Petroleum & Hydrocarbons

Are there structures like the ones shown in this picture in your community? Evidence of Alberta’s petroleum industry is part of the landscape in many parts of the province. Pipelines, flares, and refineries are obvious indications of the level of this industry’s activity in Alberta.

 

You may have noticed vehicles that have the names of oil and gas companies on them or the names of companies that support the exploration and extraction of oil, natural gas, and oil sand. Those are more obvious examples of the activity of the petroleum industry. Are there other examples of this industry's activity that are less obvious but that still have an impact on your community?

Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons. There are six main raw sources of hydrocarbons: natural gas, coal bed methane, crude oil, heavy oil, oil sands, and coal.
Read pages 356–359 in the textbook to learn more about the natural sources of hydrocarbons.  From your reading you have learned that the petroleum industry involves locating, extracting, and refining natural resources. The petrochemical industry is also part of the petroleum industry. In the petrochemical industry, chemicals created from fossil fuels are used to make products such as antifreeze windshield fluid and plastics.