The existence of crude oil has been known for centuries and over time the growing demand for this resource has driven exploration and production to maximum expansion. Earth's natural reserves of crude oil are limited; it is not a renewable resource. Corn and Copeland said that, based on survey studies, half of the remaining undiscovered crude oil and natural gas lies beneath the oceans and seas. According to the book "Public Reaction to Offshore Oil", the demand for crude oil is still increasing and there is no doubt that resources are running out and global production will be forced to decrease in the future. Although bodies of water are extremely sensitive ecosystems, as the demand for oil continues to grow and technological innovations developed offshore drilling has been introduced to meet the growing demand (Corn and Copeland). There is no doubt that oil extraction, in general, and offshore oil extraction, in particular, are playing an important role in meeting the continuous demand for resources, which benefits our energy and industrial desire immensely. However, this exploitation of resources also entails a cost in terms of ecosystem degradation, environmental pollution and health and social imbalance. Does the current trend of exponential expansion of offshore oil drilling exploration and production follow the path towards sustainable economic and environmental development? Based on the article "Offshore Drilling", the term offshore drilling refers to both the exploration and eventual production of wells that access subsea resource reserves of oil and gas fields. The first offshore drilling was carried out in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Summerland, California, southeast of Santa Barbara, in 1898. The technological breakthrough that made...... middle of paper ...... development can only happen if society is well informed about economic and environmental activities. Works Cited Corn, M. Lynne and Copeland, Claudia “The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Coastal Wetland and Wildlife Impacts and Response.” Congressional Research Service (July 7, 2010). Mabro, Roberto; Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Oil in the 21st century: problems, challenges and opportunities. Oxford Press.(2006).“Offshore Drilling." Green Energy: An A to Z Guide. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2010. Creed Reference. Web. November 11, 2013."Offshore Oil Drilling (Gulf Oil Spill) . " Green Technology: An A to Z Guide. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2011. Creed Reference. Web. November 11, 2013 "Public Reaction to Offshore Oil." Energy Encyclopedia. Oxford: Elsevier Science & Technology, 2004. Creed Reference. Web. 11 November 2013..