Oil at the dawn of a revolution | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Origin of oil | Automatic translation | Updated June 01, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Much of the oil on the planet was formed during short periods of extreme warming, there are 90 and 150 million years. It is produced by the decomposition of dead plants and animals, buried under the sand. This accumulation and mixes with the mud and silt brought layers of sediment rich in organic matter, kerosene. Under the effect of compression, the layers were transformed into rocks that have become reservoirs of oil. The pressure of these sedimentary layers increased temperature and transformed the original organic matter into simpler substances, hydrocarbons, compounds of carbon and hydrogen, we extract today. Although used since ancient times because it is present at ground level in some areas where it is flush, the first barrels of the modern era occurred in the 1850s, the United States (274 tons in 1859). Our civilization can not live without oil because it is part of our daily lives, it is everywhere and therefore indispensable. | Liquid, easily transportable and converted into large quantities, it heats our home and turns almost all the engines of cars, planes, trains and countless other industrial machines. It is now in intensive agriculture using fertilizers and pesticides derived from petroleum chemistry. Plastic objects to shoes through the disposable bags, bitumen of our roads, synthetic or all hydrocarbons methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane and other compounds, it enriches our civilization. We use it excessively and it may, after participating in the strong expansion of our standard of living for a century to undermine the whole of humanity if it could miss. Image: Oil refinery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reserves are exhaustible they? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This valuable resource is distributed unevenly across the world, we find it mainly in the Persian Gulf, North Sea, Venezuela, Russia and Nigeria. During periods of intense global warming, these sediments rich in organic matter have, over millions of years, accumulated slowly and were trapped in reservoirs of impermeable rock. Image: The main oil-producing countries in 2007, Mbbls / d (million barrels a day). |
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Image: Main oil consuming countries in 2007, Mbbls / d (million barrels a day). World production in 2009 is 85.3 million barrels per day. A barrel of oil equivalent exactly to 42 gallons, or 158.987 liters. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World energy demand |
World oil demand will probably continue to rise in the next thirty years. Image: tep (ton equivalent petroleum). |
At the dawn of a revolution | ||||
Natural gas, hydro, nuclear, solar, wind or coal are prized tracks at the dawn of the 21st century to replace oil representing approximately 35% of global energy consumption. Liquefied natural gas or LNG is increasingly used in industry as global reserves of natural gas are abundant. Its liquid form makes it easy to transport over long distances especially by sea and pipeline systems. The first commercial export terminal was opened at Arzew in Algeria in 1964. | In 2005, the total capacity of solar photovoltaic systems installed worldwide has crossed the symbolic step of 5 gigawatts. In recent years, global shipments of photovoltaic cells and modules have increased at an average annual rate above 35%. Image: Evolution of world consumption (in Mtoe%). | Image: hydroelectric dam Roselend (Savoie France)Image: Solar photovoltaic panels are composed of cells whose structure consists of 3 layers: a bottom layer of germanium (Ge), a medium layer of indium (In) Gallium (Ga) and Arsenide (As) and a top layer Indium (In), gallium (Ga) and Phosphide (P). | ||
Generation "oil" |
Our generation has taken full advantage of oil to enrich themselves without considering the long-term consequences. It is now time to think about tomorrow. We'll have to learn to consume less and especially to use renewables to avoid compromising future generations. It is on the transport and in particular on motor vehicles, that efforts should be worn because transportation rely on oil for 90%. Electric cars must be industrialized rapidly as demand is already present. Scientists say it will reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases, 60 to 80% by 2050 to limit the extent of damage. The challenge is enormous, and the changes it entails, such as the abandonment of oil as main energy source, will be painful. The definition of sustainable development was adopted in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development of the UN: "Sustainable development is development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs." Image: night view of the generation "oil" |
Conclusion | ||||
Several problems simultaneously to us at the beginning of the 21st century, the exhaustion of the planet's resources, global warming and overpopulation. | This important phenomenon will be characterized by the transition from a consumer of energy in an energy-saving society to allow time for our technology to focus on developing sustainable energy alternatives. | We naively believed that progress was acquired for ever, yet the history of human civilization shows us that when civilization reached its peak, it will eventually decline and be replaced. |