Answer Save. Severe weather, ice and storms pose risks to the functionality of the rigs, and their distance from land make it harder for additional rescue personnel to promptly reach the areas in emergency situations. We all saw firsthand the consequences of offshore drilling when the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig caught fire in 2010: spilling 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico; killing thousands of dolphins, sea turtles and other marine wildlife; and exposing cleanup workers and residents to toxic chemicals. … The first rig to attempt such depths, the well's pipes had been cemented for only 20 hours before the rig went up in flames, according to oil services contractor Halliburton Inc. "The bottom line is that when you drill for oil, there is always a risk that not only puts lives on the line, but a risk that puts miles of coastline and the economy on the line as well," Menendez said. The risks exposed during the Gulf disaster make it clear we can't gamble with our Atlantic and Arctic oceans. 9. In the beginning of May, Chevron Canada started drilling what could now become the world's deepest offshore oil well, and planned to reach a depth of one kilometer deeper than the well drilled by the Deepwater Horizon rig. "Big Oil has perpetuated a dangerous myth that coastline drilling is a completely safe endeavor, but accidents like this are a sober reminder just how far that is from the truth," said Democratic Senator Robert Menendez in a press statement. © It is a bad idea, because it is … You will receive a verification email shortly. Any disturbance in the climate and waters will affect the healthy environment of the coastal communities. BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles acknowledged that many of his company's efforts to stop the oil leak failed because they had never had to plug a well at such depths and were therefore unprepared for the conditions that foiled their attempts including ice formation inside of the original containment dome due to freezing deep water temperatures. , Jecinta Morgan In addition to pipeline blowouts or leaks causing serious environmental problems, laying offshore pipes will cause increased turbidity of marine waters, destruction of sea grass beds and resuspension of contaminated sediments. There will not be any significant effect of offshore oil drilling on gas prices. The N.C. Energy Forum provided the eats. Visit our corporate site. As a … This is a pretty frigging complex system, said Robert Bea, an engineering professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in an interview with Yale Environment 360, a publication of Yale University. The oil usage by Americans is about twenty five percent of world’s oil and it has only three percent of world oil reserves. The controversial method injects a mixture of water and chemicals into rock formations to release oil and gas. Many experts are keen in suggesting the US government to spend its resources for making use of the offshore wind as source of renewable energy. 1 decade ago. Asked by Wiki User. The lifted ban was aimed at increasing the United States' energy independence and reducing foreign imports so that it would not need to rely so heavily on other countries for energy supplies. Yes, there is a chance of oil spills, just as there is a chance for a tanker to rip itself open. Oceana is working to prevent the expansion of offshore drilling in the United States. But with deeper drilling depths comes increased danger including higher risks of accidents, spills and fires, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Just as Katrina's storm surge found weaknesses in those piles of dirt the levees gas likes to find weakness in anything we connect to that source. Please refresh the page and try again. You've got equipment and steel strung out over a long piece of geography starting at surface and terminating at 18,000 feet below the sea floor. The area is home to hundreds of animal species. Oil drilling at offshore is considered as just a money making procedure for the oil companies who are already earning record breaking amounts. Offshore drilling for oil might result in usage and burning of fossil fuel very much. , Hari M , Leave a comment. 11 Answers. Debate.org is a dynamic social community where you can voice your opinion on today’s hottest issues. Many experts are keen in suggesting the US government to spend its resources for making use of the offshore wind as source of renewable energy. Why is offshore drilling bad? Why is offshore drilling a bad thing? , Jecinta Morgan President Obama recently announced during his weekly address that no permits for drilling new deepwater wells will be issued until a 30-day safety and environmental review of all deepwater operations in the Gulf of Mexico has been completed. I don't agree with it and I want to be able to debate with some hard headed co-workers. If offshore drilling is allowed in Florida, regulations can later be changed to allow drilling near shore. facebook; Twitter ; Email; Tug boats begin towing Shell Oil's drill ship Kulluk as it is prepared to be loaded onto the Xiang Rui Kou heavy lift transport ship in Captains Bay in Unalaska. Offshore Platform Holly, South Ellwood Field, CA. The Atlantic Ocean is a vast, important part of our ecosystem. November 4, 2010 9. Most commonly, the term is used to describe drilling activities on the continental shelf, though the term can also be applied to drilling in lakes, inshore waters … Offshore drilling is bad for the environment. From the first step of offshore exploration to the inevitability of drilling accidents, offshore drilling is a bad deal for Virginia, and for our local businesses. On March 31, President Obama had announced the end of a decades-old ban on oil and gas drilling along much of the U.S. Atlantic coast and in northern Alaska. Offshore drilling is considered as a dangerous to the marine life and also to the environment. It has been shown to reduce catch rates in important … Why is Offshore Drilling bad? and what is the likelihood of a spill? (2) what are the sensitive resources in the area? With gas prices skyrocketing, some government officials are crying out against the ban on drilling for oil in protected areas in Alaska and along US coasts. It would be interesting to produce a graph of gas price fluctuation compared with hurricane activity. A proposal from President Barack Obama could open parts of the U.S. Atlantic coast to drilling for the first time. See more pictures of Americans, through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong There is simply no correlation between the two.”The U.S. oil supply-demand balance is insur The coastal people also will have to face some problems due to offshore drilling. Let me take just a second to review the top 10 reasons offshore drilling is such a dumb idea: 10. Instead, the damage begins when oil companies begin prospecting by using seismic air guns, blowing incredibly loud sound into the ocean depths and sediments, to check the echoes for undersea pockets of oil and gas. Another reason for the danger is the harsh offshore environments that pose engineering challenges to offshore drilling equipment. Offshore drilling is incredibly dangerous for workers and the environment, and deeper drilling depths greatly increase the risk of accidents, spills and fires, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The real questions are: (1) Is the company proposing to do the offshore drilling responsible? However, the drilling project was put on hold by Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board until the company can provide evidence that it has taken sufficient preventative measures against oil spills.

For a long-term plan, it is remarkably short-sighted. 0 0 1. The resources that are used in the offshore drilling are utilized in competence with method of getting transformed into renewable energy. Relevance. "The fact is that 509 oil rig fires have broken out in the Gulf of Mexico since 2006.". Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, They generally depend on the clean waters and balanced ecosystem. As it is good to depend on renewable energy in future rather on oil, offshore oil drilling which can cause bad to the environment should be stopped.