What are nonrenewable resources?

Nonrenewable resources are materials that are naturally created by the

Earth. These resources take millions of years to form, meaning that the
Earth cannot replenish them for many generations.
Most nonrenewable resources are fossil fuels, including petroleum, coal,
and natural gasses. More uncommon nonrenewable resources are
minerals, stone, and nuclear fuel. You may not know it, but you use at
least one of these resources everyday when you use electricity which is
the primary usage for most nonrenewable resources.

What is petroleum?
Petroleum, commonly known as crude oil, is a substance created by the Earth. It is found
trapped beneath layers of rock in reservoirs. Occasionally, the petroleum will naturally bubble
right out of the ground.
How is petroleum used?
The main usage for petroleum is gasoline; half of the worlds petroleum
is converted into gasoline. In 2013, about 42% of each barrel of
petroleum was used to make gasoline. Petroleum is also used in ink,
crayons, rubbing alcohol, shoes, roofing, dishwashing liquids,
deodorant, eyeglasses, and more.

How is petroleum extracted and prepared for usage?

When petroleum is extracted, it is actually called crude oil. Crude oil is extracted from drilling
rigs on both land and in water. These drilling rigs operate 24/7 for up to 30 years, occasionally
more.
After the crude oil is extracted, it is sent to a refinery where it becomes petroleum. These
refineries can occupy the space of several football fields. The workers actually ride bicycles to
move around the complex!
What are the advantages of using petroleum?
Petroleum is a portable and relatively reliable source of energy. It is also comparatively
inexpensive to extract.
What are the disadvantages of using petroleum?

There are many negative impacts from the emissions and byproducts produced by burning
petroleum, including global warming, acid rain, pollution of the ozone, and it can cause a
multitude of lung problems for workers.

What is coal?
Coal is a natural material made by the Earth that takes millions of years to form. It is formed
when plants are covered by rocks and dirt that apply pressure and heat to the vegetation. After
millions of years, the plants become coal.
There are four different types of coal that recognize the quality of the coal which is based on the
amount of carbon within the coal. The type of coal with the highest amount of carbon is
anthracite which is 86%-97% carbon. The second coal with the highest amount of carbon is
bituminous which is 45%-85% carbon. The third coal with the highest amount of carbon is
subbituminous which is 35%-45% carbon. The coal with the lowest amount of carbon is lignite
which is 25%-35% carbon. The amount of carbon in these different types of coal is determined
by the amount of pressure and heat applied to these plants over the course of time.
How is coal used?
The main usage for coal is to produce energy. 93% of coal consumed in the U.S. in 2013 is
used to generate electricity. In that same year, coal produces about half of the country's
electricity. Besides generating electricity, coal can be used to create synthetic fuel and natural
gas.
How is coal extracted and prepared for usage?
There are two ways that coal can be extracted: surface mining
and underground mining. The type of mining required is
determined by the depth of the coal.
If the coal is less than 1,000 feet below ground, the coal is
extracted through surface mining which requires the area to
be cleared of soil and trees. If the coal is more than 1,000 feet
below the ground, it is extracted through underground mining.
Underground mining uses heavy machinery that cuts the coal
from the Earth. It is a very dangerous form of mining because
cutting coal can release natural gases that can cause
explosions or make it difficult to breathe.

What are the advantages of using coal?

The biggest advantage of coal is that it does not need specific conditions to produce energy like
solar power or other forms of energy do.
What are the disadvantages of using coal?
Coal has many disadvantages including the pollution of the atmosphere and dangerous working
conditions for workers. Mining coal can also create cave ins that start underground fires that can
last for decades.

What is natural gas?

Natural gas is a substance naturally produced by the Earth over long amounts of time. Natural
gas is a fossil fuel which is found trapped in underground reservoirs that can stretch for
kilometers within rock formations..
How is natural gas used?
Natural gas is primarily used in heating, electricity, and cooking. It is also used as fuel to
produce products such as steel, glass, paper, clothes, and more. Some products that have
natural gas within them are plastics, paints, medicine, and many more.
How is natural gas extracted extracted and prepared for usage?
The process used to extract natural gas is called hydraulic fracturing or fracking for short. The
process uses high pressure water to split apart rocks beneath the surface and release the gas.
If the water is not enough to split the rock apart, the company can use acid.
Because there is a possibility of an explosion, there are very strict regulations and standards
that are required for natural gas production, transportation, distribution, and storage. Natural gas
must go through many processes in order to be ready for consumer usage. Part of the process
is actually inserting a bad smelling substance into the gas, so that the gaswhich is originally
odorlesswill be noticed if there is a leak. Once it has gone through many stages of
processing, it is sent to storing facilities via pipelines.
What are the advantages of natural gas?
`There are several advantages to natural gas. The first and biggest one is that it is a cleaner
source of energy than fuel or coal. It is also relatively inexpensive to extract.
What are the disadvantages of natural gas?

There are many disadvantages to using natural gas though. One of the biggest problems is that
spills of the gas or chemicals used in the process can contaminate the surrounding area
anytime during drilling. It also requires plenty of water which is unable to be used until treatment
because of contamination which is problematic for countries who do not have much clean water.
On top of that, fracking can actually cause mini-earthquakes.
Bibliography:
Morse, Elizabeth. "Non-renewable Energy." National Geographic Education.
National Geographic Society, 14 Feb. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
<http://education.nationalgeographic.com/encyclopedia/non-renewable-energy/>.
"Nonrenewable Energy Sources - Energy Explained, Your Guide To
Understanding Energy - Energy Information Administration." Nonrenewable Energy
Sources - Energy Explained, Your Guide To Understanding Energy - Energy Information
Administration. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.eia.gov/EnergyExplained/index.cfm?page=nonrenewable_home>.