Hydrocarbons

Fossil Fuels

• Oil, Natural Gas, and Coal

• Account for 88% of energy used in the world

• Not renewable:– 1500 – 250 yrs of coal– 120 – 70 yrs of natural gas– 60 – 45 yrs of oil – where?

• Produces CO2

Natural Gas

• Mostly methane (CH4)

– Ethane, propane and butane are removed

• Highest energy/mass

• Burns the cleanest

• ~100 year supply

• Less CO2/unit of energy

• ½ of homes in US heated with natural gas

Natural Gas

• Sometime will have to be replace with gas from coal

• Another source is methane hydrate crystals– Huge amounts but difficult to get

• Sour gas?– Contains H2S which must be removed

Petroleum

• First discovered:– 1859 – Pennsylvania– 1908 – Middle East – Iran

• Mixture of hydrocarbons – straight chain

Petroleum

• First discovered:

– 1859 – Pennsylvania

– 1908 – Middle East – Iran

• Mixture of hydrocarbons – straight chain

• ½ of consumption for 500 million vehicles

– 1 billion vehicles by 2030

• Will need other mobile fuels

Petroleum

• Also used for raw materials

• Less than ½ recovered – economics

• Demand will outstrip supply in this decade

Petroleum

• Also used for raw materials

• Less than ½ recovered – economics

• Demand will outstrip supply in this decade– Price?

• Why is OPEC keeping the price of oil so low?

H11 – C4

• 14 - 16, 18 - 21, 23 - 25, 27, 29, 51, 52