Particle Size and Oil Production Activity Source: Adapted by AAPG from EarthComm and the American Geosciences Institute. Adapted with permission. What factors affect how easily a fluid can move through sediments? How is this flow rate connected to oil production? Many people think that oil lies in big pools below Earth’s surface. Oil actually is located in the pores within rocks (called “source rocks”). When the pores are connected, oil can flow slowly through the rock. [Read More]

Places on the Planet: Latitude and Longitude Activity Source: Geological Society of America, 2006. Adapted with permission. Background You may have seen or used Global Positioning System (GPS) devices in cars or on camping trips. These devices use data from satellites orbiting the Earth to locate places on our planet. GPS devices describe the locations to us in the form of latitude and longitude coordinates. Citizen scientists involved in the Geological Society of America’s EarthCaching project (http://www. [Read More]

No Child Left Inside Activity Plant an Ozone Monitoring Garden Grade Level: 6-9 Earth and Life Science, Engineering Activity Source: Adapted with permission from NASA Aura Education and Public Outreach. Background To measure ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere, NASA built the approximately 6,500-pound Aura satellite. The spacecraft carries four high-tech instruments that scan the globe from more than 700 kilometers above the planet. For students, there is an easy way to investigate ozone in their own neighborhood. [Read More]

Predict the Flow Activity Source: NASA and AGI. Adapted with permission for the American Geophysical Union. Ever play with clay? Using a common modeling compound, you can form a “volcano” and examine its topography to predict which way lava will flow down its slopes. You could also investigate mud flows or debris flows. Materials 2 containers of modeling compound or clay Clear plastic bin Dark colored water (make sure that your modeling compound is a contrasting color from your water) Clear clipboard 2 transparencies and transparency marker Safety scissors Dish detergent Baking soda Vinegar Dropper Metric ruler Tiny plastic cup (about 2 oz. [Read More]

Products from Petroleum Activity Source: Society of Petroleum Engineers. Adapted with permission. Where would we be without petroleum? You can kiss lipstick goodbye! Not only does petroleum provide fuel to run our vehicles, cook our food, heat our homes, and generate electricity, it is also used in plastics, medicines, food items, and countless other products, from aspirin to umbrellas and, yes — lipstick! We use many oil products as synthetic alternatives to natural materials, including synthetic rubber instead of natural rubber, and detergent instead of soap. [Read More]

Products Made from Petroleum Activity Source: Adapted with permission by Bruce Wells, American Oil & Gas Historical Society. Background Most people associate petroleum with transportation — but we are surrounded by thousands of other everyday products that come from this vital natural resource. A typical 42- gallon barrel of crude oil yields about 20 gallons of gasoline and 4 gallons of jet fuel. What products come from the other 18 gallons? [Read More]

Properties of Fluids in Reservoirs Activity Source: American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Adapted with permission from EarthComm , American Geosciences Institute. Petroleum geologists play a vital role in locating energy resources. They use a variety of methods to collect the data they need to find reservoirs of oil and natural gas. When they find these reservoirs, petroleum geologists need to calculate their volume. They also need to estimate how much they can recover (remove) from the reservoir. [Read More]

Properties of Fresh Water and Sea Water

Activity Source:

Ocean Institute Curriculum Series

Properties of Fresh Water and Sea Water

Rain and Soil Activity Source: Adapted with permission by Soil Science Society of America. When it rains, much of the water drains directly into the ground. But why? Soil is made up of four main components: minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Ideal percentages of each is shown in the figure, but in reality the percentages vary from location to location. Water moves through open spaces in soil known as “pores. [Read More]

Reclaiming a Mine Site Activity Source: Adapted with permission by Minerals Education Coalition. Mined land is reclaimed for future use. The objective of this activity is to investigate how plants will grow on a reclaimed landscape. Over a period of days, you will learn how overburden is incorporated into the landscape after it has been removed during the mining process.Before beginning, discuss vocabulary terms: overburden, stockpile, grading, soil types, seeding, stability, seed germination, nutrients, closure planning, and reclamation. [Read More]