Oil spills and drilling have an effect on our environment. It is estimated that since humans began drilling into the earth, we have drilled over 1700 holes into the ocean floor (Normile & Kerr 2003). Oil drilling can lead to the accumulation of oil deposits under thick layers of salt. Drilling at a depth of around 4,000 meters involves extreme conditions; the oil itself could be around 200°C, while the temperature of the ocean floor could be just above freezing. This would cause the pipe to rupture, with a high probability of causing an oil spill. The average number of marine spills per year increased from 47 per year (1968–1977) to 188 ruptures and 228 leaks per year (Jernelöv 2010). Oil spills are harmful to the environment, and each year approximately 1% of the oil transported across the ocean (approximately 1.5 billion tons of oil) is spilled (Jernelöv 2010). One article in particular mentions that there are two types of spills: surface oil spills along coastlines and oil spills in the deep ocean. Surface oil spills are more harmful to the health of species that occupy that space, such as seabirds. Furthermore, organisms present in shallow waters are affected by oil spills. These include salt marshes and mangroves (Peterson et. al 2012). The oil itself is conventional or unconventional depending on the quality of the oil. Conventional oil is light and easily flows underground from tanks. Unconventional oil is heavy and dense, making it less desirable for use (Hirsch et. al 2005). From the smallest oil spills to the Deepwater Horizon spill, and others like it, oil spills are one of the most harmful effects oil has on the environment. environment. Oil drilling, most of which leads to oil spills and other negative environmental impacts, he...... middle of paper......nce. 300:410-412Nowak R. 2005. Greener lubricants clean up oil drilling. New scientist. 186:26.Peterson CH, Anderson SS, Cherr GN, Ambrose RF, Anghera S, Bay S, Blum M, Condon R, Dean TA, Graham M, Guzy M, Hampton S, Joye S, Lambrinos J, Mate B, Meffert D, Powers SP, Somasundaran P, Spies RB, Taylor CM, Tjeerdema R and Adams E. 2012. A tale of two spills: new Scientific and policy implications of an emerging oil spill pattern. Bioscience. 62:461-469Peterson CH, Rice SD, Short JW, Esler D, Bodkin, JL, Ballachey BE, Irons, DB. 2003. Long-term ecosystem response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Science. 302: 2082- 2086.Rabalais N. 2003. Oil in the sea. Problems of science and technology. 20:74-78 Rist C. 1999. Why we will never run out of oil. Check out: 80-87.Schmidt CW. 2010. The Arctic Drilling Controversy. Environmental health perspectives. 118:A394-A397.