EGEE 101
Energy and the Environment

Unit 2, Transportation and Oil

PrintPrint

What fuels the perpetual motion of people and goods in our culture?

This unit ties together the areas of transportation, transportation fuel refining, crude oil formation along with natural gas, and the security implications of our fuel system, including a look at the historical picture and political events tied to crude oil.

Highway at night but blurred car lights

Lesson 5, Transportation

This lesson covers the perpetual movement of goods, services, and people around the US and areas beyond. While this lesson is dominated by personal transportation, other forms which affect our lives are also discussed.

Vehicle efficiencies, on-board pollution control devices, alternative fuels, and alternate engines such as electric with fuel cell technology are covered.

smokestacks

Lesson 6, Petroleum Processing

Crude oil goes through a lot to make it to the gas pump, and to meet operational and environmental regulations at the same time. Crude oil is also transformed into numerous other useful products that we use every day, from lip balm to clothing.

We'll explore these transformations, along with refining technologies, environmental treatments, some simple chemical structures, and oil spill treatments and prevention.

Crude Oil mining

Lesson 7, Crude Oil

Though the California gold rush years are well behind us, the search for "Black Gold" continues in high gear in many parts of the world, including the US. This lesson covers the formation, discovery, and extraction of "Black Gold", or crude oil, and also natural gas.

Also, the political and economic power of oil, its important qualities, and its historical origins in PA will be discussed.

Diplomat finger pointing down

Lesson 8, Energy Security

National security, for any country, is tightly connected to energy supply and ready availability of energy resources.

We'll explore the policies, laws, and international relationships that impact our energy supplies, trade, and military priorities (and actions) around the world. US energy policy greatly impacts the energy systems discussed in Units I and II, and also plays a major role in the environmental consequences covered in Unit III.