Is there a mismatch between supply and demand with coal?
No:
- Both China and USA are largest producers and consumers of coal
Why is there no mismatch between coals supply and demand ?
High transport costs relative to a low energy density
Is there a mismatch between oils supply and demand?
Yes:
- well over half of oil production comes from OPEC and North America
- small amount of oil production in oil thirsty Europe
Why is there a mismatch between oil supply and demand ?
Oil is demanded as a transport fuel as there is no substitute for it
Is there a mismatch between Gases supply and demand ?
Yes :
- low transport costs - it can be transferred into liquid form LNG and moved by tanker ship
- directed through pipelines as well
How do energy pathways allow mismatches to be resolved ?
Allows transfer to take place between producers and consumer s
What do the tensions between supply and demand reflect?
Tensions between human and physical geography.
Physical geography determines the locations of the energy resources but human geography determines where that energy is needed
Patterns in coals energy pathway
- three of the largest USA, China , India also import coal
-Australias exports a lot to South Korea , Japan and Taiwan
Patterns in oils energy pathway
- Middle East is largest producer with flows going everywhere
- Only Russian oil pathway is to Europe .
Patterns in the gas energy pathway
- LNG and moved by tanker or pipeline
- Russia conspicuously uses pipelines
What is the nature of tar sands ?
A mixture of clay, sand, water and bitumen
How is tar sands extracted ?
Have to be mined and then injected with steam to make the tar less viscous so that it can be pumped out
What is the nature of oil shale?
Oil- bearing rocks that are permeable enough to allow the oil to be pumped out directly
How is oil shale extracted ?
Either mined or shale is ignited so that the light oil fractions can be pumped out
What is the nature of shale gas?
Natural gas that is trapped in fine-grained sedimentary rocks
How is Shale gas extracted ?
Fracking : pumping in water and chemicals forces out the gas
What is the nature of deep water oil ?
Oil and gas that is found well offshore and at considerable oceanic depths
How is deep water oil extraction
Oceanic rigs : Gulf of Mexico and Brazil
Positives of Tar sands
- By 2030, it could meet 16% of North America’s Oil needs
- energy security in Canada, 28% of Canada’s oil is used in Canada and 70% is exploited
Negatives of Tar sands
- only economical if the price of a barrel is less than $120
- 1.8 million tonnes of toxic waste are produced every year from Tar sands
- 470 km squared of Alberta woodland has been removed due to open cast mining
Positives of Oil Shale
- large reserves, Green River formation has large reserves : 800 billion barrels
- Royal Dutch shell company has developed a plan to heat Shale underground while surrounded by a ‘freeze wall’ so that the kerogen seep out of holes for collection
Negative of Oil Shale
- waste, for one barrel , one tonne of waste rock is produced
- two barrels of water for every barrel of oil produced
Positives of Shale gas
- from 1% of USA gas supply in 2000 to 25% in 2015
- reduced need for imports in USA
Negatives of Shale gas
Environmental concerns with fracking - contamination of groundwater by the chemicals in pumping fluid.
Fraccidents - mysterious deaths of animals and people
