Page 56 - Introduction to Petroleum Engineering

40 THE FUTURE OF ENERGY

100
90
Total
80 Coal
70 Natural gas
Petroleum
60 Nuclear electric
Quads 50 Hydroelectric

40 Wood
Other renewable
30
20
10
0
1650 1700 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000
Year
FIGURE 2.12 US energy consumption by source, 1650–2010 (quadrillion BTU).
(Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2001).)

100
Coal Oil
90
Coal
80 Total Natural gas
Coal Petroleum
70
% of total US energy 60 Petroleum
Natural gas
Nuclear electric
Hydroelectric
Nuclear electric
50
Hydroelectric
Wood
40
Wood
Other renewable
30
20
10
0
1650 1700 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000
Year
FIGURE 2.13 Coal and oil transition periods based on US energy consumption by source,
1650–2010 (%). (Source: Fanchi and Fanchi, 2015.)

have a negligible or positive effect on the environment, and it should be safe. When
we consider cost, we need to consider both tangible and intangible costs associated
with each component of the energy mix.
The transition from wood to coal and from coal to oil has been interpreted as a
trend toward decarbonization or the reduction in the relative amount of carbon in