Module 9.2 Flashcards
(14 cards)
a variety of
hydrocarbons formed from the
remains of dead organisms that are
buried in sediment under low
oxygen conditions that slow down
decomposition tremendously
Fossil fuel
a mix of hydrocarbons
that exists as a liquid underground;
can be refined to produce fuels or
other products
Crude oil
a measure of the amount of a fossil fuel that is
economically feasible to extract from a known deposit using current
technology
Proven reserves
deposits of crude oil or natural gas that can be
extracted by vertical drilling and pumping
* Many researchers estimate that we have used about half of the available
conventional oil on the planet.
Conventional reserves
deposits of oil or natural gas that cannot be
recovered with traditional oil/gas wells but may be recoverable using
alternative techniques
Unconventional reserves
light (low-density) oil in shale rock deposits of very low
permeability; extracted by fracking
Tight oil
a measure of the net
energy from an energy source (the energy in the source minus the
energy required to get it, process it, ship it, and then use it)
Energy return on energy investment (EROEI)
distillation products
from the processing of crude oil such
as fuels or industrial raw materials
Petrochemicals
the amount of carbon
released to the atmosphere by a person,
company, nation, or activity
Carbon footprint
the extraction of oil or natural gas
from dense rock formations by creating factures in the rock and then
flushing out the oil/gas with pressurized fluid
Fracking (hydraulic fracturing)
sand or clay
formations that contain a heavy-density
crude oil (crude bitumen) that is often
trapped in sticky, dense
conglomerations of sand or clay;
extracted by surface mining Most destructive and energy-intensive
way to acquire oil
Tar sands (oil sands)
meeting all of one’s energy
needs without importing
any energy
Energy independence
having access to
enough reliable and affordable
energy sources to meet one’s
needs
Energy security
