Using sonic equipment, oil companies determine the drilling sites most likely to produce oil.

Then they use a mobile

offshore drilling unit (MODU) to dig the initial well. Some units are converted into production rigs, meaning they
switch from drilling for oil to capturing oil once it's found. Most of the time, the oil company will replace the MODU
with a more permanent oil production rig to capture oil.

Natural gas burns cleaner than coal — producing less air pollution — and it accounts for more than one-third of
electric generation in the United States.
However, if produced irresponsibly, it creates serious environmental and health risks, and wastes a valuable energy
resource. We're working to make sure oil and gas are produced as safely as possible.

Advance and defend policies to reduce environmental risks

Why: While the oil and gas industry has made strides to reduce methane pollution, it's not enough. We need to
defend federal policies and advance state policies that protect our climate and environment.

How: We're fighting for methane standards at state and federal levels.

Research the full impact of methane on the climate

Why: Uncombusted natural gas is mostly methane, which is much more potent than carbon dioxide. Until recently,
no one knew how much of it was leaking into the air.

How: We are leading the effort to measure leaks across the supply chain, which will help us find practical solution

Use technology to find methane leaks

Why: Methane is colorless and odorless, making it hard to detect leaks. Emerging data-driven technologies are
making the job easier.

How: We’ve set plans in motion to develop a satellite designed to pinpoint methane emissions, and we’ve created a
design challenge for new methane detection tools

Ensure safe water and air for communities at risk

Why: People who live near oil and gas operations are at an increased risk of exposure to contaminated groundwater
and air pollution.

How: We're fighting for diligent oversight of wastewater disposal to minimize groundwater contamination. We're
also seeking broad clean air protections.

Oil: lifeblood of the industrialised nations Oil has become the world's most important source of energy since the
mid-1950s. Its products underpin modern society, mainly supplying energy to power industry, heat homes and
provide fuel for vehicles and aeroplanes to carry goods and people all over the world.

In fact, oil meets 97 per cent of the UK transport sector demand. In addition, it also benefits our lives in being vital
to the production of many everyday essentials. Oil’s refined products are used to manufacture almost all chemical
products, such as plastics, fertilisers, detergents, paints and even medicines, plus a whole host of other products
that you might not expect. Here are some examples of what we owe to oil, every day of our lives:

At school: rulers, crayons, ink and cartridges, glue, coverings on books, binders...
For your health: coatings for pills, binding agent for creams, disposable syringes...
In the home: contact lenses, cosmetics, clothing, fabrics, nail polish, deodorants, shampoo, paint, upholstery and
carpets, detergents for washing up and laundry, dry-cleaning fluid...
Out shopping: shopping bags, credit cards, egg cartons, plastic milk bottles
While cooking: non-stick pans, cling film, storage containers
For building: roofing tiles, pipes, insulating material, paint
On the move: petrol and diesel for cars and lorries, emergency services and trains, asphalt road surfaces
In the office: computer hardware, phones and faxes, diskettes, pens, chairs, printing ink
At your leisure: CDs, videos, cassette tapes, camera film, artists' paint, bicycle handlebar grips, tyres, crash helmets,
football boots, trainers, shin pads, windsurfers, roller blades
Garden: fertilisers, pesticides, garden furniture

What are petroleum products, and what is petroleum used for?

Petroleum products include transportation fuels, fuel oils for heating and electricity generation, asphalt and road
oil, and feedstocks for making the chemicals, plastics, and synthetic materials that are in nearly everything we use.
Of the approximately 7.21 billion barrels of total U.S. petroleum consumption in 2016, 47% was motor gasoline
(includes ethanol), 20% was distillate fuel (heating oil and diesel fuel), and 8% was jet fuel.

What is crude oil and what are petroleum products?

Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that formed from plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Crude
oil is a fossil fuel, and it exists in liquid form in underground pools or reservoirs, in tiny spaces within sedimentary
rocks, and near the surface in tar (or oil) sands. Petroleum products are fuels made from crude oil and other
hydrocarbons contained in natural gas. Petroleum products can also be made from coal, natural gas, and biomass.

Products made from crude oil

After crude oil is removed from the ground, it is sent to a refinery where different parts of the crude oil are
separated into useable petroleum products. These petroleum products include gasoline, distillates such as diesel
fuel and heating oil, jet fuel, petrochemical feedstocks, waxes, lubricating oils, and asphalt.

A U.S 42-gallon barrel of crude oil yields about 45 gallons of petroleum products in U.S. refineries because of
refinery processing gain. This increase in volume is similar to what happens to popcorn when it is popped.

