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The Impact of Oil Drilling in Texas

Brief History of Oil Mining in Texas

"Oil was first detected in Texas in July of 1543 when Spanish explorer Luis de Moscoso of the DeSoto expedition saw oil floating on the water in the Galveston Bay in an area between High Island and the Sabine Pass, near Port Arthur, Texas. The first economically significant oil discovery in Texas did not happen for another 300 years" January 10,1901 was the date oil drilling began to thrive thus, spurting drilling pipe, mud, gas and oil, the Lucas No. 1 well blew in at Spindletop near Beaumont. When the oil drilling industry began to boom in the early 1900's this supplied many men with a job that would dramatically increase their yearly income. The work was very physically demanding but paid higher than most entry level jobs.

Oil Drilling Industry has had huge positive and negative impacts on the people and environment where the industry is located. The new Spindletop oilfield, which produced the first oil boom in Texas, reached peak production of 17,500,000 barrels in 1902, after which it diminished to insignificance until it was reentered in 1925 and during the 1950s and 1960s. Throughout the next century, the Texas oil industry would spread north, east and western parts of the state. Today, the Permian Basin dominates crude oil production. Texas is the leading crude oil-producer in the nation, accounting for twenty two percent of all crude oil production in the U.S. The oil industry is responsible for 1.8 million jobs in Texas and as of 2008, it was responsible for a staggering 9.9 billion dollars in taxes and royalties.

The Texas oil industry is not without its share of losses. In 2010, a failed blowout preventer on a BP deepwater rig in the Gulf of Mexico caused an explosion that led to the largest accidental release of oil into marine waters ever recorded. BP faced a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice for economic and environmental damage.

Monetary Impacts

The Oil Industry is huge a factor in the Texas economy. "Moreover, the industry generated almost $137.8 billion in output, and contributed more than $71 billion in total gross state product was from Texas oil". Texas accounts for roughly fifty six percent of all united states oil production. "Since drilling activity began to escalate in the early 2000s, more than 24,000 drilling permits have been issued. While permits issued peaked in 2008 at least in part due to elevated natural gas prices, activity has remained relatively steady, with well over 900 permits issued in 2013. More than 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas have been produced from the Shale since 2001, with daily average production so far in 2014 exceeding 4.75 billion cubic feet per day. Oil production in the first few months of 2014 averaged almost 4,800 barrels per day. In 2011, the daily oil production averaged over 19,800 barrels" .

Environmental Impact

The oil and gas industry has made many improvements to become safer for the workers and the citizens in the states where the mining is undergoing. Geological experts remain skeptical about the potential connection between increased seismic activity and the use of water injections to mine the oil out of the ground . Professionals with the Oklahoma Geological Survey state that these earthquakes "could be naturally occurring." The National Academies also issued a report, concluding that this process does not "pose a high risk for inducing felt seismic events" .

A recent New York Times investigation may add support to these findings, reporting that although tens of thousands of wells across the country are using injection practices."While the connection between oil and natural gas removal practices and a negative environmental impact may continue to be questioned, the actual benefits from these businesses to surrounding communities are clear" .

Humans and animals are the most likely candidates to suffer from the environmental impacts of oil mining. Research found that 75% of the chemicals used in the process of oil drilling could affect the skin, eyes,and other sensory organs, and the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. "Approximately 40–50% could affect the brain/nervous system, immune and cardiovascular systems, and the kidneys; 37% could affect the endocrine system; and 25% could cause cancer and mutations" . Health impacts from fracking are only now being examined by health experts. "Exposure to toxic chemicals even at low levels can cause tremendous harm to humans; the endocrine system is sensitive to chemical exposures measuring in parts-per-billions, or less". Nevertheless, many of the health risks from the toxins used during the fracking process do not express themselves immediately.