The Model of Oil Extraction Exploration - Essay Example

?Introduction: Regardless of the environmental impact, the fact of the matter is that the oil that is extracted in both land and sea around the globecurrently provides much of the power by which the world’s economy continues to move forward. However, as with so many environmental and ethical issues, the ends do not always justify the means. The fact of the matter is that drilling for oil is by very nature and ugly and rather messy process. As a function of this reality, the proceeding analysis will seek to serve as a means of drawing inference with regards to the process of oil drilling by the FAMFA Oil Company of Nigeria. In such a way, the author will discuss four of the following environmental drawbacks that oil drilling within Nigeria, and elsewhere throughout the world for that matter, necessarily poses: the disruption in aquatic and sea life that the high level of noise generated by such a process necessarily entails, the level of habitat destruction that oil drilling causes, the environmental impacts and risks that oil spills pose, and the somewhat unregulated and oftentimes sloppy means by which third-party oil extraction companies often engage in such a process. Similarly, the analysis will also discuss what this author deems to be at least one overall benefit that oil drilling necessarily poses for the environment, the creation of man-made reefs on the ocean floor, as well as the issue of domestic oil ownership. By waiting each of these determinants, the analysis will also seek to determine whether or not, regardless of the economic benefits with such a process necessarily entails, the complete exhaustion of hydrocarbon resources around the globe would be a benefit for the environment and by extension mankind as a whole. Background history: As compared to the multinational conglomerates of Chevron, Shell, BP, and others, FAMFA Oil is a relatively newcomer to the world of oil and gas exploration. Additionally, whereas many of the other firms which it previously been specified Tens of thousands of oilfield leases throughout the entire globe, FAMFA Oil operates specifically within its own nation of origin; Nigeria. This helps to set FAMFA Oil apart from many of its competitors do not only to its relatively recent entry into the world of oil drilling and exploration, but also sets it apart as Nigeria’s only domestically operated oil exploration and extraction entity. FAMFA Oil was originally founded in 1993. Soon thereafter, it began exploration of potential oil fields directly off the coast of Nigeria in what is now termed as the Guinea shelf. Soon thereafter, in 1998, the Agbami field was discovered. This represented one of the first new hydrocarbon deposits discovered within recent history. Granted a leasehold right to over one half million acres of this oilfield in the late 1990s, FAMFA Oil soon became a dominant player sharing remainder of the oilfield with the likes of Texaco, Chevron, and a litany of other subsidiaries. Besides being one of the first oil companies operate within this oil-rich region, FAMFA Oil also had the additional benefit of extracting a very high quality crude that is been defined by many spectators as light, sweet, and low in sulfur content. Naturally, the overall level of oil that is exhibited within this particular field, and other fields in and around Nigeria necessarily means that a higher profit margin exists for this firm due to the fact that the crude oil extracted from these regions is of a higher value and needs less refinement prior to being turned into usable petroleum resources. Environmental Issues and Concerns: Firstly, from the interview which was conducted, it became clear that the CEO of FAMFA Oil was keenly aware of the overall risks related to noise pollution that oil drilling necessarily entails. Whereas environmentalists and society in general for that matter, are keenly aware of the risks of oil spills that necessarily result from oil extraction and exploitation around quote, few are aware of the fact that one of the secondary or tertiary environmental impacts that oil drilling necessarily portends is with regards to the noise pollution that it creates. Due to the fact that sound travels much further distances underwater than within the air, the level of noise and sound pollution that is generated through the process of oil drilling can affect vast regions of the world’s oceans. Although this may not seem as a primary environmental concern, the fact of the matter is that many studies have definitively linked a greatly increased prevalence of wheel beaching with the prevalence of oil drilling within the world’s oceans (Hafemeister, 2011). Evidently, from the studies which it been performed, it is been determined by marine biologists that the noise generated during drilling adversely impacts upon the biological sonar and sense of navigation that whales are able to exhibit within the natural environment. Aware of this particular trend, the CEO of FAMFA Oil illustrated that his company had recently invested in several million dollars worth of cutting-edge oil extraction equipment that reduce the overall noise pollution generated by a factor of around 40%. Although a definitive step in the right direction, it must be noted that it is impossible to tell at this juncture whether such a step will result in a decrease in the overall impact upon the surrounding environment within the world’s oceans. Moreover, although whales have been specifically discussed, these are one of the only marine forms of life that are readily able to be studied at the current juncture (Singh, 2012). The impacts of noise pollution upon the remainder of the biosphere in and around an oil rig/drilling operation might also be adversely affected; however, it is merely unknown to science as to how and to what extent that this point. Similarly, another salient issue with regards to an environmental issue directly affected by oil drilling is that of the overall level of habitat destruction that is part and parcel of the oil extraction process. According to the information gleaned from the interview, the CEO of FAMFA Oil sought to assuage any and all fears with regards this particular matter due to the increased level of technological and virtual exploration of the oil fields prior to any