Solvents Diesel fuel Motor Oil Bearing Grease

Ink Floor Wax Ballpoint Pens Football Cleats
Upholstery Sweaters Boats Insecticides
Bicycle Tires Sports Car Bodies Nail Polish Fishing lures
Dresses Tires Golf Bags Perfumes
Cassettes Dishwasher parts Tool Boxes Shoe Polish
Motorcycle Helmet Caulking Petroleum Jelly Transparent Tape
CD Player Faucet Washers Antiseptics Clothesline
Curtains Food Preservatives Basketballs Soap
Vitamin Capsules Antihistamines Purses Shoes
Dashboards Cortisone Deodorant Shoelace Aglets
Putty Dyes Panty Hose Refrigerant
Percolators Life Jackets Rubbing Alcohol Linings
Skis TV Cabinets Shag Rugs Electrician’s Tape
Tool Racks Car Battery Cases Epoxy Paint
Mops Slacks Insect Repellent Oil Filters
Umbrellas Yarn Fertilizers Hair Coloring
Roofing Toilet Seats Fishing Rods Lipstick
Denture Adhesive Linoleum Ice Cube Trays Synthetic Rubber
Speakers Plastic Wood Electric Blankets Glycerin
Tennis Rackets Rubber Cement Fishing Boots Dice
Nylon Rope Candles Trash Bags House Paint
Water Pipes Hand Lotion Roller Skates Surf Boards
Shampoo Wheels Paint Rollers Shower Curtains
Guitar Strings LuggageAspirin Safety Glasses
AntifreezeFootball Helmets Awnings Eyeglasses
Clothes Toothbrushes Ice Chests Footballs
Combs CD’s & DVD’s Paint Brushes Detergents
Vaporizers Balloons Sun Glasses Tents
Heart Valves Crayons Parachutes Telephones
Enamel Pillows Dishes Cameras
Anesthetics Artificial Turf Artificial limbs Bandages
Dentures Model Cars Folding Doors Hair Curlers
Cold cream Movie film Soft Contact lenses Drinking Cups
Fan Belts Car Enamel Shaving Cream Ammonia
Refrigerators Golf Balls Toothpaste Gasoline

The main alternatives to oil and gas energy include nuclear power, solar power, ethanol, and wind power. Fossil
fuels still dwarf these alternatives in global and domestic energy markets, but there is considerable public
momentum to increase their utilization as industries shift towards sustainability and more green business practices.

Fossil fuels—comprised primarily of energy sources from coal, oil, propane, and natural gas—accounted for 79% of
total energy consumption in the United States in 2020.
1

Alternative forms of energy have, to this point, proven to be uneconomic substitutes; they are less efficient and
more expensive (or, in the case of nuclear power, completely restricted from expanding) than fossil fuels. As a
result, the government currently provides a lot of subsidies for consumers who choose cleaner forms of renewable
energy either for their houses or for their vehicles.The many oil alternatives are ballooning as more research and
development occurs in this space, and as supply and demand laws of economics eventually push down prices to be
competitive with traditional fossil fuels.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Solar, wind, and nuclear power are all alternative forms of energy.
Oil and gas dominate the global market but alternate forms of energy are gaining ground as research and
development into cleaner energies continue.
Nuclear power is less expensive than other forms of "green" energy like hydropower or solar.
Solar and wind energy are expensive forms of alternative energy due to massive capital costs.
While nuclear power is common in some European countries, it has not been embraced as strongly in the U.S. for
myriad reasons.Nuclear Power
At the end of 2020, the U.S. had 94 operating nuclear power reactors that provided an estimated 20% of all
domestic electrical output.
2
Many other countries have larger concentrations of nuclear energy; France, for example, is one of the world's
foremost nuclear power and generates almost 70% of its electricity through it.According to the U.S. Department of
Energy, nuclear power is the most reliable energy source when compared to other energy sources.
4

More importantly, nuclear power can run much more cheaply than other clean energy forms, such as solar, wind, or
hydropower. Nevertheless, in the U.S. (and many other countries), governments have put a stop to nuclear
expansion for decades—partly out of fears for public safety, and partly for political reasons. Events like Chernobyl
are still scarring examples of nuclear power gone wrong in many people's minds, making the prospect of nuclear as
an oil alternative psychologically hard to embrace. However, as research around safe nuclear energy develops, it's
possible that clean nuclear power will eventually power entire cities. Bill Gates, for example, has already started a
company called TerraPower that is investigating ways to harness the power of nuclear power for the long term.
5

Power lines, hacker prevention to power grids, and providing clean energy resources are all part of President Joe
Biden's $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes $550 billion in new funding to rebuild
roads and bridges, water infrastructure, resilience, and the internet, among other items. The new law provides $65
billion in funds for energy-related areas. The money will be invested in researching and developing next-generation
technologies like clean hydrogen, advanced nuclear, and carbon capture.
6

Solar and Wind Power

Solar and wind power are also two popular renewable energy sources. Proponents argue that these substitutes
offer a clean break from fossil fuels and rely on power from natural sources.

As of 2022, solar energy is the fastest growing source of new electricity in the United States. There are over 3
million solar unit installations across the United States, with 1 million of these units having been built between 2020
and 2021.
7

There are also exciting advancements regarding wind power. Wind costs 1-2 cents per kilowatt-hour (after factoring
in tax credits), making it one of the lowest-priced energy solutions available. The United States is currently investing
over $10 billion each year into new wind projects, and wind is now the largest source of renewable power in the
United States.
8

Both types of energy do have their downsides. Solar energy still faces market barriers and grid integration
challenges that hinder deployment. In addition, non-hardware costs including permitting and financing pose cost
challenges.
9
Meanwhile, wind power is often best located on remote lands, far from cities where electricity is needed. Wind
power may not be the most economic use of the land and may cause noise, aesthetic pollution, or negatively impact
local wildlife.
8

Workers exert astronomical pressure on the earth's foundation, using power to drill and extract the planet's natural
resources deep within the ground. Whether offshore in the Gulf or in the oilfields of West Texas and the
Northeastern United States, oil rig workers are among the most skilled and most at-risk workers in the nation.

