ASSIGNMENT CORRECTION / CORRECTION DU DEVOIR D0110

ANGLAIS DES AFFAIRES – CORRIGÉ DU DEVOIR D0110
ASSIGNMENT CORRECTION /
CORRECTION DU DEVOIR D0110
A.
1.
Right or wrong. Justify your answers
The global demand for oil hasn’t increased since the 1970’s.
WRONG: “oil consumption is growing at unprecedented rates.”
2.
New sources of energy are looked for in deep water and in oil shale.
RIGHT: “(…) forcing companies to start looking at ‘unconventional’ oil supplies in deep water
and rock shale.”
3.
Bio-fuel ethanol takes less energy to grow and is thus more profitable.
WRONG: “America would have to use corn, which takes more energy to grow and to convert
to ethanol and less cost effective.”
4.
Bio-fuel, wind and solar power will never fulfill the world’s needs in energy.
RIGHT: “bio-fuels, wind, and solar power aren't viable solutions to fill the world's energy
needs in the near term future.”
5.
Oil companies are trying to extract light oil and gas from shale rocks.
RIGHT: “Shell is already experimenting in Colorado, trying to unlock the oil from shale by
using electric heaters to heat up the rock formations, releasing light oil and gas.”
6.
This type of extraction has absolutely no effects on the environment.
WRONG: “one of the big problems with this type of extraction is that it produces more carbon
dioxide than more traditional methods.”
7.
Environmental activists are still opposed to nuclear power.
WRONG: “Even environmental activists are beginning to change their tune about this energy
source (nuclear power,) as the problems of fossil fuel become more pressing.”
EFC C0110
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ANGLAIS DES AFFAIRES – CORRIGÉ DU DEVOIR D0110
B.
1.
Answer the questions
Why has global demand for oil increased over the last decades?
The demand for oil has soared over the last decades because of an increasing need from
world nations in general and from such gigantic nations as India and China in particular.
2.
Why are unconventional oil supplies not really considered as the solution?
They are not considered as a solution because they are quite costly to extract and because
their extraction has a negative effect on the environment.
3.
What is bio-fuel ethanol?
Bio-fuel ethanol is a source of energy that is produced from vegetal oil. It can be made from
corn or sugar cane for instance as it is said in the text.
4.
Which country uses this new source of energy? How?
Brazil is a forerunner in the bio-ethanol research field. Indeed, it blends gasoline with ethanol
produced from sugar cane.
5.
What recent windfall have oil company executives planned on exploring?
They are planning on exploring what is called “fossil fuel supplies” like gas and oil shale that
are to be found deep down in the ground.
6.
What are fossil fuels?
Oil, coal, natural gas or other petroleum-based resources are called fossil fuels because they
are formed by the decayed remains of prehistoric plants and animals. Burning these fuels
creates greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and trap radiant energy.
7.
How can the peak of oil be pushed from 40 years instead of 15?
According to Thierry Desmarest, the CEO of French oil company Total, an increasing
consumption of fossil fuel will allow to save the reserves of oil.
8.
What source of energy is considered to become a possible alternative in the
years to come?
Nuclear power is more and more becoming an issue at stake as long as oil, fossil fuels and
other sources of energy won’t seem to be enough to cover the world’s needs in energy.
EFC C0110
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ANGLAIS DES AFFAIRES – CORRIGÉ DU DEVOIR D0110
C.
Translate
En fait, la plupart des experts réunis, qu’ils viennent de l’industrie de l’énergie, du camp des
écologistes ou du gouvernement, se sont mis d’accord sur le fait que les biocarburants ainsi
que l’énergie solaire et éolienne ne sont pas des solutions viables pour satisfaire, à court
terme, les besoins du monde en énergie que ce soit en termes d’approvisionnement ou en
termes de coût. C’est pourquoi les cadres des compagnies pétrolières projettent d’utiliser
leur dernière trouvaille (Exxon a cette semaine annoncé un profit record américain de $36.13
milliards) et d’explorer les sources alternatives de combustibles fossiles comme le gaz ou le
pétrole trouvé dans le schiste au Canada ou dans le Colorado. Shell fait déjà des
expériences dans le Colorado et essaie d’extraire le pétrole du schiste en utilisant un
processus de chauffage afin de chauffer les formations rocheuses, libérant ainsi le pétrole
léger et le gaz.
D.
Elaborate upon the following statement
New sources of energy: pros and cons.
At the dawn of the 21st century, energy is quite a debate since the demand for petrol is ever
increasing and the supply stagnates. There is a fear that in a few decades the reserves of
heavy crude oil will have dried out or at least will not be sufficient to fill the needs of the
world’s population. This is the reason why governments and oil companies are now trying to
concentrate on new and renewable energies that will cover a probable shortfall of petrol.
Among these new sources of energy, traditional ones such as wind, water or solar power
rank first, then fossil fuels are an issue at stake, bio-ethanol is focused on as well, and last
but not least, the nuclear power seems to be the most efficient source of energy that might
one day be a substitute for petrol. Still, the road to make these sources of energy viable
seems to be quite long and one may wonder if they will one day cover the world’s needs.
The development of renewable energy-particularly energy from wind, water, solar power is a
central aim of the European Commission's energy policy. The fact that they are natural nonpolluting sources of energy and that they are ever renewable has long been very enticing.
Still, the exploitation of the various systems is quite costly and quite cumbersome and
transmission capacity and access are becoming major obstacles to the development of
renewable power resources. In this light, even if the transmission of renewable sources of
energy are still being improved everyday, oil companies have tried to focus on other sources
of energy such as fossil fuels.
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ANGLAIS DES AFFAIRES – CORRIGÉ DU DEVOIR D0110
Fossil fuels are another source of energy that has been particularly concentrated upon.
Fossil fuels come from deep excavation in the ground, in shale rock. Several problems are
linked to the excavation. Indeed, high costs and the process of heating leave a lot of toxic
waste behind and environmentalists are questionning the viability of this source of energy.
Still, the oil company Shell is carrying out researches to find environmental friendly and less
cost effective ways to dig out the gigantic resources that have been found under the
American soil. Hence, one can consider that this new source of energy is not about to cover
the world’s need in energy which might be the reason why oil companies are focusing on
bio-ethanol at the same time.
Bio-ethanol comes from oil derived from some crops. Americans use corn, Brazilians use
sugar cane and Europe concentrates on rape. Bio-ethanol can be blended with gasoline in
varying quantities to reduce the consumption of petroleum fuels, as well as to reduce air
pollution. It is a demonstrably sustainable energy resource that may offer environmental and
long-term economic advantages over fossil fuels. However, sustainability of ethanol
production is not only a matter of energy balance, but of availability of land area and soil and
biodiversity preservation. It thus seems that even if bio-ethanol is today the most viable
source of energy, the results of its in mass production might have harmful consequences on
the environment, which lead environmentalists to reconsider their position on nuclear power.
Nuclear power has always been a source of conflict between nations because it can lead to
catastrophes when mishandled. It seems that the use of this source of energy would allow to
open up on a new era of energy consumption. Still, a big question remains, how is it possible
to play it safe with nuclear power?
The range of sources of energy that are now available to compensate the shortfall of petrol is
quite wide, but not totally convincing. Great progresses have to be made in the energy field
so as to improve the production and the cost of the different sources of energy that have
been listed so far. In addition, even if it seems that the solution is at hand, knowing that “We
are facing a bigger nuclear future-let's make it a safer one,” the question remains: how can
we manage to ensure a safe use of nuclear power?
EFC C0110
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