Oil Exploitation- the environmental impact

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Oil Exploitation- the environmental impact

Oil is an essential fossil fuel for industry and many other uses and the oil industry is growing each year. The whole world uses nearly three billion gallons of oil every day. However oil causes concern for many nations both at the huge quantities being used and the impact left behind by oil rigs. The constantly rising price is also an issue for many.

Oil accounts for a large percentage of the world’s energy consumption, ranging from a low of 32% for Europe and Asia, up to a high of 53% for the Middle East. Other geographic regions’ consumption patterns are as follows: South and Central America (44%), Africa (41%), and North America (40%). The world at large consumes 30 billion barrels (4.8 km³) of oil per year, and the top oil consumers largely consist of developed nations. In fact, 24% of the oil consumed in 2004 went to the United States alone. The production, distribution, refining, and retailing of petroleum taken as a whole represent the single largest industry in terms of dollar value on earth.

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The huge business of oil has not been kind to the world and has left behind a huge environmental impact.

Damage to the environment can occur during transport of oil as well. Two common examples of this are from the construction of oil canals for ships and from oil spills. When oil is transported through inland areas such as Louisiana, canals are often dredged to help ease the ships through. This removal of soils allows for greater action of off-shore waves, which can lead to such problems as saltwater intrusion, erosion and removal of vegetation.

Oil spills happen ...

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