Oil companies must take extreme precaution during all parts of the drilling process to avoid disaster. Even one
mistake or missed safety procedure can lead to a catastrophic blowout. Unfortunately, oil companies often cut
corners to save time and money. In doing so, they put the lives of the workers at risk. Fires and explosions that
occur on oil rigs are some of the most devastating types of offshore accidents that can ever happen. The injuries
workers sustain from oil rig accidents result in long-term consequences for themselves and their families.The Santa
Barbara Oil Spill (January 1969)
In January 1969, Union Oil began drilling a fifth oil well on their offshore Platform A, just over five miles from the
coast of Santa Barbara, CA. On the morning of January 28, the well blew out, spewing oil and gas. The explosion
cracked the sea floor in 5 places and released 1,000 gallons of oil an hour. A second blow out in a different well
followed on February 24th. Eventually, the California coastline would be devastated by 3 million gallons of crude—
the largest oil spill in the nation’s history until the Exxon Valdez 20 years later. The destruction was both so
immense and so visible that it sparked the environmental advocacy movement as we know it. The spill led to the
signing of the National Environmental Policy Act, which required the creation of environmental impact reports on
major projects. The spill created a cultural moment, too. For the first time, regular Americans were deeply
concerned with environmental health. The following year marked the first time the U.S. celebrated Earth Day.

The Alexander L. Kielland Disaster (March 1980)

In March 1980, one of the deadliest oil rig accidents in history occurred due to a fatigue crack caused by a bad weld
job 6mm wide. On March 27, more than 200 oil rig workers were aboard the Alexander L. Kielland, a “floating hotel”
for off-duty operators that included a cinema among its amenities. The oil platform was owned by Stavanger Drilling
Company, but it was being used by Phillips Petroleum at the time.
In the evening, while the men were enjoying their off hours, the wind outside had picked up to 45 miles per hour
with 40-foot waves. Around 6:30 PM, the men reported hearing a loud crack—later determined to be the snapping
of 5 anchor cables. The sixth cable barely held, preventing the platform from capsizing. However, because there was
a poor command structure aboard the Kielland, most of the men did not attempt to escape the platform. Within 20
minutes, the sixth anchor cable snapped and the platform capsized. Of the seven 50-man lifeboats and twenty 20-
man rafts, only 1 lifeboat and 2 rafts were able to release from the lowering cables. Of the 212 men aboard, 123
were killed. The tragedy led to new requirements for lifeboat hooks and new command structures to facilitate
faster abandonment of sinking vessels.The Ocean Ranger Disaster (February 1982)
The Ocean Ranger was a mobile offshore drilling rig that sank near Canada in February 1982 while drilling an
exploratory well for Mobil Oil of Canada. The evening of February 14, 1982, Ocean Ranger and nearby vessels were
hit by a rogue wave. The oil platform was heard over the radio describing how a porthole window was broken,
allowing water to enter the ballast control room. The vessel was getting hit by waves 65 feet or higher, while the
porthole window was only at 28 feet. After midnight, Ocean Ranger reported they were listing 10-15 degrees.

At around 1 AM, local authorities and Mobil helicopters were alerted to the situation. All nearby vessels were asked
to assist the platform, which was still leaning 10 degrees to the left. The Ocean Ranger transmitted a final message
that they were abandoning ship.The Deepwater Horizon Disaster (April 2010)
The destruction of the Deepwater Horizon is one of the worst offshore disasters in recent memory. The rig, owned
by Transocean and drilling for BP, exploded and caught fire on April 20, 2010 off the Louisiana coast. The oil rig
explosion was preceded by numerous red flags. In 2009, BP engineers were concerned that the materials they
wanted to use for drilling would buckle under pressure. Rig workers believed they would be fired for raising safety
concerns, but many were concerned that the equipment was unreliable and required maintenance.

In March 2010, an accident went unreported that damaged the blowout preventer (which had gone uninspected
since 2005). On the night of the explosion, BP engineers saw warning signs hours before the blowout that the well
was going to explode. At 9:56 PM, a bubble of methane gas traveled up the drill column, expanding as it climbed.
Survivors described two “vibrations” prior to the fire starting.

The oil rig fire burned for over a day before the Deepwater Horizon sank. Of the 126 people onboard, 11 were killed
and 17 were transported to trauma centers. Other workers were transported to a hotel in Kenner, Louisiana where
they were asked to sign a waiver asserting that they were not injured. Workers reported feeling as though they
were being forced to sign the waiver before being given what they needed.

Transocean denied any allegations that they forced workers to sign any waivers.

