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Also known as oil, is a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons.
Also known as oil, is a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons.
Where does it come from?
Where does it come from?
300-400 million years ago
300-400 million years ago
Plankton (small plants and animals) and algae living in shallow, warm oceans die and sink to the ocean floor. The lack of oxygen prevents decomposition.
50-150 million years ago
50-150 million years ago
The plankton is buried deeper and deeper beneath the ocean, other dead plants, animals, and sediment (sand, rocks, dirt) creating kerogen. Kerogen is a waxy middle-step material in the creation of oil.
50-100 million years ago
50-100 million years ago
The pressure of the building layers of dead materials and sediments combined with heat between 60-160 degrees Celsius causes the kerogen to turn into oil.
50 million years ago-Current
50 million years ago-Current
The oil moves throughs the pores in the rocks often replacing water because it is lighter than water. The oil becomes trapped when it hits an impermeable rock layer.
This process is identical to how natural gas is formed.
This process is identical to how natural gas is formed.
Often both natural gas and oil are created from the same grouping of dead plankton. Lower temperatures (60-120 degrees Celsius) will create more oil formation. Oil and natural gas are not always found together underground because the materials moved through the rock pores differently!
How do we get petroleum?
How do we get petroleum?
Giant Drilling Machines
Giant Drilling Machines
When petroleum is found beneath the ground or ocean, giant drills bore a hole to the crude oil. Then the oil is pushed to the surface by changing the pressure underground.
The crude oil is then filtered and heated to various temperatures to get different products.
The crude oil is then filtered and heated to various temperatures to get different products.
A barrel of crude oil is typically broken up into
A barrel of crude oil is typically broken up into
- 10.9% Diesel
- 1.24% Other Distillates
- 3.91% Jet Fuel
- 6.8% Other products
- 1.68% Heavy Fuel Oil
- 1.72% Liquified Petroleum Gases
- 19.36% Gasoline
What do we use petroleum for around here?
What do we use petroleum for around here?
Gasoline for cars
Diesel oil for transporting goods for us and steel mills and other local factories
Jet fuel for transporting us and goods
Plastic goods we purchase
Oil is refined here!
Oil is refined here!
An oil refinery that does the process displayed above exists in Northwest Indiana, right along Lake Michigan.
How does it impact our local environment?
How does it impact our local environment?
Accidents happen!
Accidents happen!
The refinery of oil emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere on a daily basis. On rare instances industrial malfunctions occur, and harmful pollutants from the refinery enter directly into our water and soil.
Wildlife is harmed by oil
Habitats become tainted with oil
Oil-leaks seeps into water supply
Burning petroleum creates toxic smoke
As with burning of all fossil fuels, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. This increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is contributing to climate change, causing climate shifts and many harmful storms.
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