Idea for Use in the Classroom

Offshore drilling is a process by which humans access petroleum trapped in rock found beneath the ocean. Before exploring the challenges and risks of this process, have students share how they rely on oil in their daily lives. Using the map, students can work in pairs to identify where most offshore wells and platforms are located along the United States and Mexican coasts and then use the scale to estimate how far offshore most are located. Students can further characterize the location of platforms and wells by using the map legend to determine whether most exist in shallow, deep, or ultra-deep waters.

Next, divide students into small groups and have them develop a list of challenges and risks related to offshore drilling based on the location of wells and platforms, as well as other evidence from the infographic. As students share their lists, review the risk of oil spills using the DeepwaterHorizon andIxtoc1 examples. Connect these spills to environmental impacts and risk to tourism by highlighting the presence of coastal wetlands, using the Loop Current inset to demonstrate how oil could be carried to the Atlantic coast, and analyzing the “Economy of the U.S. Gulf” chart.

Finally, review the chart of U.S. Gulf oil from federal leases to understand how drilling has changed over time. Ask: Should offshore drilling operations continue to expand into deep and ultra-deep waters? Encourage students to consider the advantages and disadvantages of oil extraction, as well as possible alternatives like renewable energy.