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Oil drilling has many consequences that affect the environment, including the marine life of beaches or oceans. Deep sea drilling can lead to oil exploding, leaking or spilling all over land and water. These oil spills can then ruin habitats and kill local organisms by sticking to them or poisoning their prey and ultimately the organisms. Drilling can also lead to endangered populations, much like what is happening in Alaska to the polar bear populations affected by drilling. The area around the drilling, and its organisms, can be affected also by the noise and vehicle ingestion at drill sites. The wild animals that are affected by the noise respond with evasion and can be used to the behavior if the noise continues. Animals which are used to all the traffic in the area are also found to be more in danger, changing their predator prey relationship.
The atmosphere and climate also is affected by drilling. The burning of the petroleum in the process of drilling releases greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide. Research done has shown that the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to an increase of atmospheric heat. This rise will then create a sort of blanket to the increased heat, resulting in longer wave radiation. This process then results in global warming. Drilling adds to the air pollution and global warming, two crises that need to be solved in the world.
Drilling also disrupts wildlife and their natural ways. It can alter avian’s communication, breeding and nesting. For example the Pronghorn Antelope and the mule deer are the most impacted. Their yearly southern trek for the winter is often interrupted by many drilling sites. The most intense obstacle is the natural gas field that is on the way of their trek but also used for drilling, but sadly this is not the only obstacle they face.
The most severe effect drilling has on the environment and its organisms is oil spills. These often happen due to a malfunction with wires or crashing but have devastating consequences. Many oil spills have killed over a thousand sea life and even humans and can cover a large distance. One important one was the BP Deep Horizon rig in Mexico which covered over 68,000
