Fossil Fuels: Formation, Extraction, and Impact

Fossil Fuels: Formation, Extraction, and Impact

Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Show all work for calculations. This worksheet covers the formation, extraction, and environmental impact of fossil fuels.

1. Which of the following is NOT a type of fossil fuel?

2. The primary geological process responsible for the formation of fossil fuels is:

3. The energy stored in fossil fuels originally came from the   through the process of  .

4. Crude oil is refined into various products such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene through a process called  .

5. The release of greenhouse gases, primarily   and  , from burning fossil fuels is a major contributor to  .

6. Describe the conditions necessary for the formation of coal. What type of organic matter is primarily involved?

7. Explain the difference between conventional and unconventional fossil fuel extraction methods, providing an example of each.

8. Fracking is a conventional method used to extract crude oil from easily accessible reservoirs.

9. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies aim to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion.

10. The image above shows a fossil. Explain how the presence of such fossils in sedimentary rocks can indicate the potential for fossil fuel deposits.

11. Discuss the major environmental impacts associated with the extraction, transportation, and combustion of fossil fuels. Propose at least two strategies to mitigate these impacts.