Developing conventional oil/gas sources in sensitive or remote areas
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the economic costs and benefits of developing conventional sources of oil and gas in ecologically-sensitive and isolated areas.
Key learning points
- The world’s continuing reliance on fossil fuels increases pressure to exploit new areas.
- There are economic benefits of developing conventional oil and gas sources in ecologically-sensitive and isolated areas.
- There are economic costs of developing conventional oil and gas sources in ecologically-sensitive and isolated areas.
Keywords
Conventional - sources of oil and gas that are relatively easy to extract because the oil and gas can flow freely towards an oil well or a gas well
Viable - able to generate enough money to cover its costs and remain profitable
Reserve - a known amount of oil or gas that can be taken from underground and used
Common misconception
If you find oil or gas underground, it is always worth extracting it.
In fact, just because a reserve exists doesn't mean that it will be technically or economically viable. Reserves that are in remote locations or in challenging conditions may have high development costs, especially if oil prices fall.
Teacher tip
Using Google Earth or similar applications to really demonstrate the remoteness of sites like ExxonMobil's Point Thomson reservoir helps students to grasp the logistical difficulties involved in extracting oil and gas from Alaska's North Slope.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is a renewable energy source?
Q2.What is a disadvantage of using fossil fuels?
Q3.What is fracking used for?
Q4.What does 'access to energy' mean?
Q5.Why do some countries with fossil fuels still struggle to use them?
Q6.What is one environmental impact of extracting fossil fuels?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keyword with its definition.
Oil/gas that can flow freely and is easier to extract
Capable of producing enough profit to make development worthwhile
Energy that comes from sources that can be naturally replenished
Q2.What is a key factor in deciding whether oil extraction is viable?
Q3.Which of the following might make an oil source not viable?
Q4.What is one environmental concern with oil extraction in sensitive areas?
To help you plan your 11 geography lesson on: Developing conventional oil/gas sources in sensitive or remote areas, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 geography lesson on: Developing conventional oil/gas sources in sensitive or remote areas, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 geography lessons from the Energy unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.