2.2 C: Geology = the Changing Earth 2.2 A Billion Dollar Reef

Question 1

What significant discovery was made at the Leduc #1 Provincial Historic Site?

Answer 1

The discovery of petroleum in 1947

This discovery followed the drilling of over 130 dry holes.

Question 2

How much petroleum has the Leduc oil field produced since its discovery?

Answer 2

More than 400 million barrels

This production has significantly contributed to Alberta’s economy.

Question 3

What economic transformation did the discovery of petroleum at Leduc #1 cause in Alberta?

Answer 3

Shift from a farm-based economy to a petroleum-based economy

Question 4

What is a dry hole?

Answer 4

A well that doesn’t produce profitable amounts of petroleum or gas

Question 5

What geological period followed the Cambrian Period?

Answer 5

Ordovician Period

Question 6

What key development occurred during the Ordovician Period?

Answer 6

Life began moving from water to land

Question 7

How old are the earliest fossils of terrestrial plants?

Answer 7

470 million years

Question 8

What type of fish emerged during the Ordovician Period?

Answer 8

Jawless fishes

Question 9

What geological feature is thought to have existed in Alberta by the end of the Ordovician Period?

Answer 9

Submerged at the bottom of a tropical sea

Question 10

What kind of organisms contributed to the reefs in Alberta’s ancient tropical sea?

Answer 10

Sponges and coral

Question 11

What material did sponges secrete that contributed to these reefs?

Answer 11

Brittle calcium carbonate skeleton

Question 12

What is the primary reason for Alberta’s status as Canada’s top energy-producing province?

Answer 12

Rich reserves of petroleum

Question 13

Fill in the blank: Alberta’s prosperity is largely due to its _______ of petroleum.

Answer 13

rich reserves

Question 14

True or False: The Leduc oil field discovery was the first oil discovery in Alberta.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

What period followed the Ordovician Period?

Answer 15

The Silurian Period

During the Silurian Period, sponges continued to expand their hold on Alberta’s watery landscape.

Cambrian –> Ordovician –> Silurian

Question 16

What significant event occurred during the Silurian Period regarding land colonization?

Answer 16

The colonization of the land by primitive plants was nearly complete

This period also saw the first land-dwelling animals, such as scorpions and millipedes.

Question 17

Which periods are highlighted in the context of Alberta’s geological history?

Answer 17

Ordovician Period, Silurian Period, Devonian Period

Each period contributed to the development of marine life and the formation of petroleum.

Question 18

What was the apex of reef building associated with?

Answer 18

The Devonian Period

This period saw significant growth and development of reef systems.

Question 19

What type of marine organisms contributed to the organic matter accumulation?

Answer 19

Microscopic marine organisms, mostly plankton

These organisms lived and died in warm tropical seas that covered Alberta.

Question 20

What transformed into petroleum over 500 to 300 million years ago?

Answer 20

Accumulation of organic matter

This organic matter was primarily derived from dead plankton.

Question 21

What did bacteria do to the organic matter to contribute to petroleum formation?

Answer 21

Removed most of the oxygen and nitrogen

This process left behind mostly carbon and hydrogen, which are the main ingredients of petroleum.

Question 22

Fill in the blank: The first land-dwelling animals were _______.

Answer 22

scorpions and millipedes

These animals began to leave traces in the fossil record during the Silurian Period.

Question 23

True or False: The Silurian Period was marked by a decline in marine life.

Answer 23

False

The Silurian Period continued the expansion of sponges and other marine organisms.

Question 24

What is considered the main ingredient of petroleum?

Answer 24

Carbon and hydrogen

These elements are the result of the transformation of organic matter by bacteria.

Question 25

What are microscopic marine organisms that contribute to petroleum formation?

Answer 25

Plankton ## Footnote Plankton die and sink to the bottom of the sea, leading to the accumulation of organic matter.

Question 26

What happens to the organic matter from plankton over millions of years?

Answer 26

It is converted into liquid hydrocarbons ## Footnote This process occurs under heat and pressure as sediment piles on top.

Question 27

What is a petroleum trap?