There have been dozens of tragic accidents like these in the offshore drilling industry:June 1979
Mexico's government-owned oil company, Pemex, used a semi-submersible drilling rig to create Ixtoc I, an
exploratory oil well 62 miles off the coast of Campeche, Mexico. On June 3, the well experienced a blowout, initially
leaking 30,000 barrels of oil into the gulf each day. Though various efforts were undertaken to lessen the leakage,
the spill remained uncontained until March 1980.
August 1984 & April 1988
Petrobras' Enchova drilling platform, operating in the Campos Basin near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil experienced its first
disaster in 1984 when a blowout on the morning of August 16 led to an explosion and fire. 42 workers died in the
evacuation, including 36 who fell from a lifeboat when its mechanism failed. Less than four years later, in April 1988,
the well suffered a gas blowout while being converted from oil to gas. The drill pipe was forced out of the well and
struck a platform leg, causing sparks to ignite the gas. The resulting fire burned for 31 days, but the crew members
were able to abandon the platform without casualty.
July 1988
Occidental Petroleum's Piper Alpha oil production platform exploded in the North Sea after a series of
malfunctioning parts and a small gas leak ignited under pressure. Eventually, the pipeline connecting Piper to the
Claymore Platform burst and the Piper slipped
slipped into the sea. Of the 224 crewmembers, 165 were killed and 2 rescue vessel crewmen also perished. Only 59
individuals survived. At the time of the accident, the Piper was contributing approximately 10% of the North Sea's
oil and gas production.
November 1989
Typhoon Gay overtook the Seacrest, a drilling ship belonging to UNOCAL (which merged with Chevron in 2005.) The
Seacrest capsized and floated for several days before sinking, killing 91 of the 97 crewmembers.
March 2001
Petrobras' P-36 oil platform, the largest semi-submersible in the world at the time, experienced two back-to-back
explosions which killed 11 of the 175 workers. After the explosions, the platform began to list, finally sinking five
days later.
July 2005
A multi-purpose support vessel crashed into Indian government-owned Mumbai High North platform. An explosion
and massive fire resulted. The platform was evacuated and destroyed within two hours. 22 of the 384 workers
onboard were killed.
August 2009
Oil began to leak from Seadrill's West Atlas rig in the Timor Sea off the coast of Australia. All workers were
evacuated, but the resulting oil slick spreads over 2300 square miles of water, killing marine life in affected areas.
The leak was not plugged until 11/1.
September 2010
Mariner Energy's Vermillion Oil Rig 380 exploded off the coast of Louisiana, just 200 miles east of the site where the
Deepwater Horizon tragedy occurred. A supply ship rescued all 13 crewmembers. None were seriously injured.
January 2012
Chevron Nigeria Limited oil rig experienced an explosion six miles off the coast of the African nation. The fire was
still burning three days later. As of January 20, 2012, two workers were still missing and presumed dead. Fish were
dying in large numbers, and coastal residents were scared to eat living marine animals as they may have been
contaminated.
February 2015
An oil rig owned by Petrobras exploded off of the Brazilian coast. The incident killed 5 workers and injured more
than 25 others.
April 2015
A Gulf of Mexico oil rig explosion killed 4 workers and injured 45 others. Pemex operated the rig. Approximately 300
workers were evacuated from the platform after the fire broke out overnight.

December 2015
A fire broke out in the Gunashli oilfield after a storm damaged a high-pressure subsea gas pipeline. The fire spread
to multiple wells; eventually, production was suspended, pipelines closed, and electricity shut off. More than 60
workers were onboard at the time of the incident. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan reported 10
killed, 20 missing, and 9 hospitalized.

WHAT CAUSED THE 2010 DEEPWATER HORIZON EXPLOSION?

Mechanically, the answer is the blowout preventer was damaged. It hadn’t been inspected in five years, and it had
suffered an unreported accident a month prior to the Deepwater Horizon incident. On the night of the explosion, a
methane gas bubble was able to travel up the drilling platform due to the damaged blowout preventer. The human
element in all this was the fact that BP was weeks behind schedule, tens millions of dollars over budget, and taking
dangerous shortcuts that eventually resulted in mistakes that led to the fatal explosion.

WHAT IS THE DEADLIEST OFFSHORE OIL RIG DISASTER IN HISTORY?

In terms of sheer loss of life, the Piper Alpha disaster is the deadliest offshore oil rig disaster ever recorded. On July
6, 1988, there was a pump maintenance project that led to the removal of a safety valve on a gas pipe. The pipe was
temporarily sealed, and the pump was ordered to be left off until the project could be completed. However, due to
a communication error, the next shift crew turned on the pump. This led to a gas leak that created a series of
massive explosions. The explosions killed 167 people, leaving only 61 survivors of a 226-person crew.
HOW OFTEN DO OIL RIG EXPLOSIONS OCCUR?
Oil rig explosions are like plane crashes: they are rare, but when they occur, there’s usually a tremendous loss of
life. Greg McCormack, director of the Petroleum Extension Service at the University of Texas, said “These events are
low probability with a high consequence.” Like plane crashes, oil rig explosions are almost always due to human
error, which is why it’s vital to hold oil companies accountable when something goes terribly wrong.

Oil drilling companies are sued all the time, but there are only a few law firms that they take seriously. Arnold &
Itkin LLP is one of those firms. We have gone head-to-head against Transocean, BP, Mobil, and other industry titans
and helped our clients win massive results. When an oil rig explodes, massive results are the minimum that our
clients deserve for their lost lives, ruined careers, and life-changing medical needs.

