbon Dioxide Carbon Dioxide Carbon Dioxide
combustion Heat Heat Heat Heat Heat
Water Water Water Water Water
Organic waste Glycerin
which can be
reused as
fertilisers
MJ/kg 42-46 MJ/kg 42-55 MJ/kg 27 MJ/kg 45 MJ/kg 38 MJ/kg

Advantages of - extraction of petroleum and natural gases - renewable, which means that it is Same as the ones
use reduces pressure on underground oil more environmentally in the LHS box
reservoirs, minimising oil seepage and sustainable
underground pressure - carbon neutral but additionally,
- relatively cheap to extract → integral for - burns more cleanly, reducing the it can be used in
Australian economy as energy production is release of carbon monoxide and traditional
cheaper air pollution engines
- creates new communities in potentially
more remote areas due to job opportunities
with mining
Disadvantages - drilling and fracking damages the land, Technology is Production Not yet readily
of use exposing heavy metals which are a health relatively new, so process is not yet available
risk. It also compromises ground integrity the fuel is generally refined so fuel is compared to
(less structurally stable) much more expensive and fossil fuels
- Requires relatively high initial cost to expensive inaccessible due
establish required infrastructure for fracking Requires to scarce amounts Has a lower
- May intrude on sacred Indigenous land as agricultural land to molar enthalpy
well as drive away residential homes in farm sugar cane for Pungent organic of combustion so
order to open up the land for industrial ethanol production, waste larger volumes of
fracking where food fuel will be
could’ve been used Distillation and required for
for world hunger refinement energy
Requires engine process is production
modification expensive as well