Is Offshore Oil Drilling Mandatory For America?

Is Offshore Oil Drilling Mandatory For America?

            In the case of the United States, offshore oil drilling is a must. Oil is a necessity of everyday life. The beneficial aspects of offshore oil drilling overpower the detrimental aspects of it. The world is utterly dependent upon oil, so it is essential that the United States as a country reap as much as oil as is feasible to be obtained. Large offshore oil spills are an extreme rarity. The last major oil spill was the Exxon Valdez incident that occurred in March of the year 1989. Despite the inevitable fact that their all many alternative energy sources in the world, there is no immediate replacement for oil that is significant enough to completely halt drilling offshore for oil.

            As far as oil is concerned, it is accessible on land as well as under water. However, there is a much greater abundance of oil located under water than there on land. It has been said that at least 25% of the world’s oil is located at sea (Karam 522).Oil is used to power a significant amount of machinery that Americans manipulate on a day-to-day basis such as cars, boats, and airplanes. The oil found offshore is a vital energy source in regards to the powering of these multiple forms of machinery (Karam 522). The offshore oil drilling industry plays a significant role in the American economy (Karam 522). America exports 3 million gallons of oil per day, which accumulates a great deal of income for the country. Offshore oil drilling provides many job opportunities for citizens who may be in need of them as well. Americans agree to jobs that are of a risky nature because they may not have a second option (Karam 521). There is no major alternative source of energy prevalent enough to provide Americans with the option to defer from the use of oil. Offshore oil drilling has been speculated for the great enormous impact it has had on the short and intermediate future of the world (Karam 522). Until another major alternative energy source is brought to the forefront, America must continue to use oil in order to maintain its status and way of life as a country.

            Despite the fact that there is a great deal of oil located under water, there is also oil to be found on land. Since 05-06, America has shown great interest in the exploitation of all feasibly accessible oil fields (Berger, Eugene, Seibold 406). America has recently developed many products through the usage of wind and solar energy in attempts to cut down on pollution. America has expressed interest in the use of oil shale (Berger, Eugene, Seibold 407). The United States imports a larger amount of its oil from other countries than it exports to other countries. The largest oil and overall petroleum reserves are located in Saudi Arabia and other Middle East (Berger, Eugene, Seibold 406). As the U.S. continues to drill offshore for oil, it allows more of the oil located under water to contaminate the marine life that it possesses. Although not major, minor oil spills that occur are viewed as harmful to the environment (Berger, Eugene, Seibold 407). Not only is it dangerous for marine life, but it is a perilous task for humans. Citizens who partake in this profession are taking a serious chance by doing so because of the large risks they are subjecting themselves to (Karam 521).

            While oil is available on land, there is too much located under water that we need in our hands. Geologists feel as though any possible remaining oil fields lie under water (Karam 523).There are not enough products powered by alternative sources for us to do away with the prominent usage of oil. Alternatives such as oil shale have been deemed economically unfeasible by the government of the U.S. (Berger, Eugene, Seibold 407). America needs the funds that are produced from its exportation of oil. In the year 2004, America exported 268 million barrels of oil (Blogcritics 1). Despite the fact that we import more oil than we export, the money accrued from selling this amount of oil to other nations can be very vital to our economy.  This would be an extremely substantial loss in revenue. There are natural holes located on the ocean floor, therefore rendering no feasible solution to completely eliminate marine life from being contaminated. The hot springs in the ocean floor act as a hydrothermal vent (Crouse 169). While offshore oil drilling is a rather death-daunting and death-defying profession, it is still a field in which many people are afforded job opportunities (Karam 521).

            Despite the fact that there are risks to offshore drilling, it is too vital of a component to the country for us to abruptly put an end to it. As a country, we are too oil-dependent for us to dismiss oil as our main energy source. Oil is used to power cars, provide job opportunities, and accumulate income. We need all of the oil we can reach in order to maintain our average everyday lives as American citizens. Due to the fact that the majority of oil is located under water, it is imperative that America continue its offshore oil drilling efforts.