Problems
1.1 Conduct a search on the web and identify the world’s resources and reserves of oil and gas. Which countries possess the largest amount of reserves?
1.2 What are the issues involved in a country’s definition of reserves? Write a short report that discusses the issues and how a country might be affected by the issues.
1.3 What are the issues behind the peak oil argument? Write a short report that contains a description of both sides of the argument.
1.4 The use of hydraulic fracturing has increased the production of oil and gas from tight sands, but it also has become a debatable topic. What are the issues that are involved in the debate? Write a short report that contains a description of both sides of the argument.
1.5 The continued development of horizontal drilling techniques has increased the production of oil and gas from certain reservoirs. Conduct a search on the web for applications of horizontal drilling. Identify three reservoirs in which this technique has increased the production of hydrocarbons and discuss the increase in both costs and production.