Offshore Drilling: An Analysis and the Risks and Rewards of Offshore Drilling
Introduction
Offshore drilling refers to the discovery of oil and gas resources that are found in the ocean bed. The term is mainly used to refer to extraction of oil off the coastal regions of various countries. It can also be used to refer to extraction of oil in the lakes and in land seas. Most countries have established offshore drilling along coastal areas. This is because the countries want to utilize oil and gas resources found in the regions. Off shore drilling has become a common practice in many countries that produce oil and gas like America. Off shore drilling has adverse effects on the environment and human beings. It causes environmental degradation, death and diseases to human beings. Many countries like America have experienced the effects of offshore drilling. This is as a result of oil spills in the country. This paper analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of offshore drilling.
Advantages and disadvantages of offshore drilling
Most countries have established offshore drilling in the coastal regions. Offshore drilling is used to extract oil and gas from oceans, lakes or seas. Most oil and gas resources are found under waters and countries rely on offshore to extract the resources. Offshore drilling has become major issue in many countries. This is because of the negative effects caused by offshore drilling. Most countries have experienced oil spills that result from offshore drilling. Though offshore drilling has negative effects on the environment and human beings, most countries still support the practice. For example, countries producing oil and gas encourage offshore drilling as oil and gas contribute a lot to the countries economy. Most people think offshore drilling has more harm to the environment and human beings than benefits. This is because of the oil spill and the effects caused by oil spills. Others think that offshore drilling has more advantages than harm (International debate education association &Trapp 2009).
Though of shore drilling has several disadvantages, it has some advantages. Offshore drilling is important in any country as it helps create employment opportunity. Most people are employed in oil companies. Most oil companies have employed a large percentage of the population. The workers carry out various tasks in the organization. The increase in employment rate in the countries has reduced other problems in the society (International debate education association &Trapp 2009).
For example, it has reduced the unemployment rate in the society as most youths are able to work in the oil company. In addition, offshore drilling has helped eliminate crimes in the society. This is because most youth and adults have found employment opportunities in the country. Obama plans to lift the ban on offshore drilling so as to create employment opportunities for the youth. The president believes that creating employment opportunities for the youth will help eliminate social problems in the country. Countries that have created employment opportunities for the citizens have had low rates of crime (Mignone 2008).
Apart from creating employment opportunities, off shore drilling contributes a lot to the countries Gross domestic product. Oil producing countries have experienced high GDP as a result of oil and gas production (Gulf news 2010). The oils and gas contribute 20% of the GDP in the country. The United States president plans to lift the ban on offshore drilling so as to encourage economic growth. Most people argue that offshore drilling allows countries to have good economic growth as it acts as a source of revenue. Offshore drilling sustains various industries in the country. For example, offshore drilling relies on other industries like motor industry for supply of automotive. It also relies on insurance industry for supply of insurance covers. Energy industry helps supply products made from crude oil and gas. The industries in turn contribute to the countries GDP. Thus, the offshore drilling helps stimulate economic growth in the country (Gulf news 2010).
Although offshore drilling has some advantages, off drilling has negative impact on the environment and human beings. People argue that offshore drilling should not be encouraged as it has a lot of disadvantages. Offshore drilling has led to increase the rate of oil spills. Oil spills occur when tankers or pipes used to transport oil from the ocean bed to the offshore burst. America has experienced a large number of oil spills like the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska and Gulf Mexico oil spill (Mignone 2008). Encouraging offshore drilling will increase the rate of oil spills and the impact. The oil spills have caused a lot of harm to the environment. For example, the Exxon Valdez oil spill caused a lot of damage to the environment.
First, the oil spill led to death of wildlife. A large number of wildlife died immediately after the oil spill. This is because the animals were unable to cope with the environment. For example, the sea ducks, mammals and fish died as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The animals fed on contaminated food and water. This led to death and decrease in the population. Environmentalists in Alaska claimed that the number of wildlife in region reduced drastically as they experienced high death rates. Other animals moved from the region to other areas. Legalizing offshore drilling will led to increase in destruction of wildlife and their habitats (Broder 2010).
Additionally, the oil spill destroyed the habitats for sea animals and wildlife. Sea animals died as the oil spill deprived them basic needs like food, air and water. This in turn led to death of the sea animals and birds. The oil clogged birds’ feathers and made it difficulty for the birds to insulate themselves (Broder 2010).
