What are some disadvantages of using oil?

Answer 1

Some disadvantages of oil are that -

* it is non-renewable and fast depleting; * burning it releases carbon dioxide, a powerful greenhouse gas, that had been stored in the earth for millions of years

* it leaves behind harmful by-products upon combustion, thereby causing a lot of pollution; * mining of oil leads to irreversible damage to the adjoining environment; * Oil spills as well as evaporation and fumes pollute the environment; * Used oil is difficult to recycle. * The price of oil is rising, especially if the real cost of its carbon is included. * Burning it produces carbon dioxide, a major cause of global warming.

=== === The basic problem with coal and other carbon based fuels in not really that they release carbon-- it is that the carbon they release is not then quickly and efficiently absorbed by some other process, eliminating it from the atmosphere. We are taking unimaginably huge quantities of carbon, stored away for eons, and pouring it into the air. It will remain there for eons more, until the earth goes through more of its own balancing cycles. http://sciencedata.blogspot.com/ The disadvantages of oil energy is that it produces carbon dioxide when burned, limited supply of oil, can be environmentally damaging, transportation of oil caused damage to animals. It can have oil spills which destroys ecosystems, kills marine life, isn't good for the environment. It also produces carbon dioxide when oil is being burnt. Also, it is higly toxic. Crude oil is a finite natural resource. It exists as a mixture of hydrocarbons with traces of sulfur and other compounds. In order for useful products to be separated from crude oil, it must be treated with "thermal cracking," an energy-intensive process that separates and reforms different hydrocarbons based on their boiling point.

So, crude oil will run out, and you have to invest energy in order to get usable energy from it. The massive amounts of CO2 released when oil is combusted alter the composition of the earth's atmosphere. Burning oil creates greenhouse gases as a by-product, which can contribute to the effect of global warming. Also, incomplete combustion of oil can form carbon monoxide, which if allowed to build up in a confined area can prove to be faithful. The insecurity of oil in the global financial market is a distinct disadvantage on reliance on oil also.
Most importantly, it is a limited resource, which some day will be gone. We are exploring in deeper waters and finding new ways to extract oil, but this doesn't change the fact that the global supply of crude oil is reduced with production. The new sources of petroleum will be much more expensive. As with any scarce resource, the price will go up and this in turn can make gasoline more expensive. The future increase in the cost of petroleum will make many petrochemicals go up and increase the transportation costs. Suggest you do a google search on petrochemicals to get an idea of how many goods will be affected. The consumption of crude oil as fuel (diesel, gasoline) is a major environmental problem, as combustion causes carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions, and contributes to global warming. Also, the added pollution from the combustion of oil (and coal) contributes to acid rain. An area that is particularly controversial is the degree to which the exploration, extraction and transport of crude oil causes environmental damage. There has been a trend to fewer tanker oil spills, but the ones that have occurred, such as Valdez oil spill caused severe damage. There's controversy over potential for environmental damage from new leases in the Gulf of Mexico, near Florida coast line because of concern of spills and the north slope of Alaska (search for ANWR) because of concern of the effect on wildlife. Drilling and producing operations in the Amazon basin can cause environmental damage, because an oily water is frequently produced with the oil, and can cause damage if not properly treated. (There is a long standing claim of environmental damage from Texaco's operation in Ecuador)

Answer 2

As it is one of the natutal resources (Coal, Oil, Natural Gas) one the supply is gone it cannot be replaced.