Barrons AP Environmental Science

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1
Source: U.S.    Energy  Information Administration  and U.S.    Geological
Survey
Figure 8.11 Major world oil shale deposits

Pros


■ There will    be  less    dependency  on  foreign countries   and OPEC    to  meet
future energy needs.
■ Because there is less drilling involved in most instances, oil shale is
generally less expensive to produce per barrel than regular oil products.
■ Oil shale requires much less drilling or fracturing than other energy
resources, resulting in less of an overall impact on the local environment.

Cons


■ Oil   (and    other   hydrocarbon by-products)    derived from    oil shale   is  a   fossil
fuel. Even though the world has large oil shale reserves, the problem
remains that once the oil is obtained from shale, traditional issues of
environmental pollution, acid rain, and global warming will continue.
■ The net-energy yield of producing oil through oil shale is moderate since
energy is required for blasting, drilling, crushing, heating the material,
disposing of waste material, and environmental restoration.
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