Offshore Oi Drilling Causes Environmental Damage Essay -- Environmenta

Oil drilling is the process of perforating oil from the earth’s surface. This process can be dangerous. The drilling process can be harmful to nearby animal life. The process used to locate oil waves can be harmful to animal life. When the oil ascends, it brings with it a number of deadly chemicals. The chemicals released can consist of mercury and arsenic. Other substances such as lead have been known to ascend with the oil (Horton, Jennifer, 1). An oil spill is the process by which oil is mistakenly dispensed. The danger and damage an oil spill can cause is exponential. An oil spill can cause millions of dollars in damages. Oil spills are one of the worst catastrophes that happen, and they happen frequently. It has been predicted by the Mineral Management Service, that a spill of one thousand oil drums will occur in the Gulf of Mexico every year (Horton, Jennifer, 1). It is expected that there will be a spill of more than ten thousand oil drums every three or more years (Horton, Jennifer, 1). Oil spills have been defined as inevitable (Climate & Energy, 1). As of now, there exists no truly safe way of cleaning a spill (Climate & Energy, 1). The oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 was one of the worst oil spills that has ever occurred (Clean & Energy, 1). The Gulf of Mexico oil spill by British Petroleum is the largest environmental catastrophe in the history of the United States (Clean & Energy, 1). Over two hundred million gallons of oil was released into the Gulf of Mexico (Clean & Energy, 1). The oil flowed for approximately three months (Clean & Energy, 1). Within that time period, the spill was responsible for eleven human deaths (Clean & Energy, 1). Extensive damage was done to the environme... ...e 1-2. 14 Nov. 2014. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/BP%2c+firms+made+risky+decisions+before+spill%3a+re... â€Å"BP shares hit 6-month high after Shell takeover report.† Oil & Gas News. Jan 10, 2011: Page 1-2. 14 Nov. 2014. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/BP+hit+6-month+high+after=Shell+takeover+report Chelette, Tim â€Å"Options for Dealing with a Spill.† Climate & Energy. Copyright 2010 Oceana: page 1 14 Nov. 2014. http://na.org/en/our-work/climate-energy/offshore-drilling/learn-act/options-for-dea â€Å"The Spill- By the Numbers.† Climate & Energy. Copyright 2010 Oceana: page 1. 14 Nov. 2014. http://na.oceana.org/en/our-work/climate-energy/offshore-drilling/gulf-oil-spill-response-c Why is offshore drilling so controversial? How Stuff Works.com page 1-2. 14 Nov. 2014. http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/offshore-drilling-contoversy2.htm