Fossilresource

Fossilresource is a term used in energy studies and policy discussions to refer to fossil-based energy resources. It functions as a general label for the materials that can be combusted to release energy and that originate from ancient biological matter. The scope typically includes conventional resources such as coal, crude oil, and natural gas, as well as some unconventional resources like oil sands, tight oil, shale gas, and coalbed methane. In some contexts peat may be considered part of the fossil resource base, though it is more often classified separately as a precursor to coal.

In energy economics and geology, fossilresource is sometimes distinguished from reserves. Reserves denote portions of resources that are economically and technically recoverable under current conditions, whereas resources encompass a broader in-place amount, including those with uncertain recoverability or higher future costs. Classifications commonly differentiate demonstrated, inferred, and hypothetical resources, reflecting varying degrees of geological knowledge and extractability.

Data on fossilresources are used for modeling energy supply, planning infrastructure, and assessing policy impacts. Units often include barrels of oil equivalent, billion cubic meters, or exajoules, with regional and geopolitical breakdowns typical in international inventories and industry reporting. Debates surrounding fossilresources emphasize extraction costs, energy return on investment, environmental impacts, and compatibility with climate goals.

See also: fossil fuels, energy resources, resource classification, carbon budget.