Oil Companies are excited because it's off the coast of the US and they plan a very costly excavation but how will this effect the ecology of the ocean, the environment and the earth's balance?
2006-09-07 03:34:18 · 9 answers · asked by Reba K 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
I honestly don't know. I am curious though, do you drive a car?
2006-09-07 03:37:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The oil was found very deep, deeper than any previous oil wells in the US. It is costly but the rewards should outweigh the costs. It doesn't act as a lubricant, nothing is moving there and It shouldn't effect the ecology of the ocean and will have no effect on the earth's balance (I'm not sure what that is). Even if there are spills, the oil will only have a temporary effect and will rapidly be eaten by bacteria.
2006-09-07 04:46:04 · answer #2 · answered by JimZ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The find is only 4 miles below the sea floor, and it is 4000 miles to the centre of the earth. It is not a lubricant, it is just sitting there doing nothing (edit - it's actually a gas inside sandstone). So don't worry, extracting it will cause zero problems to the underground earth.
As far as the impact on the immediate environment, I presume as usual, a hole will be drilled in the ground a few inches in diameter. So as long as there aren't any accidents, there will be nearly no impact to the environment around the discovery. I guess there may be a pipeline though...
The main impact this discovery will have is to the greenhouse effect. If the deposit is as large as they hope, it will make up 1 or 2% of the world reserves in the coming years.
2006-09-07 04:05:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ugh, NO!
Oil / Coal are recent developments in the whole of earth's history from 200-50 Million years. What the hell do you people smoke in the morning?
Oil is a byproduct of plant and animal decay over time and pressure.
Oil is generally either infused in limestone, sandstone or claystone layers. The deepest drilling we go to at this point is about 3 miles which is a virtual pinprick on the surface of the planet.
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2006-09-08 03:12:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is non-sensical to think that minor activities caused by humans can have an effect on the planet. I am sure if all the nuclear weapons were exploded in one underground area there would be some noticable effect, but not drilling into the crust in the Gulf of Mexico. It would take a collision with a major asteroid to make a noticable shift on the Earth.
2006-09-07 06:27:10 · answer #5 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that will take quite a long time.
In either case much of the limestone oil is pressed out with hot water, so I would assume in most cases the oil will be replaced with water.
2006-09-07 03:37:49 · answer #6 · answered by Politics As Usual, Card Game 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a good question. I wonder if it will increase or decrease the frequency and intensity of earthquakes.
Someone said it will take a long time - I wonder if that person meant we should not worry about it since it won't happen in our lifetime. I think that is a rather ignorant viewpoint.
2006-09-07 04:06:08 · answer #7 · answered by Gypsy Girl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is highly possible, but the plates under ground shift all the time...they shifted before we stated drilling, but it is a certainty that we can't be helping matters by drilling holes in the earth & sucking out it's contents!!
2006-09-07 03:40:43 · answer #8 · answered by fairly smart 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No but it will squeak a lot as it goes round.
2006-09-07 03:39:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