FOSSIL FUELSCoal, Oil, and Natural Gas

By: Andrea S.

COAL

Coal was used for heating by cavemen in England

During Industrial Revolution, coal used to run steam engines

1880, started being used for generating electricity and heating

History of Coal

Heat Electricity (50%

from coal) One of cheapest

ways

Limited supply Air pollution Produces most carbon

dioxide when burnt (global warming)

Produces sulfur dioxide (breathing problems, contributes to acid rain)

Strip mining destroys habitats

Pros and Cons

Coal Mountain Elkview Line Creek Greenhills Fording River Brule Perry Creek Roman Mountain Trend Mine Quinsam Coal Mine

Coal Mines in B.C.

OIL

History of Oil

• In ancient times, oil was easy to access (oil seeps on ground), used as medicine

• 1850, American sold it in bottles to cure ailments

• Many oil wells were drilled afterwards

Pros and Cons

• Electricity• Heating• Fuel for powering

motors• Boosts our economy• Easier to pump out

than coal

• Limited supply• Air pollution• Releases carbon

dioxide (global warming)• Tanker ships can spill• Pipelines can burst• Releases sulfur dioxide

(breathing problems, contributes to acid rain)

• Disturbs habitats

Oil Refineries in B.C.

• Burnaby Oil Refinery-largest in the province

• Prince George Oil Refinery

NATURAL GAS

History of Natural Gas

• 400 BC, Chinese used it to boil water

• 100 AD, Persian king built his kitchen around natural gas flame (struck by lightning)

• 1700, British used for lighting

• 1800, used in North America for lighting

• 1885, used for Bunsen burners

Pros and Cons• Electricity• Heating• Liquefied for easier

transportation, converted back to gas

• Less pollution than coal

• Can be bottled up for car fuel

• Limited supply• Air pollution• Carbon dioxide

(global warming)• Very flammable• Can’t see or smell• Explosions, oil spills• Disturbs ocean

habitats

Natural Gas Companies in B.C.

• Montney Formation• Precision Drilling

Corp.• Calfrac Well Service• Trican Well Service

Ltd.

GENERATION PROCESS

• Fossil fuel goes to power plant

• Burned in a boiler, water becomes steam

• Steam goes through pipes to turbine

• The steam spins the turbine blades.

• Spinning blades cause shaft to turn inside generator

• Electrical current is produced

• Electricity travels through wires to cities

Price

• Approximately 9¢/kWh• Prices expected to rise because the supply is slowly running out

Sources

http://www.fe.doe.gov/education/energylessons/coal/coal_history.html http://kids.rrc.state.tx.us/school/classroom/coal/coaluse.html http://library.thinkquest.org/6075/coal.html http://www.fortisbc.com/About/RegulatoryAffairs/ElecUtility/Rates/Pages/default.aspx http://

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-s-natural-gas-reserves-double-previous-estimates-1.2417050 http://business.financialpost.com/2013/06/17/service-companies-buoyed-by-jump-in-gas-activity-in-b-c/ http://www.fplsafetyworld.com/?ver=kkblue&utilid=fplforkids&id=16196 http:///www.resilience.org/stories/2004-10-20/rising-fossil-fuel-prices-boost-prospects-renewable-energy# http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-286239/petroleum

http://www.energybc.ca/map/fossilfuelinfrastructure.html 

 http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/progressive-economics-forum/2011/07/decarbonizing-homes-and-price-gas

http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1423-fossil-fuel-energy

http://www.energyzone.net/aboutenergy/fossil_fuels.asp 

http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/fossil.htm