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Oil Drilling

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Oil Drilling
Oil Drilling Have you ever seen an animal covered in sludge, helpless and weak? Offshore oil drilling is one of our world’s biggest concerns. Offshore oil drilling is the discovery of finding oil or gasoline resources underwater. Usually the oil is found off the coasts of each continent and can also be found in lakes and small seas. Drilling for oil provides the energy to make fuels for cars and other machinery. Many different platforms can be used for offshore oil drilling such as drill ships, jack up barges, steel jackets, and semi-submersibles for deeper water areas. The issue at hand is that oil drilling can lead to oil spills into oceans, seas, and lakes and can harm the environment. Barge collisions, explosions, leaks, spills, and pipeline corrosion are all key factors in the harmful effects of oil drilling. Drilling leads to pollution in the environment and kills many organisms and aquatic animals. Animals play a key role in society, especially the marine animals. Long term effects create damage to the food chain, fisheries, health, the ecosystem balance, and enjoyment of nature. Oil spills harm the lives of marine life and the federal government allows them to be killed during gas and oil drilling. When explosives are used to remove the oil rigs, pipelines can be demolished the oil will spill everywhere. Aquatic life is endangered around these oil rigs and causes many hatchlings not to be brought into the world. Sea turtles are attracted to bright lights and if the oil rig has created an explosion, they will head toward that direction, endangering their own lives for vicious predators along the way. Not only is marine life affected, but birds. Many types of birds are endangered as well like ducks, seagulls, and pelicans. If the ocean is polluted with toxic oil and they decide to swim in it, all the oil will get stuck on their feathers not allowing them to fly. Oil drilling is dangerous and can lead to the extinction of many animals. The United States


Cited: Donatoni, Matthew. "Offshore Drilling." Santa Clara University : School of Engineering Home Page. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. <http://cseserv.engr.scu.edu/StudentWebPages/MDonatoni/ResearchPaper.htm>. Nelson, Hal T. "Should the US Cancel Plans for Offshore Drilling? (PROs vs CONs)." Latest Articles. 1 June 2010. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. <http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2525743/posts>. Jazeera, Al. "Obama Permits Offshore Oil Drilling - Business - Al Jazeera English." AJE - Al Jazeera English. 1 Apr. 2010. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. <http://english.aljazeera.net/business/2010/03/201033118235692566.html>. Szumski, Bonnie. Oil. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven, 2006. Print

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