Answer 27

A large quantity of petroleum confined between layers of impermeable rock ## Footnote This occurs when hydrocarbons are pushed into more porous rock, but are trapped by impermeable shale.

Question 28

How long did the process of petroleum formation take according to the text?

Answer 28

380 million years ## Footnote This time frame includes the accumulation of organic material and the geological processes involved.

Question 29

What geological processes contribute to the formation of impermeable rock?

Answer 29

The subjecting of fine particles of mud and sediment ## Footnote This leads to the creation of impermeable rock, similar to processes observed in the Burgess Shale.

Question 30

Fill in the blank: The accumulated top layer of sediment eventually changed into _______.

Answer 30

rock ## Footnote This transformation is part of the geological process that leads to petroleum formation.

Question 31

True or False: The type of rock formed above and below a petroleum reservoir is permeable.

Answer 31

False ## Footnote The rock above and below the reservoir is impermeable shale, which traps the petroleum.

Question 32

What is formed when hydrocarbons are converted into liquids under pressure?

Answer 32

Petroleum ## Footnote This conversion occurs as layers of sediment accumulate and exert pressure.

Question 33

What is the role of sediment in the formation of petroleum?

Answer 33

Sediment exerts heat and pressure on organic matter, facilitating chemical reactions ## Footnote This process is essential for converting organic matter into hydrocarbons.

Question 34

What is the primary method geologists used to locate petroleum traps in Alberta?

Answer 34

Drilling a well and examining drill-core samples ## Footnote Drill-core samples are cylindrical samples of subsurface rock taken during drilling operations.

Question 35

Why was it difficult to find evidence of petroleum at Earth's surface in Alberta?

Answer 35

There are very few outcrops of rock indicating petroleum reserves, except in foothills and mountains.

Question 36

At what depth was the Devonian rock containing petroleum traps located in Alberta?

Answer 36

1 km below the surface.

Question 37

What does the term 'drill core' refer to?

Answer 37

A cylindrical sample of subsurface rock taken during drilling operations.

Question 38

In what year did the Leduc oil field gain fame?

Answer 38

1947.

Question 39

True or False: Geologists only relied on surface evidence to locate petroleum reserves.

Answer 39

False.

Question 40

Fill in the blank: The Leduc oil field is located near _______.

Answer 40

Edmonton.

Question 41

What geological feature was primarily searched for by geologists when looking for petroleum?

Answer 41

Petroleum traps.

Question 42

What type of geological rock was associated with the petroleum traps in Alberta?

Answer 42

Devonian rock.

Question 43

What does the analysis of a drill-core sample allow geologists to identify?

Answer 43

The type of rock below the surface.

Question 44

What may be present in the core sample that provides additional information?

Answer 44

Fossils.

Question 45

What information do fossils in a drill-core sample provide?

Answer 45

The age of the rocks and environmental conditions.

Question 46

What can fossils reveal about the geological environment?

Answer 46

If they are drilling into a reef or into rocks that formed in the deep water away from a reef.

Question 47

What has been developed after years of drilling and studying drill-core samples?

Answer 47

A detailed picture of the subsurface rock.

Question 48

Fill in the blank: Fossils not only provide information about the age of the rocks, but they also reveal the _______.

Answer 48

environmental conditions.

Question 49

True or False: The analysis of drill-core samples can help determine whether rocks were formed in shallow or deep water.

Answer 49

True.

Question 50

What is seismology?

Answer 50

The study of how waves of energy called seismic waves move through Earth.

Question 51

What are seismic waves?

Answer 51

Waves that travel through Earth as a result of explosions or earthquakes.

Question 52

What natural events create seismic waves?

Answer 52

Earthquakes.

Question 53

What are the two methods used by geologists and geophysicists to generate seismic waves?

Answer 53

* Using explosives placed in a hole * Using a system to vibrate a massive plate attached to a truck.

Question 54

How much force can the vibrating plate strike the ground with?

Answer 54

More than 3.0 x 10^4 N.

Question 55

What happens to the energy in seismic waves when they encounter boundaries between rock layers?

Answer 55

Some of the energy reflects off each boundary.

Question 56

Fill in the blank: Seismology is the study of how waves of energy called _______ move through Earth.

Answer 56

seismic waves.

