Group 6 Mary C. Laura F. Ashley H. Caitlyn B.

When will we run out? U.S oil production in 1971, as the rest of the world peaks and then declines we will see rising gas prices, the end of globalization, widespread anarchy and the relentless exploitation of previously protected drilling sites U.S oil production in 1971, as the rest of the world peaks and then declines we will see rising gas prices, the end of globalization, widespread anarchy and the relentless exploitation of previously protected drilling sites Between 2011 and 2020 the oil production will not be able to match the world’s needs = higher gas prices, alternate energy Between 2011 and 2020 the oil production will not be able to match the world’s needs = higher gas prices, alternate energy

Increase drilling in Alaskan wilderness? Question of whether to drill in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) an ongoing political controversy since 1977 Question of whether to drill in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) an ongoing political controversy since million acres of N. Alaskan coast 19 million acres of N. Alaskan coast Used by both parties as a political device Used by both parties as a political device Created under Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 Created under Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 Issue of drilling deferred in Section 1002 of the Act Issue of drilling deferred in Section 1002 of the Act

Issues Amount of economically recoverable oil as it relates to world oil markets Amount of economically recoverable oil as it relates to world oil markets Harm oil exploration would have upon natural wildlife Harm oil exploration would have upon natural wildlife

Support/Opposition Supporters: George W. Bush, Sarah Palin Supporters: George W. Bush, Sarah Palin Keep America’s economy growing, jobs, ensure business, less dependent on foreign sources, little land for actual drilling Keep America’s economy growing, jobs, ensure business, less dependent on foreign sources, little land for actual drilling Opposes: Barack Obama, John McCain, U.S. Department of Energy, National Resource Defense Committee, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, National Congress of American Indians, Native American Rights Fund Opposes: Barack Obama, John McCain, U.S. Department of Energy, National Resource Defense Committee, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, National Congress of American Indians, Native American Rights Fund

Opposition (cont.) damage protected national wildlife refuge without creating sufficient oil supplies to meaningfully affect global market price or have a discernible impact on U.S. energy security damage protected national wildlife refuge without creating sufficient oil supplies to meaningfully affect global market price or have a discernible impact on U.S. energy security U.S. Department of Energy – no large impact on America’s energy, little direct knowledge regarding petroleum geology of ANWR region U.S. Department of Energy – no large impact on America’s energy, little direct knowledge regarding petroleum geology of ANWR region Habitat destroyed – caribou Habitat destroyed – caribou Required network of platforms, pipelines, roads, support facilities and threat of spills will play havoc on wildlife Required network of platforms, pipelines, roads, support facilities and threat of spills will play havoc on wildlife

How is extracting oil dangerous? Complex equipment needed to drill at such depths Complex equipment needed to drill at such depths Harsh offshore environment that pose engineering challenges to the equipment – more machines need to be produced to get the oil Harsh offshore environment that pose engineering challenges to the equipment – more machines need to be produced to get the oil Cement platforms effecting flora and fauna Cement platforms effecting flora and fauna Inexperienced workers do not understand how to operate machines Inexperienced workers do not understand how to operate machines

What properties make oil spills so destructive to ecosystems? In water – spreads In water – spreads Evaporation, wind carries Evaporation, wind carries Photo – oxidation – when sunlight transforms the petroleum hydrocarbons into hydroxyl compounds – changes the solubility Photo – oxidation – when sunlight transforms the petroleum hydrocarbons into hydroxyl compounds – changes the solubility Dissolution – low molecule weight hydro carbons are lost from oil to water Dissolution – low molecule weight hydro carbons are lost from oil to water Degradation = biodegrading processes influencing fate of petroleum in aquatic environment- includes micro bio degradation, ingestion by plankton, uptake by aquatic invertebrates Degradation = biodegrading processes influencing fate of petroleum in aquatic environment- includes micro bio degradation, ingestion by plankton, uptake by aquatic invertebrates Doesn’t matter size of spill, just that it gets worse if not treated Doesn’t matter size of spill, just that it gets worse if not treated