Oil Drilling on Federal Land - Research Paper Example

The discovery of oil pits by the earliest of civilizations and subsequent utilization of the highly flammable products served as the cornerstone of the modern oil and gas industry. Over the years, the industry through refined technology has streamlined the extraction, production, and distribution of the critical petroleum products to an ever-growing market. This process usually involves geologists who map and confirm the presence of oil deposits in an area of interest. In this light, the oil and gas industry has seen escalated drilling on millions of acres of federal, tribal, and private lands in search of the coveted product. The United States ranks first in natural gas production and third in oil production owing to increased domestic exploration, which poses uncertainty considering that the country holds about 4% of the world natural gas and oil reserves (The Wilderness Society 1). The proponents of onshore exploration justify their actions as those of seeking energy security by making use of the country’s mineral reserves. As such, millions of acres of federal lands have been leased to oil and gas companies accounting for thousands of wells drilled every year. It is for the alarming rate of this endeavor that has attracted significant scrutiny from citizens, stakeholders, and government officials calling for regulation. This follows risks involved in exploration procedures and consequent fallout effects that range from environmental effects to human health. Therefore, it is important to examine the benefits and detriments of onshore drilling with aim of evaluating its sustainability in the long term. Equally important is examination of the resolve that seeks to open federal lands and waters for oil and gas exploration. The move to enhance the use of federal lands and waters to oil and gas exploration has its benefits to the country’s energy economics. The US is faced with energy crisis owing to a growing population with enormous demand coupled with diminishing supply. This creates speculation in the industry, which serves to drive energy prices to an all-time high. Not far behind is the cost of living, which is indicated to be directly proportional to the cost of energy. This is facilitated by increased cost of production of oil products, which affects the manufacturing industry. With this in mind, it is important that a quick resolution to mitigate negative impacts to the economy is formulated and implemented to the letter. Leasing of federal land to oil and gas companies is seen as the best move to ensure economic stability in the country. This gives the oil industry a chance to participate effectively in domestic energy production and limit uncertainty. This is achieved though exploration of the natural resources, which is vital the country’s energy and economic security (Alleman 2). With exploration on federal lands and waters, the country becomes independent and does not rely on the foreign oil market for its energy. The potential of the US oil reserves remains unknown following restrictive federal policy on onshore drilling, and thus limits the chances of gaining energy independence. Such independence would guarantee a low cost of living owing to a significant drop in the cost of energy. Domestic onshore drilling also serves to benefit the society with regard to providing employment opportunities in various capacities ranging from primary to tertiary jobs. Drilling premises require specialized technicians, scientists, and laborers in addition to essential supporting services such as health, hospitality, and transport. This is an important aspect of the regional economy as leased federal areas benefiting from exploration activities (SWCA Environmental Consultants 4). This has been demonstrated by the state of affairs in western states where authorization has been approved. With the approval of the resolve to free up federal land, affected regions should expect a surge in the demand for skilled labor. In essence, the expansion of the energy production into federal lands translates to increased level of employment, which is a necessity in favor of the current administration’s policy. The overall effect results in the establishment of education facilities to generate the required level of skills to operate in the oil and gas industry. The national economy stands to benefit significantly from venturing into federal lands with regard to oil and gas exploration. This follows the prospect of attaining energy independence, which goes a long way in subsidizing the manufacturing industry. Domestic oil exploration alleviates fears and speculation in the oil industry thus ensuring economic stability. In the same light, the country eliminates uncertainty experienced in the global market with regard to oil prices, which are largely determined by political interactions. With domestic oil exploration, the cost of production is bound to decline with subsequent improvement to the cost of living. Similarly, the national government benefits from increased tax revenues derived from heightened production (American Petroleum Institute 29). This translates to billions of dollars that can be channeled to other development activities especially in cash strapped states. In spite of the indicated benefits, there exists dire consequences should the resolve to permit onshore drilling on federal lands and waters be implemented. Experience demonstrates the dangers and risks