There are six main raw sources of hydrocarbons: natural gas, coalbed methane, crude oil, heavy oil, oil sands, and coal. These naturally occurring hydrocarbons are known as "fossil fuels". You probably recall from previous courses that fossil fuels are formed from the accumulated remains of previously living plants/animals. Besides being burned to produce heat and energy, these hydrocarbons are also used to synthesize vast numbers of organic compounds, such as specific fuels, plastics, and synthetic fibres.

Alberta has an abundance of fossil fuels. Refer to Figure 2 on page 359 to see a map depicting the fossil fuel reserves in our province. This abundance drives Alberta's economy and is at the core of many industries in Alberta, especially the petroleum industry. Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from oil or natural gas. The petroleum industry is focused on locating, extracting, and refining these natural resources.

In this section of module 1, you will explore Alberta's oil and gas industries and look more closely at the physical, chemical, and technological processes used to separate organic compounds from natural mixtures of hydrocarbons. In addition, you will examine the effect of the petroleum industry on the environment.