Energy  

The oil and gas industry has made considerable advancements in safety and drilling that has allowed them to continue to prosper even among some of the stiffest competition in the world.

Have you ever wondered with all the new technology nowadays if it has ever reached other industries in the world? Well, believe it or not, the oil and gas industry has made some very exciting advancements in safety and drilling that has allowed them to continue to prosper even among some of the stiffest competition in the world.

How It Is Drilled

One of the most important technological advances that has helped the oil industry is the way in which the oil is actually extracted. New technologies in drilling techniques and equipment have helped to discover oil production amounts that double or triple that of older drilling techniques. The new modern horizontal drilling technique and advances in fracking practices have allowed oil workers to be more precise in their drilling techniques. They are able to make real-time adjustments in maneuvering the equipment so that they can reach the most effective and resource rich areas for drilling.

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Quality of the Pipe

Companies like Trailhead Engineering, LLC are continually making their equipment safer and keeping their employees up-to-date as new technologies arise although it can be costly. Preventing accidents is better than having to deal with the cost of cleanup later and shutting down the pipeline. One of the ways oil companies are making their environments safer is with the piping itself. Reinforcing the piping and testing it to make sure it withstands the external pressures is a way to ensure safer practices.

Use of Robots

Incredibly, the uses of robots or ROV's as they call them, are used now in deep-water oil drilling. The most difficult work is now being done by the robots and not humans, thus keeping them out of harm’s way. Many times, there are more than a dozen ROV's being used at once on an oil rig, which supports the human effort of extracting oil. They also have been the key in saving oil rigs from potential disasters as well as being available in the case of an emergency to help shut pipes down when disaster strikes.

Even with oil prices dropping, we are in a time when energy needs are at its highest, and oil companies are keeping up with the demand. These new technologies have allowed them to access more oil in a shorter amount of time as well as improve their drilling techniques to make it safer for workers to drill and work in a safer environment. Oil drilling will always be a very dangerous job, but thanks to technology, there are fewer deaths and accidents each year.

By Meghan Belnap

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 Green Tech  

Green technologies are sure to change the world even more in the future. Here are a few examples of ways our environment might be different and better.

One thing that has been rapidly changing the world is green technology. It is helping decrease pollution, fight global warming and make countries more energy independent. Below are some emerging green technologies that are certain to change the world even more in the future.

Garbage as Oil

One memorable scene from Back to the Future Part II had Doc Brown fueling his time traveling DeLorean with garbage. This possibility isn’t actually too far off in the future. Oil is itself actually created from carbon matter that goes through a chemical process when pressure is exerted on it over a period of millions of years. It is likely that we will have the ability to perform this process in a much faster fashion in a laboratory in the near future.

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Desalination

Desalination is the process of removing salt from salt water. Many communities the world over are devastated by water shortages and droughts. It is likely that the process of desalination will become more efficient and easier to perform on a smaller scale in the near future. This could mean easier access to clean drinking water the world over.

More Efficient Recycling Centers

Currently, most people separate their recyclables from the rest of their trash. In the future, it is likely that all garbage will be recycled. This is due to the increasing efficiency in modern recycling technology. For example, there are places like Eco Green that currently turn old tires into new products. With newer centers we are able to more easily sift through trash and separate certain kinds of materials, such as plastic and glass, from other kinds of garbage automatically. As previously mentioned, carbon waste, such as food, may be able to be transformed into a fuel source very soon. There could come a day when there is no longer a need for landfills anywhere.

Solar Power from the Ocean

Usually, solar power and hydropower from water are thought of as two separate sources of renewable energy. However, in the near future, the ocean may become the largest supplier of solar power to the world. This is because the Earth’s oceans absorb more heat from the sun than anything else on the planet. Currently, new technologies are being developed that will use the difference in water temperature from the surface to deeper below to turn electricity producing turbines.

Overall, green technology is beginning to change the world. It is certain that new green industry tech will continue to lessen people’s impact on the environment and give us a future less dependent on finite resources that cause pollution.

By Meghan Belnap

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 The Environment  

Nobody said the future is going to be easy. Anica Oaks examines five environmental and resource issues that will affect everyone and require solutions going forward.

Humans are endangering many natural resources simply by engaging in their daily activities. If you don't want to be a part of the problem, you should be informed of the natural resources in danger and make decisions to avoid contributing to the problem. Here are five natural resources in danger of depletion.

1. Oil

The world's oil supply is in danger of being depleted by 2057, according to the American Petroleum Institute. Environmentalists are in a hurry to find a way to fuel the earth without oil. This means building an electric car infrastructure to preserve oil in the world and looking for alternative energy sources. Everyone is immensely concerned because it takes millions of years for the earth to make new petroleum. This is the reason for rising fuel and food costs.

2. Fish

Fish is another natural resource that's in danger of being depleted. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that 70 percent of the world's fish stock has been exploited or completely depleted. Depletion is causing a huge breakdown in the food chain and is upsetting the ecosystem.

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3. Wood

Forests are being endangered by deforestation at an alarming rate. Forests have reached their maturity but are not being harvested. Meanwhile, other forests are being destroyed to grow other crops. Destroying forests has numerous implications including endangering animal species and reducing the amount of oxygen released into the environment as well as the carbon dioxide taken from it.

4. Food Crops

Believe it or not, the entire food supply is endangered. Over-farming is a huge issue and affects the crops when they are not allowed to rest in between seasons. The soil will be depleted, and food shortage may occur. Forests are being cut to make room for cattle grazing. Further, pesticides are suspected to be the culprit behind the dying of the honey bee, a loss that would result in the disappearance of all of our food crops that depend on pollination. We must discover and confront the cause lest we lose that critical link in the earth's ecosystem.

5. Minerals and Wetlands

Mineral exploitation began in the Industrial Revolution in 1760. These minerals are necessary to provide housing, food, and clothing. Mineral exploitation should be monitored to improve the situation. Wetlands are saturated by surface or groundwater. Cattails, red maples, wild rice, cranberries, blackberries, and peat moss are some vegetation that's sustained in a healthy wetland area. Wetlands are known for providing improved food and habitat, commercial fishing, improved water quality, commercial fishing, floodwater reduction, recreation, and shoreline stabilization. Humans must take care not to engage in behaviors that will cause erosion.

How to Help Save the Earth

If you want to participate in saving the earth, you should attend college or a seminar to learn more about how to get involved. Marine biology colleges will offer courses that will help students learn more about this growing issue and learn to make changes to improve the way the earth works. Also local activism is always a great place to start, as you can see the tangible benefits of the efforts.

By Anica Oaks

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Author Bio - A recent college graduate from University of San Francisco, Anica loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she's used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.