Fossil Fuel Collection (page 9)

Transport pollution. Fumes emerging from a boat burning fuel as oil. Photographed in Manokwari harbour, West Papua in Indonesia, Asia

Food miles. Conceptual image showing a loaf of bread balanced on a set of scales against a container of petrol. This image represents the environmental cost of transporting food

Oil industry pollution. Tailings settling pond with residual crude oil and bitumen floating on the surface. In the background is the Syncrude oil processing plant

Carbon neutral transport. This van is part of the Courier Systems company, a UK company that uses a carbon offset scheme to balance their carbon emissions

Global energy resources, conceptual image
Global energy resources. Conceptual image of a fuel gauge on the Earth approaching empty (E). This represents global environmental issues relating to energy resources and their depletion

Natural gas well, 19th century
Natural gas well, 19th-century artwork. Drilling of a natural gas well in Kansas, USA. Commercial drilling for oil and natural gas in Kansas began in 1892

Man-made pollution, conceptual artwork
Man-made pollution, conceptual computer artwork

Oil and the environment. Conceptual image of an oil drop (centre) running down a container (left), with smoke and clouds in the background

Oil pipeline and aurora. The aurora is a coloured light display visible in the night sky at high latitudes. It occurs when charged and energetic particles from the Sun (the solar wind)

Oil refinery gantry
MODEL RELEASED. Oil refinery gantry. Oil refinery worker traversing a gantry between two oil storage tanks at a refinery. The setting Sun in the background can represent concepts such as the effect

Climate change, conceptual image. The burning of coal produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming

Cost of gas, conceptual image. Computer artwork of a gas ring in the shape of the symbol for the European Single Currency (Euro), representing the financial cost of using gas

Gasometer, artwork
Gasometer. Gasometers, or gas holders, are used to store excess gas. The gasometer consists of one or more tiers floating on a pool of water

Fossil fuel, conceptual image

19th century gas meter, artwork
Gas meter. Artwork of a 19th century gas meter. Engraving from " Grands Hommes et Grands Faits de l Industrie" circa 1880

La Villette Gas Power Station, artwork
La Villette Gas Power Station, Paris, France. Artwork showing condenser tubes on the exterior of the building. The tubes condense exhaust steam from the turbines into water, which can be re-used

Gasometers, artwork
Gasometers at La Villette Gas Power Station, Paris, France. Gasometers, or gas holders, are used to store excess gas. The gasometer consists of one or more tiers floating on a pool of water

Natural gas well, artwork
Natural gas well. Cut-away 19th century artwork of a natural gas well. To reach the natural gas (9) several layers have to be drilled through

Refuelling a diesel car. Hand-operated pump being used to fill a motor vehicles fuel tank with diesel

A womans feet leaving carbon footprints on grass

Finite oil resources, conceptual artwork. Computer artwork representing running out of oil

Future of motor vehicles, artwork
Future of motor vehicles, conceptual artwork

Gas storage tank. These tanks, known as gasholders or gasometers, are used to hold coal gas or natural gas. The volume of the container adjusts to the amount of gas held inside

Oil pump at an oil well. This machine is commonly known as a nodding donkey or jack pump. It is used to draw crude oil from a well

Coal-fired power station. This power station burns coal to heat water. The resulting steam drives a turbine generator and produces electricity. Photographed at Wabamun Lake in Alberta, Canada

Constructing an oil pipeline. This is the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline, which will export Russian crude oil to East Asian countries such as China, Japan and Korea

Hummer 4x4 vehicle

Cost of fuel, conceptual image. Can of fuel balanced on a set of scales, against a piggy bank with money pouring into it. This represents the increasing cost of fuel

Oil tankers
Oil tanker loading at an oil pier. This pier belongs to the public oil company Rosneft-Tuapsenefteprodukt and is the main petroleum-shipment facility in Tuapse, Russia

Oil platform. Aerial view, from a helicopter, of an oil platform. Oil platforms are used to drill for and pump oil from below the Earths surface, often from below the seabed

Oil platform. Silhouetted view from a helicopter, across a sun-dappled sea, of an oil platform. Oil platforms are used to drill for and pump oil from below the Earths surface

Industrial air pollution. Smoke billowing from a steel mills chimney stacks

Industrial atmospheric pollution. Smoke emerging from the top of a tall industrial chimney (right). Chimneys like this disperse combustion pollutants into the atmosphere high above ground level

Opencast coal mine. Vehicles working at a coal surface mine

Paraffin lamp burning. Paraffin is a mixture of alkane hydrocarbons

Coal fire. Flames and glowing embers in a coal fire

Gas bubbles in oil. Different sized bubbles of gas escaping from oil

BUSN2A-00078
Coal miners tamping an explosive charge in a tunnel, 1860s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

BUSN2A-00180
Coal miners emerging from the shaft after their nine hours of toil are ended, early 1900s. Hand-colored halftone of a photograph

BUSN2A-00192
Early oil well gushing in Pennsylvania 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration

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Whimsey engine drawing coal in the Staffordshire mines, England, 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

In 2008 China officially became the worlds largest emitter of C02 (greenhouse gases)
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Laying a new gas pipeline in Ambleside, Cumbria, UK
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

A gas processing plant at Barrow in Furness that takes gas from the Morecambe Bay gas field
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Coal is the dirtiest of all fossil fuels the burning of which in power stations is a major contributer to climate
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

A gasometer in Leeds, UK
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Flaring off gas at a gas processing plant at Rampside near Barrow in Furness, UK
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

A gas processing plant at Rampside near Barrow in Furness, UK, that processes gas from the Morecambe Bay gas field
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

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"Fossil Fuel: A Journey Through Time and Industry" Step back in time to the 1850s, where a coal mine in England marked the beginning of an era that would shape our world. The Retro Style Desert Scene with an old gas station and majestic Saguaro cactus takes us to the heart of America's love affair with fossil fuels during the mid-20th century. Innovations were abundant, as seen through the iconic 1960s paraffin heater, providing warmth and comfort during chilly nights. Meanwhile, a model of Murchison North Sea Oil Rig showcases how offshore drilling revolutionized oil extraction. Venturing into the depths of the North Sea, we witness towering structures like never before - from traditional oil drilling rigs to advanced jackup rigs that defy gravity. These marvels enabled humanity to tap into vast reserves beneath our oceans. But let's not forget our roots – an oil well from the 19th century reminds us of humble beginnings when black gold was first discovered on land. As demand grew exponentially, massive oil tankers became vital for transporting this precious resource across continents. The offshore oil rig emerges as a symbol of human ingenuity amidst challenging environments. Its silhouette against breathtaking sunsets or under starry skies evokes both awe and concern for its impact on marine ecosystems. As night falls, lights illuminate sprawling refineries that work tirelessly to process crude oil into various products essential for modern life. The mesmerizing sight highlights both progress and environmental consequences associated with fossil fuel consumption. From historical coal mines to cutting-edge technology in offshore exploration, fossil fuels have shaped economies and transformed societies worldwide. As we navigate towards sustainable energy alternatives today, reflecting upon this journey is crucial for building a greener future while acknowledging their significant contributions throughout history.