Where Would We Be Without Oil and Natural Gas
From our livelihoods to our lifestyles, the oil and natural gas industry enhances each day in the life of America.By almost any comparison, the standard of living for most Americans is above the world’s standard – from our economic prosperity, from the way we live and play, and from the clean air, water and environment we enjoy to the overall health and safety of our nation.
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This quality of life can be attributed to many factors, including an abundance of natural resources. Among the most important are oil and natural gas.
As America’s reliable provider of energy for more than 100 years, the oil and natural gas industry has been responsible for finding, producing, and distributing the energy that has enabled the country to prosper. By innovating the technologies and building the infrastructure that help our country to lead the world in commerce, the industry has fueled our nation’s growth engine, its productivity and progress. See: The Story of Oil and Natural Gas.
A key ingredient.
Oil and natural gas are processed to provide advanced fuels and the essential ingredients that make our homes comfortable, safe and enjoyable inside and out. In addition to heating and cooling, they are also used for numerous products for:
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In the workplace, in agriculture and in commerce, oil and natural gas keep us competitive and help
create and protect American jobs. They are widely used in manufacturing for:
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The health and safety of Americans depend on products whose key components originate from petroleum-based products that are used to make:
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When America plays, the oil and natural gas industry gets them where they want to go and powers the “toys” we enjoy for outdoor, indoor and family recreation, including:
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A key component of our quality of life is personal mobility – the freedom to travel where we want,
when we want, and the availability of safe and reliable transportation. The oil and natural gas
industry powers most of our vehicles including:
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Raising the Bar of Performance.
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By developing cleaner-burning fuels, the industry is not only making travel possible, but it also is improving our environment. Although 70 million more drivers are on the road today than 30 years ago, vehicle emissions are down 41 percent and the air has become cleaner. In fact it takes 33 vehicles running on low-sulfur gasoline today to equal the emissions of just one 1970 model year vehicle.
Other advances also are helping the environment and are reducing the impact of finding and producing energy on our planet:
- Directional drilling – which makes it possible to drill several wells from a single location
- Double-hulled tankers – which reduce the likelihood of spills
- 3-D seismic studies – which help geoscientists “see” underground and pinpoint energy-bearing rock formations before they drill
- Remote Operating Vehicles – which use robotics to produce energy from miles beneath the surface of the Ocean
- Global Positioning Satellites – which keep floating rigs and drillships stationary while they drill
Using new technologies, the men and women of the oil and natural gas industry are working smarter to find more energy, produce it more safely, and transport it to consumers more efficiently than ever before.
Enhancing Our Future.
Recognizing that it has a critical role in our future, the oil and natural gas industry believes that the best way to develop long-term energy strategies is to maintain an open, two-way dialogue. The industry is working to communicate more than ever before.
One of America’s greatest traditions is its ability to generate a national resolve to get things done. Energy security and preserving our quality of life are challenges that require us all to pull in the same direction. The oil and natural gas industry is ready and willing to do its part. It understands that performance speaks louder than words, and it takes seriously its responsibility to produce and deliver energy to consumers.
If you would like to learn more about the work of the oil and natural gas industry in the United States, check out our website at www.api.org. Click on About Oil and Natural Gas or In the Classroom. There is lots of great information there to help you earn the Energy Merit Badge!