Fossil Fuel and Uses

Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The age of the organisms and their resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years. Fossil fuels contain high percentages of carbon and include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. They range from volatile materials with low carbon:hydrogen ratios like methane, to liquid petroleum to nonvolatile materials composed of almost pure carbon, like anthracite coal. Methane can be found in hydrocarbon fields, alone, associated with oil, or in the form of methane clathrates. Fossil fuels formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants by exposure to heat and pressure in the Earth's crust over millions of years.

Origin

Petroleum and natural gas

Petroleum and natural gas are formed by the anaerobic decomposition of remains of organisms including phytoplankton and zooplankton that settled to the sea (or lake) bottom in large quantities under anoxic conditions, millions of years ago. Over geological time, this organic matter, mixed with mud, got buried under heavy layers of sediment. The resulting high levels of heat and pressure caused the organic matter to chemically alter, first into a waxy material known as kerogen which is found in oil shales, and then with more heat into liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons in a process known as catagenesis.

There is a wide range of organic, or hydrocarbon, compounds in any given fuel mixture. The specific mixture of hydrocarbons gives a fuel its characteristic properties, such as boiling point, melting point, density, viscosity, etc. Some fuels like natural gas, for instance, contain only very low boiling, gaseous components. Others such as gasoline or diesel contain much higher boiling components.

Coal and methane

Terrestrial plants, on the other hand, tend to form coal and methane. Many of the coal fields date to the Carboniferous period of Earth's history. Terrestrial plants also form type III kerogen, a source of natural gas.

Fossil fuels are of great importance because they can be burned (oxidized to carbon dioxide and water), producing significant amounts of energy per unit weight.

Years of production left in the ground with the current proved reserves and flows above

Coal: 148 years

Oil: 43 years

Natural gas: 61 years

Years of production left in the ground with the most optimistic proved reserve estimates (Oil & Gas Journal, World Oil)

Coal: 417 years

Oil: 43 years

Natural gas: 167 years 

Uses of Fossil Fuels

Despite global warming, fossil fuels top the list of non-renewable energy sources that are most abundantly used. Fossil fuels serve the following purposes:

Electricity: The most common use of fossil fuels is the generation of electricity. Fossil fuels like coal run most of the power plants in the world that generate electricity.

Transportation: Most modes of transport are powered by coal and petrol. Though hybrid and electric vehicles have made inroads into our lives, fossil fuels still power millions of vehicles.

Industrial production: Fossil fuels, especially coal and oil, power most of the industries throughout the world.

Kitchens:  Nearly one-third of world's population uses fossil fuels like coal and biomass, such as wood and dung for cooking and heating.

Heating: During winters, fossil fuels like coal, wood, and gas serve as great heating generators.

Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel that triggered the industrial revolution. Coal alone produces the largest amount of electricity on earth.  The large coal reserves on this planet make it a popular candidate to serve the energy needs of the global community.