Off Shore Drilling - 2344 Words

Pande Putu Adysti Kardi Compare Contrast 5/4/2014 Should the Government Expand Off Shore Drilling in the U.S.? The crude oil industry has become prominent since mid 19th century. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, the development of drilling methods has brought oil into a drastically larger extent of mass production. Petroleum is one of the important extracted compositions of crude oil in the U.S. Until today, it is globally used mainly as fuels in transportation. Other uses include heating homes, powering industry, and providing raw material for plastic manufacturing. The great importance of oil to the country has led to the exploitation of its resources in the past century. Not only exploiting land resources, the government†¦show more content†¦This is because the thick layer of oil tends to spread very quickly under the influence of wind, waves and currents. The Exxon Valdez oil spills spread approximately up to 1300 miles of the shoreline. Even with the latest technology, the rate of removing the oil from the sea is much slower compared to the rate of the spreading of oil. It is very rare to have more than 15% of the total spill being recovered. Oil spills occurring in regions of extreme climate, such as Alaska, are even exceedingly difficult to recover. It is almost impossible to soak up heavy crude oil trapped in waters covered with icebergs and sea ice. Thus, the impact will be much long lasting and at worst, irreversible. Despite the improvement in technology, off shore drilling is still highly risky because even the finest technology may fail. Once it fails, the cost to the environment is tremendous. The operation of the rig is also associated with the production of toxic wastes and many other long lasting forms of pollution. The drilling muds contain mercury, lead and cadmium that may accumulate inside the bodies of marine organisms. In addition, some traces of this pollution may be found in seafood that people consume, therefore, creates serious health consequences for them. Next, another reason why some people support off shore drilling is because they believe that it will ensure the national security of theShow MoreRelatedOff Shore Drilling Outline1820 Words   |  8 Pagesbusiness Professional working for Averic and also as a person, I understand the need for lowering the high costs of gasoline. Open Thesis: Off shore drilling will enhance the American Economy and lower our dependency on foreign supply of petroleum. Closed Thesis: Today I’d like to talk about: first what makes the price of gasoline so high, second how off shore drilling can help lower the cost of gasoline and third, how our country will benefit from it. Transition: I will begin by telling you why gasRead MoreThe Sea Is A Major Hub Of Economic Activity1473 Words   |  6 Pagesand mineral exploration all play an unprecedented amount in the worlds economic. 70% of the world is covered in water, 80% of protein comes from the sea and finally 90% of trade travels over our worlds water. Of shore oil production contributes to 32% of the nation’s oil production. Of shore natural gas production contributes to 19% of the nation’s natural gas production. In my opinion I consider the fact that the small, but at the same time rather large industry can account for producing a third ofRead MoreOffshore Oil Drilling and the Deepwater Horizon Spill of the Gulf of Mexico1591 Words   |  7 Pagesfossil fuel, oil drilling is used. Land-based oil drilling became less productive and as the global stipulation for energy increased, technology, law, and geology impacts stepped in and pushed the exploration of oil away from shores (CITE). Wi th its historical background, offshore oil drilling is one of the most important aspects of today’s economy although we are faced with its risks and consequences, such as the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion of the Gulf of Mexico. Offshore oil drilling is known asRead MoreLegacies of Ancient China Essay971 Words   |  4 Pagesmost influential ‘thinkers’ of that period who helped to shape their world. The early Chinese left behind a great number of legacies which were the forerunners to the ideas and technologies we enjoy today such as basic medicine, paper currency, deep drilling and the bureaucracy system. For the ancient Chinese, most of their knowledge of early Chinese medicine was obtained from the yellow emperor’s Nei Ching. This is believed to have been from the 2nd century BC. These medicines were know as religiousRead MoreOil Exploration And Drilling, Oil, And Natural Gas1592 Words   |  7 PagesOil Exploration and Drilling The fossil fuels contain high percentage of carbon and include coal, oil, and natural gas, are the major source of energy that power our modern society. Fossil fuel range from low carbon to hydrogen ratio like methane, to liquid petroleum, to almost pure carbon like coal. Petroleum, such as natural gas and crude oil, contains a mix of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon deposits underneath the earth surface, such as oil and natural gas, is search by petroleum geologist and geophysicsRead MoreHow Oil Drilling Works Essay1238 Words   |  5 PagesPowering cars, heating homes, and providing electricity are just a few examples of how we use oil fuels in our daily life. Where would we be if we woke up tomorrow and couldnt fly because there was no fuel, or products containing plastic were taken off the market? In fact, oil is a part of everyday items such as crayons, bubble gum, and deodorant (Mooney 19). Oil is the number one source of energy in the U.S. today. However, the U.S. imports 140 billio n worth of its oil supply every day from unstableRead MoreOffshore Oil Drilling On The Environment1474 Words   |  6 PagesOffshore Oil Drilling â€Å"If we do nothing, it doesn t matter how we feel. And that’s exactly what oil companies are banking on: out of sight, out of mind† (Hart, 24). Petroleum is a naturally occurring oil found under deep layers of rock (â€Å"oil drilling†). Oil drilling is when a pipe penetrates through these several layers of rock in order to reach the petroleum oil underneath. This oil can then be purified or turned into gasoline for energy use. Offshore oil drilling, like its’ name describes, isRead MoreOffshore Drilling1527 Words   |  7 Pages Offshore Drilling Does anything out weigh the importance of our planet’s health? You would be surprised by the number of people who look the other way when it comes to keeping the planet clean. Offshore drilling is just one of the major environmental issues that has existed for many years and still continues to be a problem. The topic of offshore drilling not only touches on environmental issues but also political, economic, and ethical issues. All of these tie into the huge debate over offshoreRead MoreOil Spills Caused By Offshore Drilling Essay1390 Words   |  6 PagesOils spills caused by offshore drilling in California (Santa Barbara) Introduction: This paper is about the effects of offshore drilling particularly it discusses â€Å"oil spills caused by offshore drilling in California†. These oil spills that are caused by offshore drilling affect the environment in the long run. Even some of these impacts on the environment by oil spills last for decades (Larry West). For example when an oil slick arrives at the beach from a huge oil spill then it sticks to eachRead MoreThe Current Regulations On Offshore Oil Drilling1456 Words   |  6 PagesThe current regulations on offshore oil drilling are too restrictive and do not effectively allow the use of our free market. For the free market to work as intended, it must be unregulated. Adam smith, who is widely considered the father of capitalism once stated â€Å"He, generally, indeed, neither intends to promote the public interests, nor knows how much he is promoting it. By directing that industry in such a manner as its produce maybe of greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and