Whenever oil is brought up in the media, chances are the headline refers to either the ever-changing gas prices or an epic environmental disaster. The former is a weekly, if not daily, occurrence while the latter is reserved for stories like the Exxon Valdez or BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Just over two years ago, the BP oil spill was the center of attention on almost every media outlet. The graphic images from the Gulf captivated the public and, for a fleeting moment, caused many to consider what our reliance on oil was actually costing us. BP’s public response was well calculated, so by the time the media had shifted focus to a new controversial story, the images of oil-covered birds and fish had merely become heart-wrenching glimpses into the history of Big Oil.
Fast forward to present day: gas prices are fluctuating at an alarming rate, political controversies in the Middle East are causing scares all around the oil industry, and most importantly, new technology and changing geographical conditions are allowing companies to locate and produce more oil to feed the growing global demand. Not surprisingly, the nitty gritty details that encompass what goes into finding the next big oil source are left out of the headlines. So when Time Magazine did a cover story on “The Truth About Oil” (April 9, 2012), I was naturally drawn to the idea that this information was successful in reaching the public, albeit mostly confined to the readers of Time. I’ll be showcasing the new technologies and areas of the globe that are primed to be the future in oil discovery within my next few posts. Instead of just presenting the public with the issues with supply and demand of oil, or the destruction of the environment after a massive spill, we will take a closer look at what is causing this current demand fluctuation and what damages to the environment are necessary for proposed oil exploration.
For Earthgarage readers, this information should be just as imperative as the many discussions on better fuel efficiency, greener cars, or reducing emissions found here on the blog. In short, understanding where we will get our oil from, the costs and benefits associated with these new locations, and the overall feasibility of these new production methods are all essential factors that should be examined. In order to fully understand what possibilities the future holds for meeting our growing energy needs, we need to first grasp the massive undertakings that aren’t being showcased by global news outlets today. Stay tuned.
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