Science Unit 6 Lesson 2 Flashcards
Why is natural gas considered the cleanest fossil fuel?
It emits less carbon when used
What is fracking fluid made up of?
This fluid is made of mostly water but also contains sand to keep the cracks open, as well as chemicals such as mineral dissolvers and disinfectants.
How is natural gas retrived?
- To begin, land is cleared for equipment.
- Then, a well is created. A vertical tunnel is drilled as deep as 1–2 miles to reach shale, sedimentary rock composed of clay, where oil and natural gas occur.
- The tunnel then turns 90 degrees and a perforating gun punctures holes in the shale.
- Next, fracking fluid is pumped into the tunnel at such high pressure that it shatters the shale.
- Once the shale is shattered, the oil or natural gas escapes. The fracking fluid and oil or natural gas are then pumped out.
What does natural gas release when being burned?
enviromental consequences
When natural gas and oil are burned, they release carbon dioxide.
When natural gas is extracted what greenhouse gas escapes?
enviromental consequences
When they are extracted from the earth, methane—the primary component of natural gas—escapes. Methane damages the environment even more than carbon dioxide as it traps more heat, causing temperatures to rise.
What is shale
sedimentary rock composed of clay
What happened at shale?
Where oil and natural gas occur
What happens when the shale is shattered?
Oil or natural gas escapes
How much water is needed to make the fracking fluid for one well?
About 2-5 million gallons of water. This puts stress on local water supplies, especially areas with an already low supply.
How does fracking fluid negatively affect the water supply?
The water supply can also be harmed by the fluid itself. When fracking tunnels crack from accidents or mishandling, fracking fluid can leak back into the water, polluting it.
How is the storage of fracking fluids dangerous?
Used fracking fluid contains additional chemicals and radioactive materials from the earth. It is often injected into disposal wells deep underground for storage. This causes pressure imbalances underground, leading to earthquakes that can be felt and cause damage.
How is crude oil extrated from earth? What’s the process?
Crude oil is a liquid fossil fuel that is extracted from the ground by drilling deep into the earth. It can be acquired through drilling on land or drilling on the ocean floor. Oil is pumped from underground and transported to local refineries. Sometimes hydraulic fracturing is used to extract oil as well as natural gas from underground.
Why is extracting oil bad for the environment?
extracting oil can result in methane gas leaking into the air. Methane is considered to be more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide because it locks in heat more efficiently.
Why is offshore drilling not good for the environment?
Drilling under the ocean floor produces waste that can enter the surrounding ocean. The waste materials can harm animals and destroy marine habitats. In addition, mishaps with offshore drilling, such as oil spills, can result in devastating consequences to marine life.
What immediate effect did the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have on the environment?
The immediate effects included oil spilling into the ocean, making it hard for animals to feed and breath at the surface. Oil flowed onto beaches, damaging plants and vegetation as well as affecting the mating and reproductive habits of sea turtles and other animals.