Our lawyers represented more members of the Deepwater Horizon crew than any other firm, securing record-
setting settlements on their behalf. When the El Faro sank in 2015, we represented multiple widows who lost their
loved ones, helping them get justice for the ways their husbands died at sea. Arnold & Itkin has stood up for
hundreds of injured workers, winning billions of dollars for our clients in some of the highest-profile offshore cases
in recent history. When injured offshore workers need someone to help them secure lost wages, recover medical
expenses, and rebuild their future, they call us. In return, we pour every resource into giving them the best possible
chance for recovery.

An oil platform, oil rig, offshore platform, or oil and/or gas production platform is a large structure with facilities to
extract, and process petroleum and natural gas that lie in rock formations beneath the seabed. Many oil platforms
will also contain facilities to accommodate their workforce, although it is also common for there to be a separate
accommodation platform bridge linked to the production platform. Most commonly, oil platforms engage in
activities on the continental shelf, though they can also be used in lakes, inshore waters, and inland seas. Depending
on the circumstances, the platform may be fixed to the ocean floor, consist of an artificial island, or float.[1] In some
arrangements the main facility may have storage facilities for the processed oil. Remote subsea wells may also be
connected to a platform by flow lines and by umbilical connections. These sub-sea solutions may consist of one or
more subsea wells or of one or more manifold centres for multiple wells

Offshore drilling presents environmental challenges, both from the produced hydrocarbons and the materials used
during the drilling operation. Controversies include the ongoing US offshore drilling debate.[2]

There are many different types of facilities from which offshore drilling operations take place. These include
bottom-founded drilling rigs (jackup barges and swamp barges), combined drilling and production facilities, either
bottom-founded or floating platforms, and deepwater mobile offshore drilling units (MODU), including semi-
submersibles and drillships. These are capable of operating in water depths up to 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). In
shallower waters, the mobile units are anchored to the seabed. However, in deeper water (more than 1,500 metres
(4,900 ft)), the semisubmersibles or drillships are maintained at the required drilling location using dynamic
positioning

What's the Difference Between Jet Fuel and Gasoline?

Have you ever dreamed of running your car off of jet fuel and turning it into a rocket car? Well, that's not quite
possible...Have you ever stopped to think about what exactly is 'jet fuel'? Or maybe you have dreamed of running
your old car off of jet fuel and turning it into a new rocket car!

Well, jet fuel and gasoline are similar, but you can't run just any car off of jet fuel.

Before I get into differences, let me share some information on the jet or aviation fuel.

Aviation fuels are one of the basic products used by an aircraft. They are heavily regulated by national and
international bodies. For example, in United States organization called ASTM International regulates general
standards for commercial airplanes while U.S. Department of Defense for military planes.
There are two main types of jet fuel: Jet A and Jet B. They differ in quality or better yet, freezing point. Jet B is
usually used for military operations and areas with bad weather. Jet and gasoline both consist of long strings of
hydrocarbons derived from the refinement of oil. Where the fuels differ is just what hydrocarbons each of the types
contain.

Gasoline consists of hydrocarbons that contain anywhere from 7 to 11 carbon atoms with hydrogen molecules
attached.

Jet fuel, on the other hand, contains hydrocarbons more in the range of 12 to 15 carbon atoms. In more colloquial
terminology, jet fuel is made up mostly of kerosene.

Theoretically speaking, jets and cars could run off of the same fuel, but the environments that airplanes travel
through tend to be very different than normal driving conditions. Temperatures in flight for airplanes can drop to
under -40˚ C. At this low temperature, normal gasoline would likely freeze, ultimately causing proper combustion to
stop.For this main reason, kerosene is good for jet fuel because it has a lower freezing point. Kerosene also has a
higher flash point, which makes it much safer in preventing unplanned combustion. Given the lower freezing point
of jet fuel and the higher flash point, the fuel has a much wider safe operational temperature range.

The other difference between gasoline and jet fuel is the additives injected into the mix for jet fuel. Anti-static
chemicals, de-icing agents, anticorrosive agents, and anti-bacterial agents are all added to jet fuel to make sure that
no unexpected circumstances are met while flying high in the sky.

Jet fuel can actually be used in cars, but only in diesel engines. Kerosene jet fuel and diesel are actually similar
enough to allow for cross-functionality and would provide a similar performance. Although, I wouldn't recommend
running a jet on diesel. Other than this just being a cool theoretical use, Toyota actually used jet fuel in the Toyota
Hilux on their arctic truck 2012, according to Wired.

According to the report, the diesel engine was able to work without standard gas.

Ultimately, the difference between gasoline and jet fuel are the hydrocarbon molecules and the additives contained
in the fuel. Both are derived from crude oil, and both run their respective engines on combustion.

For a quick overview of the differences between gasoline and jet fuel, you can also watch the video below.

When It Comes to Oil and Fuel Spills, Prevention is the Best Solution
Every year Americans spill, throw away or dump 30x the oil that was spilled in the Exxon Valdez disasterOn April 20,
2010, an explosion rocked the Deepwater Horizon oil rig off the coast of Louisiana, killing 11 workers and releasing
an estimated 210 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, making Deepwater Horizon the largest marine
oil spill in U.S. history. Years later, scientists are still studying and assessing the long-term effects of the BP oil
disaster on the Gulf’s residents, wildlife and environment.

