
Overview
Many people think of Texas when they think of gushing oil and drilling rigs, but Titusville, PA., in the northwestern part of the state, lays claim to the first operational oil well in this country. So, the oil industry has its roots very much in our backyard.
Thus, this lesson deals with the origins of oil and natural gas. Please watch the following (0:35) introductory video:
Click for a transcript.
[Dr. Mathews is standing in front of a nodding donkey (oil pump) on a cold and rainy day.] Dr. Mathews: Today's lecture is obviously about crude oil. I am just south of Pittsburgh. It is bloody cold. But this is a prime area for producing Pennsylvania’s lifeblood, crude oil, and natural gas. This one behind me is pumping, so it's probably not flowing out of the ground anymore so there is probably not any associated natural gas. [Dr. Mathews walks off the scene and we are left looking at the oil pump.] [Video ends]
Lesson Objectives
Your learning objectives for this lesson:
- Explain how oil and natural gas is formed, found, and extracted (this also includes shale gas)
- Discuss environmental implications of extraction
- Articulate oil quality issues
- Demonstrate knowledge of oil shale and tar sand formation and extraction
- Explain reserve-resource transformation issues
Wake Up Your Brain
Question: Are fossil fuels beneficial to Pennsylvania?
Click for the answer.
We have relatively cheap electricity and cheap natural gas. Our oil production (mostly in the NW portion of the state) produces high-quality crude oil and lubricating oils. Shale gas has causing an energy revolution. We have employment opportunities and contributions to the economy. However, we have a legacy of environmental damage. Even though our extraction process is much better than it was in the 1970's we continue to live with the balance between the production of energy and fuels, along with what is acceptable to the environment while not making the energy or fuel too expensive. We will see renewables are advancing, but we cannot yet provide all of our transportation needs with renewable energy. So, "beneficial but with a cost" would be my answer.