3 Reasons Why Investing In Oil And Gas Industry Is Risky

As an investor, you should do a thorough research on the industry you are going to invest in. Like many other industries, there are huge opportunities to make money in the oil and gas industry. The demand for these products is increasing and companies are looking for investors to join them. However, there are some risks involved.

1. Government regulations

The oil and gas industry is a highly regulated industry. There are different strict government rules that companies have to follow. So, sometimes investing in these companies may not be as profitable as it seems. The production may not be optimum for adhering to the strict government guidelines.

2. Geological risks

The sites that are easy to drill have already been found. Now companies are going towards regions that are difficult to access. So, unconventional drilling methods need to be used sometimes. Also, companies may not extract the amount of oil they had estimated on those sites.

3. Cost

The cost of drilling may become very high due to the use of unconventional drilling methods. Lots of expensive equipment and new technology may be required to perform the drilling works. So, the overall project may become too expensive.

Before you invest in this industry, you should weigh all these risks and decide whether it’s a good time to invest now or not. Once a project starts, it’s usually not possible to stop it even if you incur too much risk or cost. So, take your decision wisely.

5 Major Environmental Impacts of an Offshore Oil Drilling Operation

There has been a catastrophic event in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. This incident has increased concern about the safety of oil drilling operation.  Oil spilling can have a huge negative effect on the environment. Here are the major environmental impacts of the offshore drilling operation.

Affects marine life

If oil is spilled accidentally during the drilling operation then the marine life will be affected. Seismic waves used during seismic survey also affect the marine life. Sharks are very sensitive to these waves. The noise produced during the survey can affect the health of these fishes.

Affects the seafloor

This drilling operation can damage the seafloor. The undersea pipelines, drill rigs, etc. can have a severe permanent effect on the sea floor. The drilling operation might destroy the ocean floor habitats. These habitats are good sources of oil and gas. So, you shouldn’t do any harm to them.

Water pollution

The drilling fluid can be toxic. It affects marine life by disrupting the food chain. Oil spills during drilling cause water pollution. High amount of toxic chemical can get into the water.

Changes wildlife migration routes

In the drilling sites lots there can be lots of traffic. The noise that is created during the drilling operation affects wildlife. Their migration routes may be affected.

Changes landscape

Drilling operations need heavy equipment like bulldozers. These may affect the vegetation and leave permanent damage on the road. It can increase erosion as well.

These consequences can be alarming. The oil companies should be more careful when conducting their drilling operations. They must reduce the impact of the environment.