Environmental protection has become a central issue for debate among political parties and lobbyists alike, asserting itself as a definite political chess piece with which to be negotiated. One of the major focuses in this debate is that of oil, as well as the use of other fossil fuels. The actual byproducts that result from the burning and use of oil is not the only aspect of the oil argument that may be harmful to the environment. In fact, the actual drilling and transportation of oil can both wield much more negative impact to the environment than the use of the fuel itself. Remember the Exxon Valdez? Whether you do remember or you don’t have a clue, read below for more on how drilling and transportation of oil can be dangerous to the environment.

Drilling

Believe it or not, drilling for oil can be a definite source of waste that can harm the environment. The most common problem comes in the drilling fluids that are used. In the past, oil drilling sites have used oil-based-muds, OBMs, as drilling fluid to keep cuttings from the drill cleared away. The problem is that in the mud there is both diesel fluid and mineral oil. Both of these are harmful to the environment. While water-based-muds are available and provide a much more environmentally safe solution, they simply do not work as well for the drillers. Companies are working on creating more environmentally friendly drilling fluids. As of the 1990’s, companies began making SBMs, or synthetic-based-muds. These have the desired affect of OBMs with a much lower threat to the environment. Still, the perfect drilling solution beneficial to both man and planet has yet to be found.

Transportation

The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill remains the justifiable example of how the transportation of oil can suddenly wreak a huge environmental and economic crisis. Eleven million gallons of oil leaked, unstopped, from the ship when it hit rocks in 1989. Initial cleanup, by most reports, took three years and amounted to a cost of over $2.5 billion. The sheer numbers of animals and birds destroyed were devastating. In fact, hundreds of thousands of birds, harbor seals, and whales were killed. And what we learned about that spill is that still the only “effective” way the oil industry has to clean up the mess is with the use of absorbent paper towels.