While almost everyone is familiar with the effects of large disasters such as Deepwater Horizon and the 1989 Exxon
Valdez oil spill, many are not as familiar with the effects of smaller, more common spills. Every year Americans spill,
throw away or dump out more than 30 times the oil that was spilled in the Exxon Valdez disaster. A single quart of
oil can create a two-acre oil slick on the water’s surface—approximately the size of three football fields!

Most oil pollution results from accidents and/or carelessness. Fuel oil primarily enters the water during refueling,
but oil can also escape during vessel operations. Oil from recreational boats typically comes from dirty ballast water,
oil tank washings, bilge water, slops, sludges, fuel residues and waste oil.

Regardless of how they are released, all petroleum products—gasoline, diesel fuel and motor oil—are toxic to
people, plants and wildlife. In addition to containing deadly metals, fuel and oil lower water’s oxygen levels, block
life-giving sunlight and generally degrade water quality.
That’s why marinas and boaters must play a role in reducing oil and fuel pollution. Any operation involving the
handling of oil or fuel should be accomplished in a way that minimizes the possibility of accidental release. Below
are some steps boaters and marinas can take to reduce oil and fuel pollution.Boaters

Don’t overfill fuel tanks—fill to only 90 percent capacity to reduce the chance of spills.
Use oil absorbent pads in the bilges of all boats with inboard engines.
Regularly inspect through-hull fittings often to reduce the risk of sinking.
Recycle used oil and filters.
Marinas

Routinely inspect storage tanks as required by law.

Use automatic nozzle shutoffs to reduce the potential for overfilling fuel tanks.
Set up an oil-recycling program to deliver used oil to a designated collection site.
Keep spill control equipment readily available.
Properly dispose of used oil and fuel-absorbent materials.
NEVER use soaps to disperse a spill – IT IS ILLEGAL

To learn more about how you can help reduce oil and fuel pollution, check out our Good Mate program page. There
you’ll also find tips for managing stormwater runoff, sewage, vehicle maintenance and more.

Crude oil moves from wellhead to refinery using barges, tankers, over land, pipelines, trucks, and railroads. Natural
gas is transported by pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers.

Oil Tankers
The U.S. Coast Guard defines a tank vessel as one that is constructed or adapted to carry oil or hazardous material
in bulk as cargo or cargo residue. There are various types of tankers: oil tanker, parcel tanker (chemical vessels),
combination carrier (designed to carry oil or solid cargoes in bulk), and barges. International bulk chemical codes
govern the safe transport of chemical cargoes and provide various levels of protection against the uncontrolled
release of substances. Tank vessels are classified by the trade in which they routinely operate over a period of time.
The three most common categories are crude oil carriers, product carriers: which can carry clean (e.g., gasoline, jet
fuel) and dirty (e.g. black oils): and parcel carriers (chemicals). Tankers tend to remain in one trade but market
conditions can dictate a change, even though the process to change a vessel's trade involves extensive work.

Crude carriers are classed as either VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers) or ULCCs (Ultra Large Crude Carriers) and are
designed to transport vast quantities of crude oil over many long and heavily traveled sea routes. In addition,
"lightering," offloading or transferring oil from large tankers to smaller ones, is used so that the smaller vessels can
enter smaller ports that the larger vessels cannot.

One of the major concerns in the safe transport of bulk liquid cargos by tank vessel is the stress on the hull. Bending
in the form of sagging (concentration of weight in the mid-section of the vessel causing the deck to be subjected to
compression forces while at the same time the keel is under tension), hogging (concentration of weight at both
ends of the vessel causing the deck to experience tensile forces while the keel is under compression), and shear
force, which occurs when two forces act in opposite directions parallel to each other, such as at a bulkhead
between an empty ballast tank and a full cargo tank. The weight or gravitational and buoyant action experienced on
either side of the bulkhead causes the shear force phenomenon.1 Tankers that transport oil domestically from one
U.S. port to another must comply with the Jones act, which requires a vessel to be U.S. built, with a majority U.S.
crew and majority U.S. ownership. These requirements greatly reduce the number of vessels available for domestic
oil transportation, although waivers have been granted for emergencies.2

LNG Tankers
High pressures and explosions make it difficult to transport compressed natural gas on tankers. Due to scientific
advancements in the mid-20th century, natural gas can be turned to liquid at extremely low temperatures and
transported as liquefied natural gas (LNG). LNG tankers are specially designed with double hulls, to allow extra
ballast water because LNG is lighter than gasoline, and additional safety features.3 Due to the restrictions of the
Jones Act, there are currently no approved vessels to transport LNG domestically by tanker.4

Pipelines
Pipelines can refer to gathering systems (wellhead to processing facilities), transmission lines (supply areas to
markets), or distribution pipelines (most commonly to transport natural gas to medium or small consumer units).5
Pipelines play a very critical role in the transportation process because most of the oil moves through pipelines for
at least part of the route. After the crude oil is separated from natural gas, pipelines transport the oil to another
carrier or directly to a refinery. Petroleum products then travel from the refinery to market by tanker, truck, railroad
tank car, or pipeline.6 As natural gas production grows in the United States, demand for new pipeline construction
has been increasing.7 The United States has about 300,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines.8

