Research Paper
Research Question: Given the current regulations on off shore drilling, is there a residual impact upon the geology of the ocean floor and what may be the environmental issues it poses in the future?
The extraction of petroleum, natural gas, and other fossil fuels pose detrimental results to our environment, however the effects of drilling upon the ocean floor do not gain the scrutiny until major oil spills plaster the front pages of every newspaper from Virginia to California. Even then, people do not consider the geological effects of drilling along the ocean floor. This brings to question what, if any, regulations are in place on off shore drilling, the method by which these resources are harvested, and the effects upon the geology and environment that this method may impose.
In order to understand the geological impact of off shore drilling it is important to have a solid grasp of the extraction methods of petroleum. Off shore drilling is quite similar to drilling on land once they come in contact with the sea floor; however the environment being drilled in is much more intolerant of pollution. Despite common belief, petroleum is not found underneath the earth in large underwater lakes. It is actually found trapped inside porous rocks. This means that inside of the rocks are tiny spaces that can be filled, much like a sponge. Rock that contains petroleum and natural gas are considered reservoir rocks, because the rock traps the natural resource inside its pores until it is extracted or released through natural or man-made processes, creating a reservoir. There are three typical categories of reservoir rocks and they are limestones, sandstones, and dolomites. The surrounding stone is not porous, which creates a barrier around the porous rock that seals the oil inside, preventing the oil from dispersing into the surrounding earth. This petroleum drilling principal is the same for offshore drilling as it is for drilling on land as the primary difference between the two is the pressure of the water and the proximity to the water table. Now that the most common misconception about petroleum drilling is dispelled the methods of extraction must be explained.
There are three methods used to extract petroleum from the earth and these are primary recovery, secondary recovery, and enhanced recovery. These three methods are very unique in their yield as well as their cost, which are primary concerns when considering the profit margin possible for a major corporation. Primary recovery relies upon underground pressure to force the petroleum to the surface, which is a sight typically associated with striking oil, as the pressure causes the oil to spew out of the earth like a fountain. However after the pressure has begun to die down the oil will cease to flow so freely which requires the drillers to incorporate pumps that pressurize these oil reservoirs by injecting air into the porous rock and pushing the oil out. This method tends to have between five and fifteen percent yield, leaving the vast majority of the oil reserves to be extracted through different methods. Secondary recovery is the most prevalent method of extraction as it reuses waste water extracted in the initial tapping of the reservoir by returning it into the earth where it increases pressure, resulting in the oil being pumped out. This is beneficial because it returns the hazardous waste water back to where it originated from, saving money and the environment. Secondary recovery can be accredited with the extraction of forty to fifty percent of the oil within a reserve. Enhanced recovery techniques are used to gather the remaining oil after first and secondary recovery methods have been utilized. The three forms of enhanced recovery are thermal recovery, gas injection, and chemical flooding. Thermal recovery is when the drillers inject steam into the porous rock in order to increase the pressure so that the oil will flow out. The method of gas injection uses miscible gases to dissolve the carbon dioxide, propane, and methane found within the oil in order to decrease its viscosity so that the flow increases. The final method of enhanced recovery is chemical flooding, which is the process of mixing water soluble polymers with water and then injecting the solution into the oil field in order to pressurize it so that the oil will flow freely once more. The methods of enhanced recovery are significantly more expensive than primary and secondary recovery, which push oil companies to consider the cost and benefits of undergoing enhanced recovery. Enhanced recovery is known to procure up to sixty percent of the oil reserves. The basics of a sound understanding of petroleum extraction involves the comprehension that oil is found within porous rock instead of a underground pool and the three different levels of extraction used in modern day petroleum engineering.
With the basic understanding of petroleum extraction the effects upon the geology of the ocean floor becomes much more simple and straightforward, it becomes clear that there are no apparent serious, long term hazards to the geology, however there are still many environmental dangers associated with it. The primary geological change noted in off shore drilling is the possibility of the creation of minor underwater valleys as the porous rock where the oil was previously trapped is compressed by the weight of the ocean. The primary concept that supports the conclusion that offshore drilling does not cause geological damage is the fact that oil is not contained within large underground pockets, but rather inside porous rocks that contain many microscopic spaces that need to be filled by something, whether it be oil, gas, or water. This proves that there is little to no danger for the ocean floors geology during and after the extraction of petroleum.
Throughout American history oil has been turned to in order to supply a consistent energy source; however now the world has become more environmentally aware and have begun to crack down of oil companies with strict regulations designed to preserve the environment as much as possible. The legislation in place at this time is designed to place regulations on the methods of drilling and extraction used in order to preserve the diverse ecosystems that the oceans harbor. These regulations do not impose much emphasis upon the geological effects we may be faced with in the near to distant future. In this day and age there is more emphasis upon off shore drilling as the previous president, George W. Bush, lifted the executive order banning off shore drilling that had been in place since 1990. The legislation put in place later is designed to regulate the method of disposal of hazardous materials, procedures in place in the event of an oil spill, and various other safety precautions designed to prevent and/or minimalize damage. The reason there is less emphasis upon the method of extraction is based on certain environmental limitations that cover it as well as the fact that drilling does not pose a severe threat to the geology of the ocean floor. Due to this the guidelines in place focus less on how the oil companies extract the crude oil and more upon the pollutants that can and cannot be released into the ecosystem. As long as the companies abide by the environmental standards put in place they do not face difficult legislation in the way of particular drilling methods required.
