Effects of offshore drilling: energy vs. environment
Energy
Oil is an important part of fueling our economy. It provides fuels for our vehicles and fuel to heat our homes. It is used in many aspects of our daily lives. It provides energy. It is used to create plastics and those plastics are then used in solar panels. It is a form of stored energy and is later released during combustion. Liquid oil is most commonly used in generating electricity. It is burnt to run steam engines which produce energy.
Environment
One of the effects of offshore drilling is that it is ruining the environment when we have oil leaks/breaks and it gets all over the ocean and the animals. It even sticks to the birds feathers which makes it so they cant swim or fly.
Whenever oil is recovered from the ocean floor, other chemicals and toxic substances come up too, mercury, lead and other harmful chemicals are released back into the ocean. The Seismic waves used to locate oil can harm sea mammals and whales can become disoriented.
Also, burning oil releases huge quantities of smoke in the air. This smoke is full of harmful gases like hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which pollutes the air.