Offshore Drilling Yields Surprising Benefits for Louisiana's Marine Ecosystem

The price of gasoline in America is rising rapidly, approaching four dollars per gallon in Louisiana. To address this issue, more domestic oil production and drilling off the U.S. coast are being proposed.

Humberto Fontova conducted a study on oil production and its environmental effects on Louisiana coastal waters. He found that approximately 115 billion barrels of oil and 633 trillion cubic feet of natural gas lie in areas off the U.S. Coast, primarily on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Despite concerns about pollution and oil spills, Fontova's study suggests that offshore drilling can be done safely. Louisiana produces one-third of America's commercial fisheries, yet no major oil spill has contaminated its coast.

In contrast, Florida prohibited offshore oil drilling but experienced an oil spill in 1976 on its 'Emerald Coast' panhandle beaches due to the transportation of oil, not extraction.