Artic National Wildlife Refuge
Is Drilling for Oil worth
The decision to drill for oil in the Artic Wildlife Refuge has been contested over the last fourteen years. Some governmental officials want to expand this exploration to decrease foreign dependence. While environmentalists argue that the damage to the environment will be too great a price to pay for the little recoverable oil which, in the long run will not help America become more self sufficient. However, the debate has overlooked some key questions. Does drilling make sense economically? Is security really an issue? Finally, does it make sense to drill in the Artic considering the vulnerability of the pipeline and the potential for environmental damage? After considering the case from both angles, is apparent that drilling does not make sense and should not be permitted.
Those who feel that America should drill for oil in the Artic Wildlife Refuge include certain government leaders and oil companies. They do have some good points to support their position. With America being the largest consumer of oil, their dependence on foreign oil is currently at sixty percent of its consumption. It is expected to increase to seventy-five percent by 2025 (Petroleum Economist 1+). This reliance on foreign oil is becoming a threat to American security some American government officials have stated. The drilling for oil in the Artic Wildlife Refuge will enable the United States to become more self-sufficient. Recent studies have indicated that approximately 3.2 billion barrels of profitable oil exists in the Artic Refuge (Lovins 72+). These estimates mean that this production would be between 0.5 percent to 1.3 percent of overall global production (Petroleum Economist 1+). This would reduce U.S. oil dependen ...