Oil and Natutal Gas Drilling under Arctic Ice Cap

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Oil and Natutal Gas Drilling under Arctic Ice Cap

18
Nov

Drilling for oil in the arctic has been a popular discussion lately, with oil companies trying to loosen the restrictions in their exploration for oil and natural gas drilling, and environmentalists opposed to this step because of the risks involved. There are many problems involved with drilling under the Antarctic ice cap, and even Alaskan drilling for oil, because of the large potential for damage to the environment and the wildlife in these areas. Oil companies say there are no risks involved, but as we have seen time and time again, it is not possible to drill for oil with no risks involved.

Scientific studies suggest that roughly twenty percent of the undiscovered oil in the world lies underneath the arctic ice cap, and around thirty three percent of the natural gas that has not been discovered is located here as well. There are many concerns when it comes to drilling for oil in the arctic and Alaska. Marine life in the area can be severely affected by the testing methods and procedures as well as the actual drilling methods and processes. Seismic waves are released into the earth, and when these waves return they carry clues about the topography, and any possible hidden reserves of oil or natural gas. Using seismic waves has been proven to be disruptive and harmful to whales, and result in mass beachings when the whales become disoriented. When ExxonMobil used seismic waves to explore close to Madagascar, over one hundred whales were beached, and ExxonMobil suspended the exploration because of this. Even with seismic waves, geologists can never be certain that there is fossil fuel under the earth until the drilling confirms it. Quite often, seismic tests harm animals and show promise concerning a reserve, but end up being a dead end.

Transportation and problems are also a big concern. With the current oil being produced, somewhere between three and five hundred accidents and oil spills occur each year. When these spills occur on water, the results can be quite devastating. The oil can spread the length of a football field in two seconds, and can contaminate thousands or even millions of gallons of water from one barrel of oil spilled. It can take two or three decades just to recover all the oil possible from the area. The Exxon Valdez spill that contaminated Prince William Sound happened twenty years ago, and the area is just now recovering.

Another concern for many is the polar ice cap melting. With global warming, which is caused in a large part by burning fossil fuels, the ice cap is melting at an advanced rate. We must end the dependence on fossil fuel before we destroy nature and the earth completely. If drilling for oil, or even exploration for oil, is allowed in the arctic or in any other areas in Alaska, the damage could be irreparable. Oil wells, natural gas drilling, and exploration for oil and other fossil fuels have side effects and produce products that can be extremely harmful to animals, marine life, plants, and also toxic to the earth. Instead of continuing our reliance on fossil fuels, alternative renewable fuel and energy sources, such as biomass energy, solar energy, wind energy, wave energy, and other methods should be used. These energy sources are clean and earth friendly, and they are sustainable and can be used without causing any harmful carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. To prevent any more damage to the arctic ice cap, drilling for oil and natural gas should be prevented in all arctic and Alaskan areas.

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