With a solid understanding of the state of oil in the earth’s crust, the methods used by drillers for extraction, and the legislation in place to protect the earth, it can be concluded that petroleum drilling along the ocean floor does not cause geological damage in neither the short term nor long term scale. Drilling for petroleum is a task that requires innovation and environmental precautions in order to continue to supply the world’s primary energy source while maintaining an equally important aspect, the environment. With modern day technology the impossible is now possible, as petroleum engineers can be seen extracting oil from the ocean floor while preventing the geology of the oil fields from deteriorating into environmental hazards.
The extraction of petroleum, natural gas, and other fossil fuels pose detrimental results to our environment, however the effects of drilling upon the ocean floor do not gain the scrutiny until major oil spills plaster the front pages of every newspaper from Virginia to California. Even then, people do not consider the geological effects of drilling along the ocean floor. This brings to question what, if any, regulations are in place on off shore drilling, the method by which these resources are harvested, and the effects upon the geology and environment that this method may impose.
In order to understand the geological impact of off shore drilling it is important to have a solid grasp of the extraction methods of petroleum. Off shore drilling is quite similar to drilling on land once they come in contact with the sea floor; however the environment being drilled in is much more intolerant of pollution. Despite common belief, petroleum is not found underneath the earth in large underwater lakes. It is actually found trapped inside porous rocks. This means that inside of the rocks are tiny spaces that can be filled, much like a sponge. Rock that contains petroleum and natural gas are considered reservoir rocks, because the rock traps the natural resource inside its pores until it is extracted or released through natural or man-made processes, creating a reservoir. There are three typical categories of reservoir rocks and they are limestones, sandstones, and dolomites. The surrounding stone is not porous, which creates a barrier around the porous rock that seals the oil inside, preventing the oil from dispersing into the surrounding earth. This petroleum drilling principal is the same for offshore drilling as it is for drilling on land as the primary difference between the two is the pressure of the water and the proximity to the water table. Now that the most common misconception about petroleum drilling is dispelled the methods of extraction must be explained.
There are three methods used to extract petroleum from the earth and these are primary recovery, secondary recovery, and enhanced recovery. These three methods are very unique in their yield as well as their cost, which are primary concerns when considering the profit margin possible for a major corporation. Primary recovery relies upon underground pressure to force the petroleum to the surface, which is a sight typically associated with striking oil, as the pressure causes the oil to spew out of the earth like a fountain. However after the pressure has begun to die down the oil will cease to flow so freely which requires the drillers to incorporate pumps that pressurize these oil reservoirs by injecting air into the porous rock and pushing the oil out. This method tends to have between five and fifteen percent yield, leaving the vast majority of the oil reserves to be extracted through different methods. Secondary recovery is the most prevalent method of extraction as it reuses waste water extracted in the initial tapping of the reservoir by returning it into the earth where it increases pressure, resulting in the oil being pumped out. This is beneficial because it returns the hazardous waste water back to where it originated from, saving money and the environment. Secondary recovery can be accredited with the extraction of forty to fifty percent of the oil within a reserve. Enhanced recovery techniques are used to gather the remaining oil after first and secondary recovery methods have been utilized. The three forms of enhanced recovery are thermal recovery, gas injection, and chemical flooding. Thermal recovery is when the drillers inject steam into the porous rock in order to increase the pressure so that the oil will flow out. The method of gas injection uses miscible gases to dissolve the carbon dioxide, propane, and methane found within the oil in order to decrease its viscosity so that the flow increases. The final method of enhanced recovery is chemical flooding, which is the process of mixing water soluble polymers with water and then injecting the solution into the oil field in order to pressurize it so that the oil will flow freely once more. The methods of enhanced recovery are significantly more expensive than primary and secondary recovery, which push oil companies to consider the cost and benefits of undergoing enhanced recovery. Enhanced recovery is known to procure up to sixty percent of the oil reserves. The basics of a sound understanding of petroleum extraction involves the comprehension that oil is found within porous rock instead of a underground pool and the three different levels of extraction used in modern day petroleum engineering.
With the basic understanding of petroleum extraction the effects upon the geology of the ocean floor becomes much more simple and straightforward, it becomes clear that there are no apparent serious, long term hazards to the geology, however there are still many environmental dangers associated with it. The primary geological change noted in off shore drilling is the possibility of the creation of minor underwater valleys as the porous rock where the oil was previously trapped is compressed by the weight of the ocean. The primary concept that supports the conclusion that offshore drilling does not cause geological damage is the fact that oil is not contained within large underground pockets, but rather inside porous rocks that contain many microscopic spaces that need to be filled by something, whether it be oil, gas, or water. This proves that there is little to no danger for the ocean floors geology during and after the extraction of petroleum.
