Oil

= Energy Source: Oil (Petroleum) = = = toc

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What is it?
media type="file" key="o1.mp3" width="240" height="20" Oil, also known as **petroleum**, is a liquid. Many people picture petroleum as thick and black and, well…oily, but it can also be thin and clear, or even have some color in it. Petroleum is a **fossil fuel** -- something that formed over millions of years from the remains of dead plants and animals. As the dead plants were buried underground, the energy stored in them was buried, too. And how do plants get their energy? That’s right, from sunlight! So if you think about it, the energy we get from oil can actually be followed all the way back to the sun.

Fossil fuels are **non-renewable resources** because it takes so long to replace them. Right now, our society is using fossil fuels much quicker than they can be replaced in nature. Some people say that we should stop using oil so much so that there is some left for the people of the future, but others say that we should use what we have now and learn to use new kinds of energy only when we really have to. What do you think?

== How does it work? == media type="file" key="o2.mp3" width="240" height="20" Petroleum can be found deep under the ground. All of the continents and oceans have some petroleum, but a lot of it is located in the Middle East. Scientists run tests on rocks before they choose a good place to drill for oil. Then they build a well and pipes to bring the oil up from the ground. Next, it is send to a **refinery** to be cleaned and separated into different oils.

How is it used today?
media type="file" key="o3.mp3" width="240" height="20" Petroleum is very important because it is a key ingredient in gasoline and other fuels. Because it is what makes our cars, trucks, and planes run, it is very valuable. Just look at the price of gas next time you are at the pump! Petroleum can also be burned to produce heat and electricity and is even used to make things like makeup, crayons, toys, and asphalt to pave roads!

What are the advantages?
media type="file" key="o4.mp3" width="240" height="20" As we use up more and more of our petroleum supply, and petroleum becomes harder to find, it is becoming more expensive. But since it can still be found under every continent and ocean, it is still cheap enough for most people to buy. It is also quick and easy to transport from place to place. Finally, petroleum is important because it is used to produce so many different products. So far, we do not have another substance that can produce so many different things!

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What are the disadvantages?
media type="file" key="o5.mp3" width="240" height="20" One bad thing about petroleum is that it can really hurt plants and animals if it is spilled. In the picture on the right, emergency workers are trying to clean up an oil spill before it does too much damage to wildlife! Even if you spill a few drops at the gas tank, that oil washes into the sewers when it rains and ends up in our rivers or in the ground where animals live! Also, gasoline produces greenhouse gases when it is burned. Scientists believe that these **greenhouse gases** cause global warming. Most importantly, we will run out of petroleum someday if we keep using it the way we do today. What will we do then?

Is there a solution for using oil in the future?
media type="file" key="o6.mp3" width="240" height="20" What do you think? Should we keep using petroleum the way we do today? Should we stop using it altogether? Or is there another solution out there?

Bibliography

©2008 E. Crispino