ENERGY RESOURCES

FOSSIL FUELS
Fossil Fuels – are sources of energy
derived from the fossilized remains of
one living plants and animals million
years ago. These remains of dead
plants and animals long time ago are
buried and fossilized in the earth’s
crust, thus these fuels are found
beneath the earth’s surface.
Fossil fuels are commonly used as energy
to power engines and other materials at
home and in industries.

Fossil fuels as non-renewable sources of

energy, have disadvantages and could
impact the environment negatively. This is
because during its combustion it produces
carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Hydrocarbons – fossil fuels have high
content of carbon and hydrogen.
There are three types of fossil fuels:
 Coal is a type of fossil fuel that is a non-
renewable source of energy. It is a solid
rock form of fossil fuel that originated from
dead plant and animal matter that have
piled up in layers for over millions of years.
It’s composed highly of carbon.
 Coal can be extracted using two
methods: surface mining and underground
mining. Surface mining, also known as
strip mining, involves the removal of the
entire layer of rock and soil to access the
coal deposit beneath the surface.
Underground mining involves the use of
heavy machinery to cut coal from deep
underground deposits.
 Oil / Crude oil or also known as
Petroleum is another type of fossil fuel
that is non-renewable. It is a liquid type of
fossil fuel composed mostly of
hydrocarbons. Like coal, petroleum
originates from the remains of dead
organisms.
Petroleum comes from ancient marine
organisms like marine plants, algae, and
bacteria.
This can be extracted by drilling on land or at
sea. It can also be extracted through strip
mining in the case of tar sands oil and oil
shale. Once extracted, this oil will be
transported to refineries to transform it into
usable fuels like propane, kerosene, gasoline
and other fuel products. Also, it is used in
making plastic and paint products.
 Natural gas is another type of fossil fuel
that is an odorless and colorless
hydrocarbon gas mixture. Its composition is
made up of hydrocarbon that is mostly
methane (CH4).
Natural gas, like the other types of fossil
fuels, originated from the remains of
plants, animals, microorganisms that once
lived millions of years ago. If a natural gas
is found in porous and permeable rock
beds, or mixed into oil reservoirs which can
be extracted through drilling, then it is
called a conventional natural gas.
On the other hand, unconventional natural
gases are those that are too difficult or
expensive to extract, and require a special
stimulation technique like fracking.