Harvesting Oil from the Earth
Students explore how oil is harvested from the EarthCopyright Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/neilarmstrong2/5097908483
Students investigate sources of fossil fuels, particularly oil. Through two associated activities, they work with a model of the Earth to learn how engineers and scientists look for oil by taking core samples, and they explore and analyze oil consumption and production in the U.S. and around the world.
Finding fossil fuels below the Earth's surface is a challenge for geological and petroleum engineers. Much investigation is done before drilling expensive wells: They examine core samples, look for natural fractures in the reservoir rock, and investigate the size and porosity of the reservoir and how fast oil droplets move through the pores. Engineers also design special machines and tools for extracting and transporting oil, and complex refining processes to convert the crude oil into many forms of usable energy.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe the origin of fossil fuels.
- Explain the important role of engineering in gathering and finding oil.
- Describe how people use oil in their everyday lives.