OIL AND GAS
Crude oil is a combination of hydrocarbons,
which have been created from decaying
matter over the course of millions of years.
The petrol we use to run our cars is made
from crude oil, as well as from coal, natural
gas, and biomass.
Today, we get most of our electrical
energy, mechanical energy and heat energy
from oil and gas. This is sourced by drilling
wells into the Ear th. From there, these
reser ves are funnelled through pipes. There
is another means of extracting oil from shale
called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”.
Fluid is injected into the rock formations
underground to create cracks, to access the
gas or crude oil that is locked in the Ear th.
This is a highly controversial practice – but
why? Fracking requires a lot of water, and
the wastewater produced as a by-product
is dif ficult to dispose of. Fracking is also
thought to cause ear thquakes. Burning fossil
fuels is linked to climate change, which is
why ef for ts are being made to introduce
more sustainable energy sources.
Fossil fuels were created from ancient plant and animal
matter, formed over the course of hundreds of millions
of years through a process of compression and heating.
While more environmentally-friendly sources of energy are
being harnessed to counteract climate change, fossil fuels
remain our most common source of powerTHE FOSSIL FUELS
No.46 Issue 44343