Today, More Than Any Other Time In History, There Is Growing
Today More Than Any Other Time In History There Is Growing Support T
Today, more than any other time in history, there is growing support to move away from nonrenewable resources towards developing renewable resources to meet current and future energy needs. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources that continue to negatively impact the environment. It is important to learn how these resources are formed since this process of formation is at the very heart of why fossil fuels are considered to be nonrenewable. Using the Internet, research the nonrenewable resource assigned to you:—> Natural gas. Describe how this nonrenewable resource was initially formed. Briefly explain where the major reserves of this nonrenewable resource are located and how it is extracted. Examine the environmental impact caused by the extraction process. Explain how this nonrenewable resource is used to produce energy, and identify the pollution problems that are caused from this energy source. Support your statements with appropriate examples and scholarly references. Write your initial response in approximately 350–400 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
Paper For Above instruction
Natural gas is a vital fossil fuel that has gained prominence in recent years due to its relatively cleaner combustion compared to other fossil fuels. Initially, natural gas is formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient microorganisms, such as plankton and other organic matter, that were deposited on the sea or lake beds. Over time, layers of sediments covered these organic materials, subjecting them to immense pressure and temperature, which led to the transformation into natural gas—primarily methane (CH₄)—through processes of thermogenic conversion (Roth et al., 2019). This process is analogous to the formation of oil and coal, but natural gas often occurs in underground reservoirs, often associated with oil deposits. Major reserves of natural gas are located in the Middle East, Russia, the United States, and parts of Africa and Asia. These reserves are extracted via drilling wells, with some sites employing hydraulic fracturing techniques—commonly known as fracking—to access tight formations that traditional drilling cannot reach (Kumar et al., 2020).
The environmental impact of natural gas extraction varies depending on the method used. Conventional drilling can lead to land disturbance, habitat destruction, and potential spills of drilling fluids or produced water, which can contaminate surrounding ecosystems. Hydraulic fracturing raises additional concerns, including groundwater contamination, increased seismic activity, and the emission of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—during extraction and transportation (Howarth et al., 2019). Once extracted, natural gas is typically transported via pipelines to power plants or industrial facilities. It is primarily used for electricity generation, heating, and as a fuel in various industrial processes. When burned, natural gas produces carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and small amounts of particulate matter, but it emits significantly less CO₂ compared to coal or oil, making it a more environmentally friendly fossil fuel (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2021).
Despite its comparatively cleaner emissions, natural gas still contributes to pollution problems. Leaks during extraction and transportation release methane into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change due to methane's high global warming potential. Additionally, the infrastructure required for extraction and transport can result in habitat fragmentation and water contamination. As the world transitions towards renewable energy sources, addressing the environmental impacts of natural gas remains critical to its sustainable use (Shale Gas Information Center, 2020). Therefore, understanding the formation, reserves, extraction processes, and environmental impacts of natural gas is essential for making informed decisions about our energy future.
References
- Howarth, R. W., Santoro, R., & Ingraffea, A. (2019). Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations. Climatic Change, 149(3-4), 389–395.
- Kumar, S., Sheikh, S. A., & Ahmed, S. (2020). Environmental challenges of hydraulic fracturing in natural gas extraction: A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(21), 26052–26066.
- Roth, M., Xu, T., & Keskin, S. (2019). Formation of natural gas from microbial activity: Geochemical implications. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 177, 1022–1032.
- Shale Gas Information Center. (2020). Environmental impacts of shale gas development. Retrieved from https://www.shalegasinfo.com
- U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2021). Natural gas explained. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/natural-gas/