Environmental Effect of Oil Drilling
The oil industry has profound environmental effects from all phases of the oil recovery process. From exploration to drilling to transport to end user consumption, oil pollutes the air, land and water.
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Oil Spills
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The 1989 Exxon Valdez spill is an iconic event of the indirect effects of oil drilling on marine life. Oil spills occur at every phase of the oil drilling cycle, but spills during transport are the primary source of environmental pollution. Oil spills directly poison the water and land as well as the local food chain. They also coat the feathers of birds making it impossible for them to fly. Clean-up workers might suffer long-term respiratory effects as well.
Marine Life
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Marine life isn't only subjected to toxic oil spills, but to seismic waves that are used to locate oil in the seabed. Seismic waves damage the sonar that dolphins and whales use to orient themselves underwater. In 2008, the Exxon Mobil company halted seismic exploration after 100 whales beached themselves because of fatal disruptions in their sonar function. Seismic exploration has also caused whales to alter their migratory paths, forcing them to leave known hunting grounds.
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Produced Water
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Produced water refers to the water that wells up with oil. It is laden with toxins such as mercury and lead. Drill operators typically dispose of the water directly into the sea. On land, produced water is allowed to freely filter into the water table, possibly affecting animals. Aside from killing animals outright, the chemicals in produced water are also associated with birth defects, abnormal development and unbalanced gender ratios, which effects species reproduction.
Infrastructure
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The physical infrastructure that accompanies oil drilling is immense and disruptive to ecosystems. Airstrips are a hazard for birds and frighten animals as well as tear up habitat in order to lay tarmac. Buildings and equipment are often abandoned and left behind once wells run dry because the cost to remove them is prohibitive.
Prevention/Solution
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Oil drilling technology has come a long way toward improving efficiency, reducing spills and environmental effects. With the advent of horizontal drilling, fewer platforms are needed, which confines byproducts and pollutants to one area. Some operations even recycle byproducts to produce energy to run the drill motors. Double-hulling oil tankers and government-regulated containment programs have helped reduce oil spills. According to the U.S. Mineral Management Service, oil spills account for 0.0001 percent of all oil transported.
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References
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