Strategic planning involves determining the shortest and most economical routes where pipelines are built, the
number of pumping stations and natural gas compression stations along the line, and terminal storage facilities so
that oil from almost any field can be shipped to any refinery on demand.9 Offshore pipelines carry more risk for
leaks and environmental impact than onshore pipelines, but technological advancements in pipeline material and
monitoring systems have improved pipeline safety and efficiency.10 Standards exist for safety in the design and
construction of pipelines, and are published by organizations such as the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) and the American Petroleum Institute (API).11 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) regulates the interstate transportation of natural gas and oil, and approves LNG terminals and natural gas
pipelines.12 Before FERC was created in 1977, Interstate Commerce Commission was responsible for regulating oil
and gas transportation.13

BargesBarges are primarily used on rivers and canals. They require less infrastructure than pipelines, but are more
costly, transport much less volume, and take more time to load.14

Railroad / Tank Trucks

Historically, railroads were the primary means of petroleum transportation. Today, railroads compete with
pipelines: While usually more expensive than pipelines, the already existing railroad infrastructure creates a more
flexible, alternative route when pipelines are at capacity.15 Many petroleum products travel from refineries to
markets by tank truck or railroad tank car. Tank trucks deliver gasoline to service stations and heating oil to houses.

Tugboats
The increasing demand for oil has led to deeper drilling, with larger drilling rigs located further offshore, which has
justified building of larger and more powerful tugs and larger barges.

The world’s oceans hold some of the most incredible reserves of oil and natural gas. Accessing these key resources
takes innovation, ingenuity and a dedication to safety. In 2019 alone, the United States produced an estimated 2.3
million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day. Not only is oil and natural gas used to power our cars and heat our
homes, it’s also turned into countless products from clothes and sunglasses to smartphones and laptops to MRI
machines and pacemakers.

EXPLORATION
Before offshore oil and natural gas can be extracted, it must be found. Geophysical companies conduct scientific
surveys in offshore areas by bouncing soundwaves off the seafloor. In water, the energy source is typically an array
of different sized air-chambers, filled with compressed air. The source is towed behind a seismic survey vessel and
releases bursts of high pressure energy into the water. The returning sound waves are detected and recorded by
hydrophones that are spaced out along a series of cables. Strict mitigation measures are used throughout this
process to ensure the health and safety of marine mammals and other marine life.

While geophysical surveys are widely used for oil and natural gas exploration, they are also used for a variety of
other purposes including siting for offshore wind farms and locating sand and gravel for coastal restoration.

DRILLING
Once a prospective reserve is found, companies will drill highly-regulated exploration wells with Mobile Offshore
Drilling Units (MODUs). Some MODUs are converted into production rigs, meaning they switch from drilling for oil
to capturing oil once it's found. Most of the time, the oil company will replace the MODU with a more permanent oil
production rig to capture oil. There are four main types of MODUs:

A submersible or barge MODU usually consists of a barge that rests on the sea floor at depths of around 30 to 35
feet (9.1 to 10.7 meters). On the barge's deck are steel posts that extend above the water line. A drilling platform
rests on top of the steel posts. These rigs are typically used in areas with calm water.
A jackup is a rig that sits on top of a floating barge. A ship tows the barge to the drilling site. Once positioned, the
jackup can extend legs down to the sea floor. The legs are loaded in such a way that they don't penetrate the floor.
Once each leg is secure, the jackup continues to ratchet the legs so that the platform rises above the water level.
This keeps the rig safe from tidal motions and waves. Jackups can operate in depths of up to 525 feet (160 meters).
Drill ships are ships that have a drilling rig on the top deck. The drill operates through a hole in the hull. Drill ships
can pilot to the drill site and then use a combination of anchors and propellers to correct for drift as the rig drills for
oil. They can operate in deep water conditions.
Semisubmersibles float on the surface of the ocean on top of huge, submerged pontoons. Some have propulsion
systems, which allow them to navigate to drilling sites under their own power while others require a second vessel
to tow them to the right location. Most use several anchors -- up to a dozen -- that help maintain the structure's
orientation. Computers control the tension on each anchor chain to correct for drift. Some can convert from drilling
rigs to production rigs, reducing the need for a second rig to take its place once oil is found.

The MODU's job is to drill down into the ocean's floor to find oil and natural gas reserves. The part of the drill that
extends below the deck and through the water is called the riser. The riser allows for drilling fluids to move between
the floor and the rig. Engineers lower a drill string -- a series of pipes designed to drill down to the oil deposit --
through the riser.

At the sea floor is the blowout preventer (BOP). The blowout preventer has a pair of hydraulically-powered clamps
that can close off the pipe leading up to the rig in the case of a blowout. The BOP is just one of the many
overlapping layers of safety precautions the offshore energy takes.

