Macro Blog 10 - Offshore Drilling

In an age of technological advancements, people rely on some sort of energy resource to carry out their daily activities and among the most common energy resources are oil and natural gas. Oil and natural gas have been obtained through drilling into the earth and coastlines in areas available for leasing. However, with the demand for more oil results in the demand for expanding offshore drilling. This has been a controversial debate for years but despite what environmentalists and oil industry leaders have to argue, the factors that are most important when considering expansion of offshore drilling in the United States are the increase in production of jobs, the risks it has on the environment, and the lasting effect it will have on the United States.

During economic struggle, jobs can be scarce. Expanding offshore drilling may very well increase job production and replenish the economy. According to a USA Today article, "at least 18 billion barrels of oil can be produced from areas that are off-limits" (Jervis, Welch and Wolf). With this much potential work, people can be expecting plenty of jobs. However, it is still unknown whether or not expanding offshore drilling and creating more oil rigs will be beneficial in creating jobs because "oil production in 2010 was at its highest level since 2003" (Broder). Since oil production was at its highest in 2010 since 2003, there was already a lot of labor involved and there is no guarantee that expanding offshore drilling will create enough jobs to make a difference. Although there will be work available, there is no telling whether there will be enough to prove expanding offshore drilling as beneficial, and so it is up to the individual to decide. The individual must also consider the harmful effects new oil rigs may have on the environment.

Environmentalists are constantly concerned with the dangers offshore drilling has with the environment. There have been spills and incidents since the first oil rig, including the recent BP explosion that Broder from the New York Times explains, "which killed 11 workers and poured nearly five million barrels of crude into the gulf." This spillage contaminates the water and could possibly affect several animal food chains. This has a negative effect on the environment as it pollutes the water and may harm its inhabitants as well. However, there is a chance the expansion of offshore drilling eventually won't harm the environment. According Jervis, Welch and Wolf, "Today's technology...has greatly reduced the risk of oil spills." With improving technology, the effects of oil may be reduced so much to the environment that it eventually may not even harm it at all, due to safety precautions. This is, however, once again up to the individual to decide whether or not taking the risk to expand offshore drilling will be worth it. This will then affect our future.

Before acting upon anything, we as a nation must consider what will be best for the country overall. Drilling offshore may have some benefits and risks now, but how will it affect our future? There are several risks that may prove disastrous if the benefits do not outweigh them. For example, it would not be worth expanding if the, "new drilling would produce only 7% more oil in 2030, and the impact on oil prices would be 'insignificant'" (Jervis, Welch and Wolf). The risks can prove disastrous and oil spills may cause a disruption in food chains. Factors such as these must be taken into consideration before deciding whether or not expanding offshore drilling is beneficial.