fossil fuels
Coal and oil
Fossil fuels are energy sources—coal, oil, and natural gas—formed from the remains of ancient organisms buried and compressed over millions of years.
They power most modern transportation and electricity generation but release carbon dioxide when burned, contributing to climate change.
The world remains dependent on fossil fuels despite renewable alternatives.
Combustible sedimentary rock
- petroleumNatural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- natural gasSubterranean hydrocarbon fuel
- crude oilUnrefined fossil fuel
- oilSlippery viscous fluid
gasoline · diesel · kerosene · propane · butane · methane · bitumen · shale oil
Hole-making by rotation
- miningExtracting earth's resources
- frackingExtracting gas via pressure
- rigEquipment arrangement or vehicle
- derrickMovable boom apparatus
offshore · onshore · well · platform · excavation · shale · prospecting · reservoir
Substances released into air
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
pollution · smog · acid rain · oil spills · air quality · particulates · contamination · soot
Cannot be replaced naturally
- finiteHaving definite bounds
- depletionReduction of supply
- exhaustibleAble to be used up
- peak oilMaximum global extraction rate
resource scarcity · unsustainable · energy transition · divestment · reserves · consumption · dependence · energy security
Combustion in progress
- ignitionStarting combustion process
- flameBurning gas made visible
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
heat · thermal · engines · boilers · furnaces · power plants · energy conversion · calorific
Before documented civilization
- cretaceousLast Mesozoic period
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- geologicOf Earth's physical structure
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
decomposition · pressure · heat · millions of years · ancient · buried · deposits · peat
Petroleum exporters' coalition
- oilfieldUnderground hydrocarbon reserve area
- petrochemicalsCompounds derived from petroleum
- energy sectorFuel and electricity businesses
- upstreamToward a river's origin
midstream · downstream · petroleum industry · oil companies · refineries · barrel · reserves · commodity
coal
Combustible sedimentary rock
- petroleumNatural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- natural gasSubterranean hydrocarbon fuel
- crude oilUnrefined fossil fuel
oil · gasoline · diesel · kerosene · propane · butane · methane · bitumen · shale oil · tar sands
drilling
Hole-making by rotation
- miningExtracting earth's resources
- frackingExtracting gas via pressure
- rigEquipment arrangement or vehicle
derrick · offshore · onshore · well · platform · excavation · shale · prospecting · reservoir · pumping
emissions
Substances released into air
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
global warming · pollution · smog · acid rain · oil spills · air quality · particulates · contamination · soot · nitrogen oxides
nonrenewable
Cannot be replaced naturally
- finiteHaving definite bounds
- depletionReduction of supply
- exhaustibleAble to be used up
peak oil · resource scarcity · unsustainable · energy transition · divestment · reserves · consumption · dependence · energy security · alternatives
burning
Combustion in progress
- ignitionStarting combustion process
- flameBurning gas made visible
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
carbon dioxide · heat · thermal · engines · boilers · furnaces · power plants · energy conversion · calorific · exothermic
prehistoric
Before documented civilization
- cretaceousLast Mesozoic period
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- geologicOf Earth's physical structure
organic matter · decomposition · pressure · heat · millions of years · ancient · buried · deposits · peat · swamps
OPEC
Petroleum exporters' coalition
- oilfieldUnderground hydrocarbon reserve area
- petrochemicalsCompounds derived from petroleum
- energy sectorFuel and electricity businesses
upstream · midstream · downstream · petroleum industry · oil companies · refineries · barrel · reserves · commodity · market
- energyelectricity, power, oil, gas, battery
- Climate Changeglobal warming, greenhouse gases, climate change, carbon dioxide, CO2
- Energy Industryelectric company, power company, gas company, oil company, utility company
- environmentalismecology, conservationism, recycling bins, campaigner, environmentalism
- Energy historyoil boom, steam age, nuclear age, wind power, oil crisis
- energy impactsoil spills, carbon emissions, air pollution, greenhouse gases, emissions
fossil fuelsrenewable energy
Self-replenishing natural power
renewables · solar energy · wind energy · solar power · wind power
fossil fuelsclean energy
Power from sustainable sources
green power · sustainable power · sustainable energy · green energy · hydrogen fuel
fuel, fossil, fossils, fossilized, biofuel, fossilization, microfossils, fossilise, jet fuel