1. Module 5

1.4. Page 2

Module 5 Lesson 1

Module 5—Hydrocarbons and the Petroleum Industry

Explore

 

Try This
 

Examine the map shown in “Figure 2” on page 359 of the textbook. Locate approximately where you live and the type(s) of fossil fuels found in your area.

 

Use a camera to take a picture of something that demonstrates activity around the natural petroleum resource in your area. If you do not have a camera, sketch a drawing or otherwise obtain an image of the activity. Obtain enough information to write a caption describing your photograph. Your caption should include a brief description of the object photographed, the object’s location, and any other relevant information.

 

Save your photograph and caption in your course folder.

 

Post your photograph and caption to the discussion area for your class. Look at other students’ postings. Do you see any forms of activity that surprise you?

 

In your course folder, save a list of anything that surprises you or that you did not previously know about the petrochemical industry.

 

Read

 

hydrocarbon: a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms

Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons. There are six main raw sources of hydrocarbons: natural gas, coalbed methane, crude oil, heavy oil, oil sands, and coal.

 

Read pages 356–359 in the textbook to learn more about the natural sources of hydrocarbons.

 

From your reading you have learned that the petroleum industry involves locating, extracting, and refining natural resources. The petrochemical industry is also part of the petroleum industry. In the petrochemical industry, chemicals created from fossil fuels are used to make products such as antifreeze windshield fluid and plastics.

 

In TR 1 you took a photograph as evidence of a petroleum industry activity in your area. Can you identify what aspect of the petroleum industry your photograph represents? If so, add this information to the caption you saved in your course folder.

 

Self-Check


Complete “Case Study” questions 1–4 on page 360 and “Section 9.1” questions 1–8 on page 361 of the textbook.

 

Check your work.
Self-Check Answers

 

Contact your teacher if your answers vary significantly from the answers provided here.

 

Case Study 1.

  1. Oil sands, natural gas, and conventional crude oil are the most widespread fossil fuel deposits in Alberta.

  2. Coal and coalbed methane are found in Alberta but are not depicted in “Figure 2.”

Case Study 2.

  1. Classically, research was done first and development followed later.
  2. Universities did the research and industry did the development.

Case Study 3.


Processing fossil fuels requires refineries for oil, upgraders for bitumen and heavy oil, processing plants for natural gas, and sorting and crushing facilities for coal. Transportation is mainly by pipelines for oil and natural gas, tanker truck for liquid fuels such as gasoline, and truck (shorter distances) and railcar (longer distances) for coal.

 

Case Study 4.


The following are examples of trade-offs:

  • Positive outcome: Jobs are created by the tar sands industry.

  • Negative consequence: When strip mining is used, it degrades the environment.

  • Positive outcome: Citizens enjoy the independence and convenience of driving gasoline-powered vehicles.

Section 9.1 1.

  1. inorganic
  2. organic
  3. inorganic
  4. organic
  5. organic
  6. inorganic
  7. inorganic
  8. organic

Section 9.1 2.

 

Natural gas, coal, crude oil, heavy oil, oil sands, and coalbed methane are found in Alberta.

 

Section 9.1 3.


The two major kinds of refining are oil refining and natural gas refining.

 

Oil refining starts with crude oil or synthetic crude from bitumen. The crude undergoes fractional distillation followed by processing, such as hydrotreating or reforming of some of the fractions. Many products result.

 

In natural gas refining, the natural gas is condensed, distilled, and processed to remove impurities. The main product is methane gas. Only a few other products result, chiefly ethane, propane, butane, and pentane.

 

Section 9.1 4.

  1. 2 C4H10(g) + 13 O2(g) → 8 CO2(g) + 10 H2O(g)

    2 CH3CH2CH2CH3 + 13 O=O → 8 O=C=O + 10 H-O-H

  2. C5H12(l) + 8 O2(g) → 5 CO2(g)  + 6 H2O(g)

    CH3(CH2)3CH3 + 8 O=O → 5 O=C=O + 6 H-O-H

Section 9.1 5.

  1. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. As its concentration in the atmosphere builds up due to the combustion of fossil fuels, the warming effect also increases. Likely this has already affected the global climate and will affect it even more in the future.

  2. CO2(g) + H2O(l)  →  H2CO3(aq)
                             (carbonic acid)

Section 9.1 6.

  1. pro (scientific)
  2. pro (technological)
  3. pro (economic)
  4. con (technological)
  5. con (political)
  6. pro (legal)
  7. con (social, ethical)
  8. pro (economic)

You may have listed other perspectives on some of the statements.

 

Section 9.1 7.


The two major energy sources are natural gas, which is a fossil fuel, and electricity. Natural gas is used to fuel the furnace and hot water tank and, in some homes, the stove and clothes dryer too. Electricity, which powers lights and appliances, is produced mainly in power plants that burn coal or natural gas.

 

Your response may be a little different depending on how you interpreted the question’s use of the term energy sources.

 

Section 9.1 8.


Solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, geothermal power, and biomass energy are renewable energy sources naturally available in Alberta. The question asked that you list three of these sources.