Offshore Oil Drilling

New technology has presented the United States with the opportunity of offshore oil drilling throughout the country. The use of energy is growing at an exponential rate in the United States, which is also increasing the cost of obtaining the energy. The dependence of fossil fuels specifically oil and gas is extremely high in this country. The Middle East is accountable for 62% of the global oil reserves, therefore making the U.S. very dependent on these countries (Energy Policy). New technology has offered this country the chance of domestic oil production, specifically offshore oil drilling. The question is do the benefits overweigh the doubts? Will this drilling alternative allow the United States to detach from imported oil, if so will this provide an adequate amount of energy for this country, keeping in mind of the environment and global warming? What will domestic offshore drilling do the environment and for our pockets or is importing oil still the answer? There are implications residing both for the economy and the environment on this issue.

Former President Bush re-evaluated the offshore oil drilling prospective right before he left office, as researchers define the true dangers and benefits of the issue. President Obama has followed suit, due to the exceeding costs the United States has faced for gasoline and oil that does not seem to be going down. Exploration and drilling offshore, has many benefits according to Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar. There is an estimated high of 40 billion barrels of oil in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which would provide for enough consumption of oil for up to five years. Offshore oil drilling could substitute for about 10 percent of imported oil, this amount may seem small but of the 10 million barrels of imported crude oil a day, this substitutes for about 900,000 barrels per day (Pros and Cons: Drilling for Oil Off the Eastern Seaboard). Taking advantage of these natural resources would decrease our countries dependency of foreign finite natural resources.

Offshore drilling could also produce more jobs for citizens. In today’s economy, jobs have become very scarce; exploration and research of potential oil deposits along with the physical labor that is involved in offshore drilling would provide 5.5 jobs for each $1 million dollars invested (Pros and Cons: Drilling for Oil off the Eastern Seaboard). Increasing offshore oil drilling could also potentially lower the cost of oil, if the level of consumption stays consistent. By no longer needing to import as much oil, the cost will decrease.

As for the environment many studies have proven offshore oil drilling can actually decrease environmentally damaging accidents. In a recent study by the National Academy,

“That in the last 15 years there were zero platform spills greater than 1,000 barrels. Compared to worldwide tanker spill rates, outer continental shelf operations are more than five times safer. Imports present an environmental risk of spills about 13 times greater than domestic production. In fact, annually natural seeps account for 150-175 times more oil in the ocean than OCS oil and gas operations” (Kenneth B Medlock III, Opposing Views).

Due to the higher rates of tanker spills over platform spills, offshore oil drilling actually could decrease the oil pollution problem in the oceans. By increasing domestic production, there would be a decrease in environmental harm.

Instead of being so reliable on such a finite source, increasing drilling will increase our reliability. Finding new resources could be a main priority because one day one these resources run out and researchers have not explored new energy alternatives; our country may be in a lot of trouble. Drilling offshore for oil kills two birds with one stone; it allows our country to extract oil domestically, which would cost less and allows for greater research in new energy resources, if the United States does not consider further exploration, then there is zero chance for discovery of new energy resources.

The development and research of new oil reserves, domestically, will actually benefit our countries future. If we do not explore these natural resources now, inevitably one day the United States will have to. Why wait until oil prices exceed to ridiculous amounts; oil is a finite source and someday it will run out. The United States cannot be so dependent on foreign oil reserves because one day these oil reserves will become none existent. Our country is so dependent on oil and for now that will not change, exploring oil internally could potential lead researchers to other strategies that would allow our economy to no longer be dependent on foreign resources. Alternative energy is an option this country and many other countries will have to look into one day. Increasing the research of oil could embark scientists into new territory, which would indefinitely help our economy. Investing in further research of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf could supply a link to a new energy. New developments and technology would give the U.S. opportunities and more options of drilling, conservation, efficiency and alternative energy.

The disadvantages of offshore oil drilling in the United States consist mostly of environmental issues and whether or not the cost of oil would truly decrease. Offshore drilling impacts marine life, the human population and tourists. Seismic waves, a tool used to indicate possible oil reserves affects marine life. Seismic noise is very similar to sonar; these waves bounce off of rock formations allowing researchers to pinpoint oil reserves. Seismic waves disorient whales hindering their communication abilities. A good example of this is static in walkie-talkies or radios in trucks or airplanes; this static may cause someone to not be able to hear the other person. Pilots and truckers are very dependable on their radios because it is a means of communication. This could cause a trucker or pilot to get lost or confused. This is the same problem when seismic noise travels through the water. Whales can no longer communicate with each other; therefore they could separate from their calves or lose their pack. This increases the chances of injury due to distress, which causes whale beaching (Oil Drilling: Risks and Rewards).

Achieving energy independence, at current energy consumptions is purely impossible. It could take years to wreak the benefits of domestic oil reserves to make an economic change that is noticeable. In order to become exclusively independent of foreign importing, offshore oil drilling would need to increase beyond its limits. The National Wildlife Federation states, “The United States contains 2.5 % of the world’s oil resource. But we account for 24% of total world consumption of oil” (NWF). Therefore, drilling only in the U.S. will never suffice. The important aspect of this issue is that drilling offshore causes more harm to the environment than accounted for. 2.5% is miniscule, even if laws allow further offshore drilling; in ten or twenty years, the length it would take to impact oil production, Americans would only be saving three to four cents. This leads to the question of whether it is truthfully worth the damaging effects to the environment, if there are no real changes being seen for the economy or out of pocket expenses.

Further research of offshore oil drilling, will decide whether or not there are more benefits for our countries economy with limited environmental effects. Oil is a finite resource, that is becoming increasingly limited, the United States must take action to this condition, whether it be increased domestic research of a new energy resource or increasing offshore oil drilling.

References:

Kelly, Paul, L. "Deepwater Offshore Oil Development: Opportunities and Future Challenges." Rowan Companies, Inc. 65-68. Web. 3 Feb 2010. .

"Should the U.S. Allow Offshore Oil Drilling?" Opposing Views. 2010. Opposing Views Inc., Web. 5 Feb 2010. .

"Learn the Facts About Drilling." National Wildlife Federation (NWF). 2009. Web. 3 Feb 2010. .

Lefevre, Nicolas. "Measuring the Energy Security Implications of Fossil Fuel Resource Concentration." Energy Policy (2009): 1635-1644. Web. 3 Feb 2010. .

LoBianco, Tom. "Obama Blocks Offshore Oil Drilling: Cheaper Gas Gives President Wiggle Room." Washington Times 11 Jan 2009: n. page. Web. 11 Feb 2009. .

Nixon, Robin. "Oil Drilling: Risks and Rewards." Special to LiveScience. 25 June 2008. Web. 5 Feb 2010. .

"Pros and Cons: Drilling for Oil Off the Eastern Seaboard." The Heat Zone. 13 April 2009. The Heat Zone, Inc., Web. 3 Feb 2010. .

Tierney, John. "Offshore Drilling vs. Global Warming." New York Times (2008): n. page. Web. 5 Feb 2010.