Exploring Oil & Gas

Historical Energy Use by Type of Fuel (%)

100%
90% Hydro
80% Other
70%
Nuclear
60%
% of Total Energy Oil &
50%
Consumed in U.S. Gas
40%
30% Coal
20% Wood
10%
0%
Data: Energy Information Administration
1850 1900 1950 2000 2010
Where are the fossils in Fossil Fuels?
Fossil fuels were forming before dinosaurs lived
Formation
Hydrocarbons

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Methane
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History of Oil
Edwin Drake and Henry Ford
History of Natural Gas
First U.S. Natural Gas
Well
In 1821, William Hart dug the first natural gas well in
Fredonia, NY.

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Where are Oil and Gas found in the U.S.?

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Oil and gas are found on land and under water
Sedimentary Rock and Petroleum Traps
 Oil and Gas Process

Chemical
Explorati Productio
Transport Refining Manufacturi Uses
on n ng
Exploration by Geologists
Seismic Technology

Land Water
Seabed Seismic
Visualization

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Core Samples
Exploration and Production by Drilling

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Drilling Process

Place the drill bit, collar, and drill pipe in the hole.

Attach the kelly and turntable and begin drilling.

As drilling progresses, circulate mud through the pipe and

out of the bit to float the rock cuttings out of the hole.

Add new sections (joints) of drill pipes as the hole gets

deeper.

Remove (trip out) the drill pipe, collar and bit when the
preset depth (anywhere from a few hundred to a couple
thousand feet) is reached.
Parts of a Well
 Horizontal Drilling and
Hydraulic Fracturing

Increased
technology allows
us to retrieve tight
formations.
The drilling process
is similar, except for
a specialized bit that
allows for horizontal
drilling.
If oil and gas are
trapped, fracturing
may be used to
allow liquids to flow.
Production

Christmas Tree Horse Head Pump

Enhanced Oil Recovery
Oil Transport
Natural Gas Transport

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Refining of Petroleum
Fractionating Tower
 What does a barrel of crude oil provide?

Note: A 42-U.S. gallon

barrel of crude oil yields
about 45 gallons of
petroleum products.
Data: Energy Information
Administration
 Petroleum
Products

Petroleum Products
by Type, 2011

Gasoline

42.02%
Diesel / Heating Oil

26.99%
Other

14.36%
(asphalt, feedstock,
paraffin)
Jet Fuel

8.80%
Refinery Fuel
Data: Energy Information
Administration
4.11%
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
 Processing of Natural Gas

A natural gas compressor

 Uses of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Natural
eum Consumption by Sector of the Economy, Gas Consumption by Sector of the Economy, 2011
2011

Electric; 1% Residential; 2% Commercial; 2% Electric; 24%

Industrial; 20% Residential; 38%

Transportation; 2%

Industrial; 26%
Transportation; 74%
Commercial; 10%

Data: Energy Information

Summary of Oil and Natural Gas

Advantages Disadvantages
Widely available Nonrenewable
Simple combustion Greenhouse
process can directly Gases(CO2)
heat or generate Air pollution
electricity (byproducts released
Inexpensive during combustion)
Easily distributed Price instability and
good infrastructure in costs rising
place Reliance upon imports
High energy content Environmental
impacts
For More Information

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www.need.org
info@need.org
1-800-875-5029

Energy Information Administration

U.S. Department of Energy
www.eia.gov

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