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Fossil Fuel Explored          

Most of the modern world runs on fossil fuel but most individuals are not even aware that oil, coal and natural gas are non-renewable sources of energy that were formed before the time of the dinosaurs. Most deposits of fossil fuels date back to the Carboniferous Period from organisms and plants alive over 300 million years ago.

Formation of Oil and Natural Gas

For oil and natural gas, the process happens on the sea floor when marine life including phytoplankton and zooplankton settle to the bottom in large quantities. Over time, this decomposing organic material is mixed with sediment and buried beneath the surface. As they get further buried heat and pressure build up allowing the fossil fuel to form.

Formation of Coal

Coal however, forms mainly on land, typically in low lying swampy environments, in areas where soil debris prevents plants from being able to break down properly. Initially a material known as peat is formed. After the peat becomes buried beneath sediment the water is squeezed out and the heat and time allows coal to eventually form. The composition of the coal will vary based on the plant matter that forms it and there are well over a thousand different types of coal. Peat itself can also be used as an energy source.

Extracting Fossil Fuels

Oil and gas deposits get trapped beneath folds of rock in the Earth's crust and form a reservoir, these reservoirs have been found in every continent expect Antarctica. To reach the hydrocarbon drilling down into the crust is required. Then the crude oil or natural gas is pumped up through pipelines where it can be burnt for use. Water or gas may be pumped down into the pipe to increase the pressure and cause the oil to flow up through the pipe. Large oil fields also exist under the ocean floor, and oil-drilling stations are set up in order to tap into these oil sources as well. Coal is mined out of the ground through coalmines where miners work deep underground to dig up coal or in a strip mine.

Problems with Fossil Fuels

A fossil fuel contains stored energy that originally came from the sun. This heat source is ideal for use in electricity, gasoline for powering our cars and heating our homes. Oil is even made into products that we use every day including plastic. In fact, our dependence on fossil fuels has increased so much that almost 90 percent of our energy comes from the three main types of fossil fuels. Though it takes millions of years for fossil fuels to form over use of this non-renewable source of energy could be our downfall. Leaving us without the energy we need to continue our way of life.

The burning of a fossil fuel also has a negative impact on our environment, leading to pollution and increasing greenhouse gases. When we burn fossil fuels, carbon dioxide forms. Scientists believe that increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the air lead to climate change and make the Earth hotter. Coal also releases sulfur dioxide when burned a gas that leads to acid rain.