Others argue that offshore drilling causes diseases to people living near mining areas. It causes reparatory diseases as oil and gases contain harmful chemicals. People living near drilling areas have complained of increase in the rate of disease in the region. This has led to high deaths in the region. Also, offshore drilling leads to air pollution and water pollution. Oil producing companies do not take safety precautions when drilling oil and gas and transporting them. The companies do not dispose waste products well. This leads increase in the rate of water pollution and air pollution. Offshore drilling is the major cause of water pollution through oil spills. The recent oil spill in Gulf Mexico and Exxon Valdez caused water pollution and death of water animals. The oil spills killed a large number of people. Hence, offshore drilling has negative effects to human beings and animals (Broder 2010).
Moreover, most people claim that offshore drilling has caused global warming. Offshore drilling involves extraction of oil and gas and they contain harmful gases. Crude oil contains harmful gases like methane and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide and methane are the major cause of green house effect. The amount of green house gases in the atmosphere has increased as a result of offshore drilling. Environmentalist and scientist argue that carbon dioxide and methane are responsible for 80% of green house effect and America is responsible for 90% of global warming. This is because of the offshore drilling in the country. There are various sources of oil and gases in America. Examples of the oil centers are Alaska and Gulf of Mexico. Scientists claim that the amount of carbon dioxide and methane are likely to increase if the government allows offshore drilling (Broder 2010).
Because of the problems caused by offshore drilling, the government should not encourage offshore drilling. This will make it easy for the government to overcome some of the environmental problems. The government will be able to overcome problems caused by oil spill and global warming. Hence, offshore drilling has many disadvantages than the advantages as it causes economic loses to the government. Most governments like United States government have spent a lot of money cleaning oil spills. For example, the Exxon Valdez oil spill is still been cleaned today and the effects are still being felt. The government has also spent a lot of money rehabilitating and recovering wildlife on the regions affected. For instance, the government has spent a lot of money rehabilitating wildlife in Alaska (Political Buzz examiner 2009).
Lastly, people claim that offshore drilling will force the government to spend a lot of money. Offshore drilling requires a lot of funds to extract oil and gas from the ocean bed. This will make it difficulty for the government to allocate funds to other sectors. Also, the government will not be able to find alternative sources of energy. This will lead to more problems in the country than benefits. It will lead to slow economic growth in the country. Working environment will not be fit for workers as the products are risk and the working environment. It will increase the rate of deaths in the country (Political Buzz examiner 2009).
Conclusion
Offshore drilling is an important activity in the country as it helps countries extract oil and gas. Most countries have established offshore drilling so as to utilize oil and gas resources. The United States president wants to lift the ban on offshore drilling so as to help the country recover from the current economic crisis and create employment. Though, offshore drilling has effects on the environment and human beings, some countries still support the practice as it has some advantages. Offshore drilling helps create employment opportunities and improve the economy. Most oil companies have employed a large percentage of youths and adults in the industries.
This has helped eliminate social problems in the society. It has reduced crime in the society. Also, offshore drilling contributed to economic growth. Energy industry relies on other industry to extract oil and gas. It depends on equipment supply and finances from other industries like automobile and insurance industry. Offshore drilling should not be encouraged as it has effects on the environment and human beings. Offshore drilling has led to increase in oil spills. The oil spills have affected wildlife and human beings. They have caused death and decrease in number of wildlife in the country. Also, offshore drilling is the major cause of global warming and air and water pollution.
Reference
Broder, J.M., Krauss, C.Risk Is Clear in Drilling; Payoff Isn’t. 2010. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/business/energy-environment/01drill.html?_r=1 on 29/07/2010
Gulf news. Americans debate pros and cons of offshore drilling.2010.Retrieved from http://gulfnews.com/business/opinion/americans-debate-pros-and-cons-of-offshore-drilling-1.118235
On 29/07/2010.
International debate education association., &Trapp,R.The debatabase book: a must-have guide for successful debate. IDEA, 2009
Mignone, B.K. Drilling Our Way to the Future.2008.Retrieved from http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2008/0924_offshore_drilling_mignone.aspx?p=1
On 29/07/2010.
Political Buzz examiner. An analysis and the risks and rewards of offshore drilling.2009.Retrivied from http://www.examiner.com/x-5738-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2010m5d2-An-analysis-and-the-risks-and-rewards-of-offshore-drilling
On 29/07/2010.
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