- Description
- Students examine exploration, recovery and production, refining, and reclamation technologies within a nonrenewable hydrocarbon or mineral industry.
- Prerequisite
- None
- Parameters
- Access to a science laboratory and/or a local hydrocarbon or mineral industry. Access to resource maps available from government agencies and professional associations (e.g., Natural Resources Canada, Alberta Geological Survey, Energy Resources Conservation Board).
Outcomes The student will:
1 describe the formation and development of nonrenewable hydrocarbon or mineral resources in Alberta
1.1 identify and describe nonrenewable hydrocarbon sources currently used in Alberta
1.2 describe major events in the formation and development of one nonrenewable hydrocarbon or mineral resource in Alberta (e.g., exploration, problems and issues in development, boom and bust cycles, technological advances) and:
1.2.1 locate the resource on a map of Alberta
1.2.2 describe basic geological processes and structures responsible for the resource formation
1.2.3 identify and describe products and by-products derived from the resource; e.g., space and water heating, heat for industrial purposes, fuels for transportation, electricity, petrochemicals, metallic or nonmetallic materials
1.2.4 explore one or more applications; e.g., design and/or construct a model
1.2.5 explain how the resource has influenced both the people and the economy of Alberta; e.g., economic benefits, material products and services, employment
2 identify and describe impacts resulting from the use of nonrenewable resources
2.1 describe environmental impacts that result from the use of nonrenewable resources; e.g., greenhouse gases, acid deposition, resource depletion, ozone depletion, smog, ecosystem destruction, water pollution
2.2 identify policies and technologies used to address these environmental impacts; e.g., Kyoto Protocol, Montreal Protocol, catalytic converter, smokestack scrubber, carbon capture, carbon offset, liming, land use policies
2.3 define sustainable energy development and research future impacts on resource supply and demand, and options for ensuring future sustainable development; e.g., social, economic, geological, technological and environmental
3 explain basic technologies and techniques used within a nonrenewable hydrocarbon or mineral industry in Alberta
3.1 describe exploration; e.g., topographical features, drilling techniques, seismic operations
3.2 describe recovery and production; e.g., service rigs, chemical processes, strip mining
3.3 describe refining and manufacturing; e.g., cracking and fractionating, smelting and milling
3.4 describe reclamation; e.g., exploration and process area restoration, strip mine restoration
4 demonstrate basic competencies
4.1 demonstrate fundamental skills to:
4.1.1 communicate
4.1.2 manage information
4.1.3 use numbers
4.1.4 think and solve problems
4.2 demonstrate personal management skills to:
4.2.1 demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviours
4.2.2 be responsible
4.2.3 be adaptable
4.2.4 learn continuously
4.2.5 work safely
4.3 demonstrate teamwork skills to:
4.3.1 work with others
4.3.2 participate in projects and tasks
5 make personal connections to the cluster content and processes to inform possible pathway choices
5.1 complete/update a personal inventory; e.g., interests, values, beliefs, resources, prior learning and experiences
5.2 create a connection between a personal inventory and occupational choices
Program of Studies 2010. Source document, © Alberta Education.