To add stability to the well, the engineers use metal casings, much as they do with land-based oil rigs. These casings
help keep the well from collapsing in on itself. Each casing is lined with cement walls. Casings get narrower as the
well gets deeper. Oil companies use progressively smaller drill bits as the well's depth increases. At each annulus --
the spot where a narrower casing joins with a wider one -- engineers use a liner hanger O-ring to seal the two
sections togetherWhen the MODU hits oil, engineers must seal the well to prepare it for a production rig. The
engineers will use a pair of plugs to seal off the well bore. The bottom plug sits near the oil deposit. Drilling mud or
seawater provides the pressure to hold the plug in place while the engineers place a top plug to cap the oil well.
Then the well is ready for a production rig to take over.

PRODUCTION
Once a commercial viable well is found, and a company follows the appropriate regulations, operations switch from
exploration and drilling to production. The offshore oil and natural gas industry has developed massive engineering
marvels that drill at high-temperatures and high-pressures in ultra-deepwater. For every type of offshore
environment, there is seemingly a production platform to match.

Fixed Platform (FP) consists of a jacket (a tall vertical section made of tubular steel members supported by piles
driven into the seabed) with a deck placed on top, providing space for crew quarters, a drilling rig, and production
facilities. The fixed platform is economically feasible for installation in water depths up to 1,500 feet.
Compliant Tower (CT) consists of a narrow, flexible tower and a piled foundation that can support a conventional
deck for drilling and production operations. Unlike the fixed platform, the compliant tower withstands large lateral
forces by sustaining significant lateral deflections, and is usually used in water depths between 1,000 and 2,000
feet.
Tension Leg Platform (TLP) consists of a floating structure held in place by vertical, tensioned tendons connectedto
the sea floor by pile-secured templates. Tensioned tendons provide for the use of a TLP in a broad water depth
range with limited vertical motion. The larger TLP's have been successfully deployed in water depths approaching
4,000 feet.
Mini-Tension Leg Platform (Mini-TLP) is a floating mini-tension leg platform of relatively low cost developed for
production of smaller deepwater reserves which would be uneconomic to produce using more conventional
deepwater production systems. It can also be used as a utility, satellite, or early production platform for larger
deepwater discoveries. The world's first Mini-TLP was installed in the Gulf of Mexico in 1998.
SPAR Platform (SPAR) consists of a large diameter single vertical cylinder supporting a deck. It has a typical fixed
platform topside (surface deck with drilling and production equipment), three types of risers (production, drilling,
and export), and a hull which is moored using a taut caternary system of six to twenty lines anchored into the
seafloor. SPAR's are presently used in water depths up to 3,000 feet, although existing technology can extend its use
to water depths as great as 7,500 feet.
Floating Production System (FPS) consists of a semi-submersible unit which is equipped with drilling and production
equipment. It is anchored in place with wire rope and chain, or can be dynamically positioned using rotating
thrusters. Production from subsea wells is transported to the surface deck through production risers designed to
accommodate platform motion. The FPS can be used in ultra deep water.
Subsea System (SS) ranges from single subsea wells producing to a nearby platform, FPS, or TLP to multiple wells
producing through a manifold and pipeline system to a distant production facility. These systems are presently used
in water depths greater than 5,000 feet.
Floating Production, Storage & Offloading System (FPSO) consists of a large tanker type vessel moored to the
seafloor. An FPSO is designed to process and stow production from nearby subsea wells and to periodically offload
the stored oil to a smaller shuttle tanker. The shuttle tanker then transports the oil to an onshore facility for further
processing. An FPSO may be suited for marginally economic fields located in remote deepwater areas where a
pipeline infrastructure does not exist.
Those are just the platforms you can see. Industry has developed subsea production systems that can range from a
single subsea well on the ocean floor thatconnects to a larger platform to multiple wells producing through a
manifold and pipeline system to far off facilities. The oil is extracted from the seafloor then tied-back to an existing
production platform. One strategically-placed production platform to safely service many wells over a massive area.

OFFSHORE PIPELINES
Offshore pipelines are a key part of offshore oil and natural gas production. Pipelines built on the sea floor transport
oil and gas from subsea wells to the platform and subsequently gas or oil from the platform to the coast for process
and distribution.

Pipelines are classified in three categories:

Infield Pipelines transport fluids within the field. They are often called flowlines or feeder lines. Infield Pipelines
carry a mixture of oil, gas and water from the subsea wells to a manifold or directly from the well to the process
platform. A smaller number of infield lines carry processed water from the platform to injection wells for disposal.
Export Pipelines transport processed oil or gas from the platform to the coast. If the pipeline carries a mixture of oil
and gas then it is a multi-phase pipeline. If the pipeline carries only oil or only gas, then it is an sigle-phase pipeline.
Transmission pipelines carry oil or gas from one coast to another mainly, the same way as a tanker transfers oil for
trading purposes.
THE OFFSHORE ECOSYSTEM
Geophysical companies, drillers and producers are just three types of companies that are part of the offshore oil
and gas production ecosystem. Thousands of other companies, ranging heavy lift vessel operators, steel fabricators,
marine and helicopter transportation, ROV manufacturers, shipbuilders, computer and AI specialists, engineering
firms, equipment manufacturers and distributors, welders, pipeline companies, and offshore construction, as well as
legal services, lenders and other other professional services are needed to keep America’s offshore energy flowing.