Business & the Environment

The offshore oil industry has a large presence in Louisiana. The state is one of only six that allow coastal drilling. Only one state, Texas, plays host to more oil rigs than Louisiana does. A...

Although there are many types of pollution and sources, industry has contributed its share over the last couple hundred years. Industrial pollution can include air pollution like carbon dioxide,...

It's common knowledge that Eucalyptus leaves provide the koala with its main food source, but they are also valuable for more than wildlife survival. Eucalyptus leaves have been used for centuries...

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 14,000 oil spills occur each year. This figure represents the amount of spills reported. Cleanup of oil spills on inland lakes...

Economists study the ways in which societies allocate limited resources to meet unlimited wants. Because most energy production involves the use of finite, non-renewable resources, such as fossil...

In order to pump oil, several geological elements must fall into place, including the right rocks, a well-formed reservoir and a trap. A trap keeps the oil from leaking away. Geologists study...

Petroleum engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the development and exploitation of natural gas and crude oil fields. The field began in the 1890s in California with mining...

Oil spills are one of the biggest sources of water pollution. Although most people may conjure up images of the Exxon-Valdez when they hear the term, the reality is most oil dumped into the ocean...

Worldwide, more than 80 million barrels of oil are consumed each day. To feed that demand, oil must be pumped from any source available. One of the most plentiful sources of oil is found beneath...

Crude oil comes from decomposed organic remains and must be pumped to the surface from deep recesses of the Earth's crust. These pockets of "black gold" are located beneath the sea and in...

The United States uses a wide range of energy sources to keep its vehicles moving; its buildings lighted, heated and cooled; and the wheels of industry moving forward. But even with advances in...

About 90 percent of the world's energy is supplied by the three major types of fossil fuel--coal, oil, and natural gas. As the world economy grows and our energy needs increase, our dependence on...

Oil spills are perhaps the most harmful side effect of the oil industry. Images of birds and fish coated in black goo provide a haunting reminder of the inherent dangers in transporting crude oil.

The first modern method of oil drilling developed by Edwin L. Drake in 1859 is still being used to this day, though the increased demand for petroleum products has required more efficient means of...

Offshore drilling is done by rigs designed to remain steady in gulf and ocean waters. These specialized rigs drill wells and insert piping in water depths of 200 to 400 feet to bring oil and...

The Aborigines of Australia considered eucalyptus a "cure all," an opinion that the world at large has come to share, based on the demand for eucalyptus products for medicinal, aromatic and...

Bio-oil treatment is composed of PurCellin Oil,™ a laboratory duplication of the oil produced by ducks to preen their feathers. PurCellin Oil ™ is unique because it is nongreasy yet...

Benzene is a chemical that is formed as a result of incompletely burned natural products. It is found in volcanoes, forest fires, cigarette smoke, gasoline and crude oil. It may be colorless or...

The damage caused by a single oil spill can boggle the mind. According to the Air and Waste Management Association, one quart of oil can contaminate up to 15,000 gallons of water. In the days...

Drilling for oil affects the environment at every stage of the process, from finding oil reserves to waste disposal. Marine life, birds, terrestrial wildlife and workers are all affected, as well...

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...

From its beginnings in 1887 to its ability to be seen from space, the history of the offshore drilling industry has pioneered technologies, built the tallest structures on earth, been the subject...

"Fossil fuels" is the umbrella term applied to set fuel sources that were created through a combination of the decomposition of plant and animal matter, heat and pressure beneath the earth. The...

Oil drilling is the process by which tubing is bored through the Earth's surface and a well is established. A pump is connected to the tube and the petroleum under the surface is forcibly removed...

While heralded as the cutting-edge technology for future oil production, making biofuel is a remarkably straightforward process. The difficulty is in mass-production, with prohibitively expensive...

Society is becoming more aware of the damage that we cause to the environment. More than ever before, toxins are present in all types of products, from the insecticide on our food to the toxic...

In the United States, the possibility of more oil drilling tends to generate controversy. Opponents worry about negative environmental effects, while proponents cite independence from foreign oil....

Oil drilling is the process of perforating the earth's surface and rock layers to extract fossil fuels, or oil, for energy production. Oil can be found all over the world, and it is drilled in...