reliance on fossil fuels

• What causes the mismatch between locations of conventional fossil fuel supply and regions of high demand?

  It results from physical geography.
• What percentage of global primary energy supply is provided by coal, oil, and gas?

  86%
• What is a fundamental feature of the world of energy regarding fossil fuel supply and demand?

  The distribution of fossil fuel supply and demand do not coincide.
• What are the main factors that determine fossil fuel supply?

  Processes of physical geography such as climate, biomass production, sedimentation, faulting, folding, and continental drift.
• What are the supply and demand percentages for oil in different regions?

  • Supply:
  • 31% Middle East
  • 20% North America
  • 12% Russia
  • Demand:
  • 34% Asia (12% China)
  • 24% North America
  • 20% Europe (4% Russia)
• Why is there a large mismatch between supply and demand for oil?

  Because oil is essential for transport, and petrol/diesel is the main energy source for vehicles.
• What are the supply and demand percentages for gas in different regions?

  • Supply:
  • 18% North America
  • 15% Middle East
  • 13% Russia
  • Demand:
  • 27% North America (22% USA)
  • 16% Asia
  • 11% Russia
  • 10% Middle East
• How does the distribution of gas supply and demand compare to that of oil?

  Gas supply and demand match fairly well because gas is more widely distributed than oil.
• What role do energy pathways play in energy security?

  Energy pathways allow transfers to take place between producers and consumers, enhancing energy security.
• What are the main fossil fuel pathways for coal, oil, and gas?

  • Coal: From six main producers (Australia, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Colombia, USA) to four major markets (EU, India, China, Japan-Korea-Taiwan).
  • Oil: From producers in the Middle East to four major markets (EU, USA, E and SE Asia); lesser producers include Nigeria and Venezuela.
  • Gas: From major producers in the Middle East and Russia to markets in Europe; lesser producers include Indonesia, Nigeria, and Trinidad.
• What is the significance of Russian gas exports to Europe?

  Most of Russia's gas exports go to European countries, and the delivery is mainly through five pipelines.
• Which countries receive 100% of their gas from Russia?

  • Finland
  • Estonia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
• Which countries receive 66-99% of their gas from Russia?

  • Bulgaria
  • Poland
  • Czech Republic
  • Slovakia
• What geopolitical significance do the pipelines crossing Ukraine have for Russia?

  Ukraine could increase charges for allowing Russian gas to pass through or stop gas flows altogether, affecting Russia's exports.
• What are the two options Russia has regarding gas delivery through threatened pipelines?

  Reduce delivery through threatened pipelines and export more through northern pipelines or annex Ukraine.
• Why might it be strategically unwise for EU countries to rely heavily on Russian gas?

  Due to the history of strained political relations between Russia and Western Europe.
• What has the UK done in response to declining output from its North Sea gas fields?

  The UK has increased its imports of Russian gas.
• What are the unconventional fossil fuel energy resources mentioned in the study material?

  1. Tar sands
  2. Oil shale
  3. Shale gas
  4. Deepwater oil
• What are the social costs and benefits of developing unconventional fossil fuel resources?

  They have social costs such as environmental damage and high extraction costs, but may also provide benefits like infrastructure investment.
• What are the implications of exploiting unconventional fossil fuels for the carbon cycle and fragile environments?

  • Threatens the carbon cycle and contributes to global warming.
  • Extraction is costly and requires complex technology, energy, and water.
  • Risks environmental damage, including pollution and land subsidence.
• What is the composition of tar sands?

  A mixture of clay, sand, water, and bitumen.
• How are tar sands processed for extraction?

  They are mined and injected with steam to make the tar less viscous for pumping.
• What are oil shales?

  Oil-bearing rocks that are permeable enough to allow oil to be pumped out directly.
• How is oil extracted from oil shales?

  Either mined or ignited to allow light oil fractions to be pumped out.
• What is shale gas?

  Natural gas trapped in fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
• How is shale gas extracted?

  By fracking, which involves pumping in water and chemicals to force out the gas.
• What is deepwater oil?

  Oil and gas found well offshore and at considerable oceanic depths.
• Where is deepwater oil drilling currently taking place?

  In the Gulf of Mexico and off Brazil.
• What roles do extraction companies play in the development of fossil fuel reserves?

  • Discovering and developing reserves.
  • Seeking good financial returns on exploratory work.
  • Potentially willing to take risks with the environment for profit.
• Who are the leading players in the oil and gas industry?

  • Extraction companies
  • Leading oil and gas transnational corporations (TNCs)