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InstructorAllyn TorresShow bio
Allyn has taught high school chemistry, and has a master's degree in curriculum and instruction.
Oil is a non-renewable resource and the center of much of the world's economic and cultural infrastructure. Examine some discussion points about the depletion of this finite resource, and explore what might happen when the world's oil runs out.
Table of Contents
- Solutions
- A World Without Oil
- Lesson Summary
If you've ever been without electricity for more than a few hours, you know just how inconvenient that can be. Suddenly, you can't use your computer, charge your phone, and maybe cook (depending on the type of stove you have).
Now imagine that scenario isn't just a temporary situation, it's your life. Even worse, you can't drive anywhere either. This might sound far fetched, but if the world runs out of oil, this could become reality. Keep watching to learn more about the implications of relying on oil.
Crude oil, which is basically just petroleum that comes from the ground, takes millions of years to form under the earth's surface. In this day and age, we use oil much quicker than it's formed. This is a problem because eventually we'll run out. In fact, it's estimated that if the world continues to use oil at the rate we do now, we'll run out in about 30 years. Many of us are planning on still being here in 30 years, so we need to find a solution.
In addition to the threat of running out of oil, there's the consideration that oil and oil drilling are not great for the environment. Oil is often transported across the oceans in ships. In the process, there are sometimes oil spills in the ocean. Oil spills can kill marine life and ruin beaches. When oil drilling is taking place, animals get displaced and ecosystems can be disturbed or killed off. As if that weren't enough, oil can also pollute our air. When oil is burned as part of the gasoline in cars, gases are released into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
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Some alternatives to oil have been proposed. You may have seen some of these alternatives driving down the road. Hybrid cars, cars that run partly on electricity and partly on gasoline, have been an early answer to the oil problem. Some companies have proposed 100% electric cars. As of right now these are not able to drive far distances, however. Perhaps this technology will become a higher priority when oil runs out.
Another interesting alternative is the use of biofuels. Biofuels are fuels produced from organic materials like plants. Biofuels are cost efficient (like $0.51 a gallon), and they reduce the emissions of methane and other atmosphere-harming gases by 20%.
Many agencies are doing working to clean up oil spills that have occurred in oceans and other bodies of water. One of the methods involves using barriers to contain the oil, and then skimming it off the surface. However, this method doesn't work well in windy conditions or on rocky seas. Putting a chemical into the water that helps break up oil is another solution. Breaking up the oil allows it to mix with the water. This dilutes the oil and makes its effects much less severe.
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The impact of the disappearance of oil depends on where you live. Drivers who live in Armenia or Pakistan may not be affected as much, as the majority of their cars are now natural gas vehicles, also known as NGV. If the world's supply of oil were to run out, life in the United States would be impacted greatly. Many roads and highways in the United States would be largely empty as almost 90% of cars run on gasoline.
The electricity that comes to U.S. homes comes from power plants using oil and natural gas to generate electricity, but if there's no gasoline, the trains and trucks that transport coal and natural gas to power plants won't be able to actually do so. That means no refrigeration, air conditioning, etc. In addition, oil is used to make medications and many other plastics, toys, and other products that we rely on.
The economic security that oil brings to many countries would fluctuate as well. Some countries are already diverting their reliance on oil and pushing toward renewable energy. That process is slow going though, and some economic upheaval may be in store.
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Let's take a couple of moments to review what we've learned. Crude oil, or petroleum that comes from the ground, forms over millions of years, and we're currently using it faster than it can form. At the current rate that the world uses oil, we will run out in about 30 years.
Oil use and drilling has an impact on the environment as well. Oil spills in bodies of water can kill animals and destroy ecosystems. Burning oil in our cars can pollute the air with gases that contribute to global warming.
Some alternatives to gasoline burning vehicles include hybrid cars, or cars that run partly on electricity and partly on gasoline; 100% electric cars; and cars that run on biofuels, or fuels produced from organic materials like plants. Environmental agencies work to clean up oil spills by skimming it off the top of the water and using chemicals to disperse the oil in the water.
In the United States, life would be difficult without oil, as the country is dependent on it for driving, some medications, and many products. Electrical plants rely on gas-powered vehicles for supplying materials, so electricity could be severely limited as well. Even as some countries prepare more than others, there is still likely to be an economic downturn when oil runs out.
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