Throughout American history oil has been turned to in order to supply a consistent energy source; however now the world has become more environmentally aware and have begun to crack down of oil companies with strict regulations designed to preserve the environment as much as possible. The legislation in place at this time is designed to place regulations on the methods of drilling and extraction used in order to preserve the diverse ecosystems that the oceans harbor. These regulations do not impose much emphasis upon the geological effects we may be faced with in the near to distant future. In this day and age there is more emphasis upon off shore drilling as the previous president, George W. Bush, lifted the executive order banning off shore drilling that had been in place since 1990. The legislation put in place later is designed to regulate the method of disposal of hazardous materials, procedures in place in the event of an oil spill, and various other safety precautions designed to prevent and/or minimalize damage. The reason there is less emphasis upon the method of extraction is based on certain environmental limitations that cover it as well as the fact that drilling does not pose a severe threat to the geology of the ocean floor. Due to this the guidelines in place focus less on how the oil companies extract the crude oil and more upon the pollutants that can and cannot be released into the ecosystem. As long as the companies abide by the environmental standards put in place they do not face difficult legislation in the way of particular drilling methods required.
With a solid understanding of the state of oil in the earth’s crust, the methods used by drillers for extraction, and the legislation in place to protect the earth, it can be concluded that petroleum drilling along the ocean floor does not cause geological damage in neither the short term nor long term scale. Drilling for petroleum is a task that requires innovation and environmental precautions in order to continue to supply the world’s primary energy source while maintaining an equally important aspect, the environment. With modern day technology the impossible is now possible, as petroleum engineers can be seen extracting oil from the ocean floor while preventing the geology of the oil fields from deteriorating into environmental hazards.
Works Cited
"Adventures in Energy." Adventures in Energy. American Petroleum Institute, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. <http://www.adventuresinenergy.org/exploration-and-production/Extracting-Oil-and-Natural-Gas.html>.
"Alaska Marine Conservation Council." Risks of Oil & Gas Drilling —. Alaska Marine Conservation Council, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.akmarine.org/our-work/protect-bristol-bay/risks-of-oil-gas-drilling>.
"BSEE Homepage | BSEE." BSEE Homepage | BSEE. Burea of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.bsee.gov/>.
Broadhead, Ronald F. "Petroleum Geology: An Introduction." Http://geoinfo.nmt.edu. N.p., n.d.Web.<http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/faq/energy/petroleum/Petroleum_geology_intro.pdf>.
"Cavities Left After Oil Extraction." Cavities Left After Oil Extraction. Argonne National Library's Educational Program, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/env99/env99414.htm>.
Hyne, Norman J. Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling, & Production. Tulsa, Okla: PennWell Corporation, 2012. Print.
Leffler, William L., Richard Pattarozzi, and Gordon Sterling. Deepwater Petroleum Exploration & Production: A Nontechnical Guide. Tulsa, OK: PennWell, 2003. Print.
"Oceana | Protecting the World's Oceans." Oceana. OCEANA, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://oceana.org/en/our-work/climate-energy/offshore-drilling/learn-act/offshore-oil-drilling-myth-vs-fact>.
"Research Could Lead to Improved Oil Recovery, Better Environmental Cleanup." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 02 Aug. 2012. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120802141425.htm>.
Stoneley, R. Introduction to Petroleum Exploration for Non-geologists. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1995. Print.
Vlahos, James. "The Big Play." Popular Mechanics June 2012: 62-71. Magazine.
"Alaska Marine Conservation Council." Risks of Oil & Gas Drilling —. Alaska Marine Conservation Council, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.akmarine.org/our-work/protect-bristol-bay/risks-of-oil-gas-drilling>.
"BSEE Homepage | BSEE." BSEE Homepage | BSEE. Burea of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.bsee.gov/>.
Broadhead, Ronald F. "Petroleum Geology: An Introduction." Http://geoinfo.nmt.edu. N.p., n.d.Web.<http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/faq/energy/petroleum/Petroleum_geology_intro.pdf>.
"Cavities Left After Oil Extraction." Cavities Left After Oil Extraction. Argonne National Library's Educational Program, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/env99/env99414.htm>.
Hyne, Norman J. Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling, & Production. Tulsa, Okla: PennWell Corporation, 2012. Print.
Leffler, William L., Richard Pattarozzi, and Gordon Sterling. Deepwater Petroleum Exploration & Production: A Nontechnical Guide. Tulsa, OK: PennWell, 2003. Print.
"Oceana | Protecting the World's Oceans." Oceana. OCEANA, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://oceana.org/en/our-work/climate-energy/offshore-drilling/learn-act/offshore-oil-drilling-myth-vs-fact>.
"Research Could Lead to Improved Oil Recovery, Better Environmental Cleanup." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 02 Aug. 2012. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120802141425.htm>.
Stoneley, R. Introduction to Petroleum Exploration for Non-geologists. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1995. Print.
Vlahos, James. "The Big Play." Popular Mechanics June 2012: 62-71. Magazine.