Offshore Oil Drilling - the answer or the problem

Written by Nathan B.
United States
Age 14

 Off shore oil drilling: the answer or the problem?

Oil is expected to run out completely before this generation reaches old age. Spending billions of dollars on off shore oil drilling to power the human race is not money well spent. There are over 4,000 off shore drilling rigs off the coasts of the United States and in Federal waters, with the deepest platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. The "Perdido", floating in 2,438 meters of water, cost 3 billion dollars to build. Off shore drilling rigs in the U.S. are located in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and off the East and West coasts. Offshore oil drilling impacts the environment in many negative ways. “Every day 50 to 100 species of plants and animals become extinct as their habitat & human influences destroy them.” (Lindsay). If a change to the current lifestyle does not occur, the planet and all the inhabitants that call it home will be destroyed.

Between 1990 and 1998, over 23,807,224 gallons of oil spilled in U.S. waters including the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Oil spills can ruin entire Eco systems and take years to clean up completely. “Although oil is still present in the sediment and coastal areas 15 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, some wildlife populations have recovered.” (“Effects of Oil Spills on Wildlife & Habitat”). Between 1995 and 2010, the United States Mineral Management Service recorded 183 spills in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. Each year about 880,000 gallons of oil are sent to the ocean from U.S. drilling operations. It is estimated that every 3 to 4 years a spill of at least 10,000 barrels is expected, according to the Department of the Interior. (Conners). Oil kills and damages marine life including reproductive damage that can last for years after an oil spill occurs. The damage can be more serious over time because the toxic chemicals become concentrated when marine life eats contaminated plants and fish. It is estimated that more than 6,500 dolphins may have died due to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Deep Water Horizon oil drilling rig released about 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf. The oil fouled beaches and coastal wet lands from Louisiana to the Florida pan handle. It killed birds, fish, marine mammals and devastated the recreation and fishing based economies of the Gulf States. “Cheryl Brodnax, habitat restoration specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the impacts of the oil spill 'have been so vast' that creative ideas are a necessity.” (Canfield).

Oil production requires massive infrastructure on land. Roads, storage tanks, pipe lines, processing and other facilities are constructed to handle the oil, which impacts the local communities. Environmental problems include damage to beaches, wet lands and coastal habitats. Communities that rely on tourism and recreation can be negatively affected by this damage. To process the oil, plants produce massive air pollution and use large amounts of fresh water.

The drilling process releases thousands of gallons of polluted water into the ocean. These discharges are largely unregulated. The “drilling muds” contain toxins like Benzene, Arsenic, Zinc, radioactive materials and other contaminants that are used on the rig. High concentrations of metals have been found around drilling platforms. Contaminants from drilling accumulate on the sea floor smothering organisms and causing malformations, genetic damage and death of fish embryos. A recent study by the PEW Charitable Trust concluded that about 1,500 to 2,000 tons of waste material is discharged from a single oil well.

To locate and estimate the size of an off shore oil reserve seismic surveys are conducted. This is done by ships using air gun arrays to emit high decibel explosive impulses to map the sea floor. The noise generated by these surveys can damage or kill fish eggs and larvae and impair the hearing and health of fish, making them vulnerable to predators and making it challenging for them to locate prey or mates or communicate with each other. Seismic surveys can disrupt important migratory patterns, forcing marine life away from their habitats. It is possible that these surveys are a cause of whale beaching and stranding incidents.

Prior to 2008, there was a moratorium on off shore oil drilling that protected U.S. Coast lines. Unfortunately in 2008, President Bush lifted the White House moratorium allowing off shore drilling to resume. In March 2010, the Obama Administration was considering allowing drilling along several formally protected areas of coast line. The disastrous Deep Water Horizon spill resulted in the Obama Administration changing its course. It was announced in December 2010, that the East and West coasts and the Eastern Gulf would continue to be protected from new off shore oil drilling projects.

Currently 92% of the energy used everyday is from a non-renewable resource. It is estimated that the planet will run out of oil in approximately 15,000 days. The sun is free and provides more than enough renewable energy to power this planet. “It is in the best interest of our environment and economy to wean America off oil, and develop a sustainable 'energy portfolio' that includes renewable sources and conservation.” (Conners). Sun, wind and water are renewable, efficient, non- polluting and help reduce global carbon dioxide emissions. They are simple and can be found anywhere in the world. These resources create their own energy and there is more than enough to supply the world's energy needs forever. The challenge is to develop ways to harness, store and use this energy economically. Considering the price to build the "Perdido" off shore oil drilling platform it seems that those billions of dollars would be better spent on building solar energy facilities.

For generations wind and hydroelectric power have been used, which are also forms of renewable energy. Currently the industry has evolved to the point that any of these energy sources (solar, wind and water) can be used to supply power to homeowners and business operators. Bringing solar to a level where it is used to power massive grids, like that of New York City, is still many years away. Right now oil supplies about 41% of the world’s total energy. With the end of oil coming, in the not so far off future, the demand for reducing our dependency is increasing. One promising prediction comes from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association. By 2020, solar power could provide energy for more than 1 billion people and by 2040, meet 26% of the global energy needs. Another challenge is how much energy is consumed, which is currently about 400 quadrillion Btu’s. This is estimated to increase by 50% by the year 2020. (McLamb). Reversing this prediction is a must and will only happen if people join together and change how energy is used. Becoming energy conscious does not require money, it requires effort and thought. Cutting back in energy usage can be done by doing simple tasks like; turning off the light when leaving the room, unplugging appliances that are not in use and using cold water instead of hot when possible. Reducing fuel consumption in the car can be done by carpooling, making sure the tires are properly inflated or riding a bike. It will take a combination of all these things, done by the masses, to make a change.

A lack of education on the part of the public and the manipulation of the media by oil supporters is also part of our global energy problem. Making the correct information about solar vs. oil, for example, available to the public could have a dramatic affect on the daily decisions of energy consumption. This debate has gone on for so many years that it is hard to differentiate between what is truth and what is myth. However, it is each individual's responsibility to be educated and teach the children that are the future. This is a generation that has the ability to literally save the world.

Off shore oil drilling has many damaging affects on the environment, both short and long term. It kills thousands of animals, fish and plants every year. It pollutes the water, air and land. It is not a matter of will it run out, but a matter of when. The process of finding and processing oil is damaging enough let alone the disasters that spills create. The availability of other forms of renewable energy like solar, wind and hydrogen along with the fact that oil will soon run out, makes the pursuit of this energy source a waste. Spending billions of dollars on off shore oil drilling to power the human race is not money well spent. For the future of the planet and the animals that inhabit it, reducing the dependency on oil & other non renewable resources is a must.