Question

The world rate of oil consumption in 2013 was about 4200 million tonnes per year.

• Calculate what fraction this constitutes of the world’s total annual primary energy consumption of 540 exajoules.

• Using this information, how many tonnes of oil were being burned every second?

Answer 1

1) 1 tonnes oil = 42 GJoule

So 4200 million tonnes = 4200 * 10⁶ * 42 * 10⁹ Joule

= 176 * 10¹⁸ Joule

= 176 exajoules

2) Total annual consumption is = 540 exajoules

So the fraction of oil consumption in 2013 = 176 / 540

= 0.33

3) Total oil consumed in 2013 = 4200 million tonnes

So oil consumed in 2013 every second = 4200 * 10⁶ tonnes / [365 (days) * 24 (hrs) * 60 (minutes) * 60 (seconds)]

= 133 tonnes / s

4) Based on the annual oil consumption which is 540 exajoule

1 tonnes = 42 * 10⁹ Joule

So to produce 5400 exajoule which is 5400 * 10¹⁸ Joules need

= 5400 * 10¹⁸ / (42 * 10^{9 )}

= 1.28 * 10¹¹ Tonnes oil

So 1.28 * 10¹¹ tones of oil is consumed every year

So pes second = 1.28 * 10¹¹ (tonnes) / [365 (days) * 24 (hrs) * 60 (minutes) * 60 (seconds)]

= 4076 tonnes

So 4076 tonnes oils were being burned every second