Question 57

True or False: Geologists only rely on natural earthquakes to study seismic waves.

Answer 57

False.

Question 58

What is the inconvenience of waiting for an earthquake in seismic studies?

Answer 58

It is inconvenient when searching for oil.

Question 59

What do geophones detect?

Answer 59

Seismic waves ## Footnote Geophones convert seismic waves into electronic signals.

Question 60

How do geophones convert seismic waves?

Answer 60

In the same way microphones convert sound into signals ## Footnote This conversion allows for the recording of seismic data.

Question 61

What processes the data received from geophones?

Answer 61

Seismograph ## Footnote The seismograph analyzes the data and summarizes the results.

Question 62

What is a seismogram?

Answer 62

A record of seismic waves provided by a seismograph ## Footnote Seismograms show the results of seismic data analysis.

Question 63

What do the horizontal lines on a seismogram represent?

Answer 63

Horizontal layers of rock ## Footnote The tilted lines represent tilted layers of rock.

Question 64

Why do some boundaries appear darker on a seismogram?

Answer 64

They reflect more energy than others ## Footnote This energy reflection indicates different geological features.

Question 65

What does seismic exploration data suggest?

Answer 65

Where traps might be located ## Footnote However, confirmation requires drilling a well.

Question 66

What is the only way to be sure if there is oil or gas present within traps?

Answer 66

By drilling a well ## Footnote Seismic data can only suggest possibilities, not certainties.

Question 67

What generates waves that travel through rock during seismic exploration?

Answer 67

Explosives ## Footnote These waves reflect off boundaries with other rock layers.

Question 68

What do geophones convert seismic waves into?

Answer 68

Electrical signals ## Footnote These signals are processed by a specialized computer.

Question 69

Fill in the blank: A _______ is an instrument that records seismic waves.

Answer 69

seismograph

Question 70

Fill in the blank: A _______ is a record of seismic waves provided by a seismograph.

Answer 70

seismogram

Question 71

Where was Alberta located following the end of the Cambrian Period?

Answer 71

Near the equator ## Footnote This geographical positioning continued throughout most of the Paleozoic Era.

Question 72

During which periods was Alberta submerged under shallow tropical seas?

Answer 72

Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian Periods ## Footnote These periods are part of the Paleozoic Era.

Question 73

What evidence suggests that huge reefs flourished in Alberta's tropical seas?

Answer 73

Fossil evidence ## Footnote This indicates a vibrant marine ecosystem during that time.

Question 74

What contributed to the formation of Alberta's petroleum reserves?

Answer 74

Dead remains of microscopic marine life ## Footnote These organisms created a thick blanket of ooze on the sea floor.

Question 75

Where is most of Alberta's petroleum found?

Answer 75

In the remains of ancient reefs ## Footnote These reefs are linked to the marine life that once thrived in the warm seas.

Question 76

What methods are used to locate sources of petroleum in subsurface rock?

Answer 76

Analyzing drill-core samples and using seismograms ## Footnote These techniques help predict the location of petroleum traps.

Question 77

True or False: Alberta was dry land during the Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian Periods.

Answer 77

False ## Footnote Alberta was submerged under shallow waters during these periods.

Question 78

What period follows the Cambrian period?

Answer 78

Ordovician

Question 79

Which geological period is known for the first appearance of land plants?

Answer 79

Silurian

Question 80

What is the earliest period of the Paleozoic Era?

Answer 80

Cambrian

Question 81

Which period comes after the Ordovician period?

Answer 81

Silurian

Question 82

Fill in the blank: The _____ period is known for the diversification of fish.

Answer 82

Devonian

Question 83

What is the time frame referred to as Precambrian?

Answer 83

Time before the Cambrian period

Question 84

True or False: The Devonian period is also known as the 'Age of Fishes.'

Answer 84

True

Question 85

List the first three periods of the Paleozoic Era in order.

Answer 85

* Cambrian * Ordovician * Silurian

Question 86

Which geological period is characterized by the development of early amphibians?

Answer 86

Devonian

Question 87

Fill in the blank: The _____ period is known for significant evolutionary developments in marine life.

Answer 87

Ordovician