drilling taking place. This is an interesting and somewhat promising factor due to the fact that the oil exploration process is in and of itself extraordinarily expensive. Although it may seem as a comforting fact to think that the oil companies are worried about the environments that they interact with, the fact of the matter is that they are ultimately seeking to reduce the financial strain and impacts upon their bottom line. However, regardless of the reason why the number of exploratory wellheads which are drilled has drastically reduced over the past several years, the net environmental impact is necessarily positively correlated with this fact. Likewise, perhaps the most visible aspect of the environmental risk of oil drilling that comes to mind is with regards to the risk of detrimental spills. According to the information gathered during the interview, it was the understanding of this author that FAMFA Oil is not only fully cognizant of this risk but has sought to further delineate this risk into two distinct categories as a means of ameliorating it even further. The first of these categories is with regards to human and operator error. As has been seen so many times throughout the past several decades, human error is one of the primal reasons why some of the most catastrophic oil spills taken place. However, mother nature in and of itself is also partly to blame with some of the disasters which are taken place (Walsh, 2012). This is of course with regards to whether patterns and violence and inclement storms which are forced both rigs and tankers to Size or otherwise release vast amounts of oil into the oceans (Rose, 2012). As a means of ameliorating this risk, FAMFA Oil has sought to implement a rigid structure of regulation and oversight with regards to when and how key processes of oil extraction process can take place. Ultimately, FAMFA Oil has become increasingly concerned and aware of timing offload of oil from the platforms to the time in which the least likelihood of inclement weather and violent gales/storms exists. Although the information concerning overall safety oil and gas extraction was of supreme interest to the leadership of FAMFA Oil, a particular item of termed “oil theft”. Harkening back to the earlier days of African colonized nation in which European powers exerted a broad and oppressive influence over the lives and economies of these respective nations, the CEO of FAMFA Oil was of the opinion that the current model of natural resource drilling that is taking place within Nigeria represented something of natural resource theft; not unlike the resource theft that took place during colonial times. The ultimate reason behind this is the fact that many of the multinational oil firms have pressured government influence within Nigeria and ride their way into the market. The necessary drawbacks of this is with regards to the fact that these oil firms are extracting Nigerian resources and ultimately benefiting from their proceeds; whereas the individual citizens of the nation remain abysmally poor and unable to derive any benefit from these leases that the likes of Texaco, Chevron, BP, Shell and others derive (Alemagi, 2007). Accordingly, it was the opinion of FAMFA Oil, as well as many other Nigerians, that the situation exhibited within the nation was patently unfair and unethical. Due to their belief that the resources of this nation should necessary the long to people of Nigeria, nationalization and restriction of foreign firms operating within the region was highly favored. Environmental Benefit and Conclusion: Although it may seem somewhat strange, the fact of the matter is that for all of the negative impacts that oil drilling and exploration has upon the environment, there can at least be one positive that is understood through such a process. The current model of oil extraction exploration is one which seeks to utilize a particular drilling rig/apparatus to explore and extract oil one specific region and one specific region only. Although there are mobile oil rigs, the vast majority of these are what can be defined as one time use. In this way, once a particular region has been exhausted of its oil reserves, the well is plugged and the oil is offloaded from the oil rig. After a thorough cleaning, the rig is then allowed to sink to the very bottom of the ocean depths. Once there, the oil platform becomes a type of natural habitat. Due to the fact that so many natural habitats and reefs have been shrinking, such a practice is at least one small level of benefit that the oil drilling process holds. Naturally, this is not say that oil drilling in and of itself is an environmental benefit. Rather, the purpose of including this small benefit is only to alert the reader to the fact that not each and every aspect of the process is necessarily detrimental to the environment. On the whole, the process which is been described cannot fully be ameliorated. Although the responses which have been given are helpful with regards to being environmental aware of the impact that oil drilling has, the process by its very nature is a dirty and destructive one. Within such an understanding, it is the belief of this author that the sooner that oil resources are exhausted around quote, the sooner the planet, and the environment by extension, will be able to heal and repair much of the damage which is been caused by this and many other fossil fuel related issues. References Alemagi, D 2007, 'The oil industry along the Atlantic coast of Cameroon: Assessing impacts and possible solutions', Resources Policy, 32, 3, pp. 135-145, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 17 May 2013. Hafemeister, D 2011, 'Energy and Environment Chronology', AIP Conference Proceedings, 1401, 1, pp. 447-454, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 17 May 2013. Rose, M, & Hunt, B 2012, 'Learning From Engineering Failures: A Case Study of the Deepwater Horizon', Technology & Engineering Teacher, 71, 5, pp. 5-11, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 17 May 2013. Singh, G 2012, 'Oceania', Earth Island Journal, 27, 3, pp. 7-8, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 17 May 2013. Walsh, B 2012, 'THE FUTURE OF OIL. (Cover story)', Time, 179, 14, pp. 28-35, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 17 May 2013. Read More