posed by offshore oil expeditions that have been indicated as inevitable in due course. Offshore exploration carries great risk for accidents such as oil spills, which harm the environment owing various forms of pollution associated with the activity. Such are the risks that are transferred onto federal lands and waters should the resolve carry the day. Currently, environmental degradation is an issue that requires immediate action because of the escalating rate at which it has been occurring, making it hard for the ecosystem to convalesce. Pollution is considered as the major cause of ozone layer depletion owing to the release of chlorofluorocarbons that rise into the troposphere causing its destruction (Fahey and Hegglin 14). Besides facilitating future emission of greenhouse gases, oil facilities often generate enormous volume of these gases during the refinery process. Often, the environment surrounding oil wells indicate degradation with harsh climatic environments and interrupted ecosystems through desertification. Oil exploration and production employs technology that involves the use of drilling fluids to achieve the desired depths. The fluids (drilling mud) have been illustrated to pose health concerns to life, humans, animals and plants when not correctly handled or disposed of. Concerns have been indicated with regard to bioaccumulation of heavy metals used in drilling fluids, which tend to be illustrated across the food chain (Rose 30). Workers exposed to the chemicals report cases of dermatitis, renal toxicity, and respiratory distress. As such, there are increasing cases of cancer in regions of recent oil spills. Scientific evaluation of effluent composition highlights the need for concern. Characterization of the effluent indicates a mixture of water-based and non-aqueous fluids, which carry the potential to induce toxicity in the affected land or water mass (Melton et al 3). Complementary to climate change, the release of such effluent functions to increase the acidity in the water bodies. In turn, the seas fail in their capacity to act as a carbon sink disrupting the carbon cycle and as carbonate diminishes, marine organisms are affected. The overall effect questions the sustainability of onshore oil wells since organisms critical to formation of oils deposits are destroyed in the exploration process. Critical to the sustainability for the exploration, is the question of available reserves and projected out the United States. Statistics indicate that a mere 2% of the oil reserves has been proven after extensive drilling in millions of acres of federal lands (The Wilderness Society 1). This does not pan out as promising towards achieving the proponents’ energy security for America. Moreover, it defeats logic to indicate possible competition with the leading producers of oil in the world after allowing exploration in federal lands. Proponents of this resolve indicate creation of wealth and employment for the local economy, but fail to account for the future of the economy in the event of depleted reserves. The statistics demonstrate low prospects of oil in the US compared to other oil producing countries, and with the level of consumption in the country. It is only prudent to maintain current sources of oil while resigning efforts into discovery of alternative sources of energy. For the negative impacts to the environment, it is only prudent to abandon the bid for oil exploration in federal lands and waters and adopt alternative measures that preserve the environment. As drastic as the measure may seem, it would slow the negative effects of global warming and restore the natural carbon cycle. Similarly, current efforts being employed in the oil industry should be channeled into the research and development of renewable energy. The national government has a mandate to preserve the environment and present limits under the federal land policy should be strengthened. Any amends to the policy should ensure environmental restoration to resource-depleted areas before delving into federal lands. Exploration into federal lands by oil and gas companies does not guarantee energy security for the United States. In fact, the move serves to exhaust the country’s natural resources within a short period leaving it vulnerable to an energy crisis. Existing oil reserves and productive wells should be regulated in order to preserve the future of the country. In light of the above, the resolve to have federal lands and waters open for oil and gas exploration should not be implemented. Work Cited Alberswerth, David, Goad, Jessica and Haefele, Michelle. Oil & Gas Drilling in America. The Wilderness Society 2011. Print. Alleman, David, Natural Gas Resources And Federal Lands. U.S Depsrtment of energy. 2005. Print. American Petroleum Institute. Employment, Government Revenue, and Energy Security Impacts of Current Federal Lands Policy in the Western U.S. EIS. 2012. Print. Fahey, David and Hegglin, Michaela, Twenty Questions and answers about the ozone Layer:. Stratospheric Ozone In The Future. 2010. Print. Melton, Henry et al. Offshore Discharge of Drilling Fluids and Cuttings - A Scientific Perspective on Public Policy. Brazilian Petroleum Institute. 2000. Print. Rose, Mary, The Environmental Impacts of Offshore Oil Drilling. The Technology Teacher. 2009. Print. SWCA Environmental Consultants. Economic Impacts of Oil and Gas Development on Public Lands in the West. Denver: Western Energy Alliance. 2012. Print. Read More