The Importance of Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons, organic chemical compounds of carbon and hydrogen molecules, are one the world’s most crucial energy resources, derived from petroleum, natural gas, and coal. They are utilized as fuels, lubricants, electrical power generation, heating, and as raw materials to make plastics, fibers, rubbers, solvents, explosives, and industrial chemicals. Hydrocarbons are an abundant, as well as efficient resource. Also, contrary to common belief, extraction of these resources is relatively safe for the environment.
The oceans that border the United States contain an astounding amount of oil and natural gas that is not being utilized. This is due to areas having restricted exploration and drilling access. The restricted areas along the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico hold more than 19 billion barrels of oil, almost thirty years’ worth of what is currently being imported from Saudi Arabia. The estimated amount of oil increases as areas are explored. The Pacific Ocean is believed to have the greatest potential.
Hydrocarbons are a very efficient resource. They have a very high calorific value, the value of the amount of energy produced, with fossil fuels having the highest. Since fossil fuels produce such a high amount of energy and are easily combustible, they have been popularized all over the world. Most combustion engines need only small amounts of fuel to create large amounts of energy, while energy from alternative fuel sources such as solar, wind or geothermal technology is much harder to collect.
Environmental concerns are often the cause of drilling restrictions. However, most people are unaware that the technologies put in place actually minimize environmental damage. Oil seeps into the ocean naturally and by harvesting this oil, the amount of oil released into the ocean is lowered. In some