To Drill or Not to Drill

To Drill or Not to Drill

Critical and Creative Thinking

5/29/2011

Sara Jo Murphy

Axia College of University of Phoenix

The price of oil and gasoline affect each of us every day. Whether it is provided for our cars, our homes or other sources, it affects us. This fact alone hinders my thinking because I have seen the price of gasoline steadily climb to almost $4 a gallon as well as the price of oil. Therefore, I am of the opinion that the U.S. should continue to drill off shore. Even though, the U.S. has home grown oil fields, it would take just as much money to produce the oil and gasoline we need to survive. After reading the debates, I don’t think there will be much of a difference in cost saving by not drilling off shore. Also, there are environmental factors to consider.

According to Wikipedia, “Offshore drilling typically refers to the discovery and development of oil and gas resources which lie underwater. Most commonly, the term is used to describe oil extraction off the coasts of continents, though the term can also apply to drilling in lakes and inland seas. Offshore drilling presents environmental challenges, especially in the Arctic or close to the shore. There are many different types of platforms for offshore drilling activities, from shallow-water steel jackets and jack up barges, to floating semisubmersibles and drill ships able to operate in very deep. ” In reviewing President Obama’s presentation and the debates of others to drill or not to drill, it is clear to me that off shore drilling has many advantages. The debate to drill outweighs some of the debates not to drill. Those who are for off shore drilling gives the following arguments: “(1) U.S. offshore oil is significant, can have big market impact; (2) U.S. offshore drilling will improve confidence, futures, and prices; (3) U.S. oil crisis warrants drastic action and offshore oil drilling; (4) Offshore oil helps mitigate spikes in oil prices; and, (4) A...