The creation and life of a well can be divided up into five segments, planning,

drilling, completion, production, and abandonment. However, the drilling segment is the most

damaging process that pollutes the earth. When the drilling of oil in the ocean is unlimited,

this activity will lead to serious problem because the high toxicity of oil waste at this process

cause a horrible effect on the fish and the life marines. The negative impacts of drilling oil in

the ocean are damages to the fisheries and wildlife, on recreation and human activities.

First and foremost, one of the effects of drilling oil is damage to the fisheries. Oil

spills present the potential for massive harm to the deep ocean, coastal fishing and fisheries.

The immediate effects of toxic and smothering oil waste may be mass mortality and

contamination of fish and other food species. But, long term ecological effects may be worse.

Besides that, oil waste poisons the sensitive marine and coastal organic substrate, interrupting

the food chain on which fish and sea creatures depend, and on which their reproductive

success is based. As Carls and Horse (1999) state, exposure to very small concentration of

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) cause malformations, genetic damages and

mortality in fish embryos. Worse, commercial fishing enterprises may be affected

permanently.

Another effect of drilling oil in the ocean is damage to the wildlife. Wildlife other

than fish and sea creatures, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds that live in or

near the ocean are also poisoned by oil waste. The hazards for wildlife includes toxic effects

of exposures or ingestion, injuries such as smothering and deterioration of thermal insulation

and damages to their reproductive systems and behaviors. Long-term ecological effects that

contaminate or destroy the marine organic substrates and thereby interrupting the food chain
are also harmful to the wildlife causing the population of the species may change or disappear

( Raloff, 2003 ). According to Mineral Management Services (2006), the surprising amounts

of toxic form and sufficiently bioavailable to induce chronic expose in animals for more than

a decade.

Lastly, the recreation and human activities being affected is the other impact of drilling

oil in the ocean. Coastal areas are usually thickly populated and attract many recreational

activities and related facilities that have been developed for fishing, boating, snorkelling and

scuba diving, swimming, nature parks and preserves, beaches, and other resident and tourist

attraction. Furthermore, oil waste that invades and pollutes these areas and negatively affects

human activities can have devastating and long-term effects on the local economy and

society. Importantly, the property values for housing tend to decrease, regional business

activity declines, and future investment becomes risky. In a nutshell, according to National

Research Council (2003) routine drilling operation discharge approximate 735,000 gallons of

oil every year into the ocean.

Based on this, government must do everything possible to minimize the harm oil

production can cause to marine ecosystem and our activities. The drilling condition must at

minimum ensure that the marine and wildlife are protected from the deadly effect of this

activity. In a conclusion, the negative impacts of drilling oil in the ocean are damages to

fisheries and wildlife, on recreation and human activities.

IMPACTS OF DRILLING OIL IN THE OCEAN
(FINAL DRAFT)

GROUP:

MD3JI/J2

MOHD IZZAT BIN AMRAN

(2009873236)

MUHD HARITH BIN AHATA

(2009816668)
 SUBMIT ON:

29 SEPTEMBER 2010

REFERENCES

Offshore Drilling And Ocean Impact ( n.d ). Pew Trust. Retrived July 27, 2010, from
http://www.pewtrust.org

Oil spils: Impact On The Ocean ( n.d ). Water Encyclopedia. Retrived July 27, 2010,
from http://www.waterencyclopedia.com