Oil drilling Interview


To:                          Mr. Jorge Gomez

From:                    Michael L. Carlock, Matti Joyner, Robert Feagans, and Shane Goff           

Date:                     December 8, 2011

Subject:                Interview Offshore Oil Drilling



As part of our extensive research we felt that it would be best to gain the perspective of someone in the field related to our topic. With that being said we developed and conducted an interview with a Mr. Joshua Guillen, a Petroleum Engineer from Texas Tech University and works for ONEOK Energy Company. We have highlighted key points extracted in our conversation which will help us grasp such a diverse topic.

Due to its latest publicity whether it be positive or negative it is essential for the general population especially those of us living in the United States, a country dependent on oil, to fully form an understanding of this great debate.

It was our goal all the while to not fall victim to the shared ignorance when we chose to dedicate time and research to this subject, with that being said we were able to discover the following.

A.      Tell us about your background- I graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering at Texas Tech University. I now work for ONEOK and will begin working towards my Master’s degree in the near future.

B.      What is the security situation like on these oil rigs? - It is better from a year ago and since awareness has increased. However with all this massive equipment all of coarse being controlled through the people trained to use it you still have to be careful and stay aware.

C.      Some environmentalists argue against pushed attempts to extract oil, what is your position on this?- Well one must always recognize the dignity of nature and the understanding that it must support the livelihood and provide benefits to those being supported through the environment. So while our mission is to provide the most efficient ways for our country to keep moving forward it is our job to make sure no destructive force gets in the way of that way of life.

D.      Earlier you said that the rigs are safer than they had been recently yet precaution is still strongly encouraged. What is the one move you would do to maximize safety without compromising efficiency? - Well you told me about this device you are proposing. I know you guys are young but something groundbreaking from invested research would make a tremendous difference. Also with these bans on new developments and research it is hard to make any advancement on our existing technology. If there was equipment or procedures to take worrying about safety out of the picture we can focus on maximizing efficiency and distribution.

E.       Is becoming energy independent a realistic way of looking at this?- Well it is no secret about America’s economic woes and without going too political we are running out of reasonable options that still keep us from sinking even lower during these hard times. With all the data gathered America could set up shop and be able to run the table when it comes to energy, but the glaring setback is the time and funding it would take to reach the level I’m talking about, and even then there is no 100% guarantee of the amount of oil they suspect is off the coast. So I would say it is a very strong possibility but I cannot go on record saying there is indisputable evidence that we can do so.

F.       What direction does extracting oil seem to be heading towards? - Well it’s all up to the people in Washington they ultimately decide the fate of this economy over the next few decades, and I can say no matter which route they decide oil has to be along for the ride because no other energy source is even close to complete implementation. Also it has been estimated that at least two centuries worth of oil is still ours for the taking so my job as well as others is secure for the time being.

After the conclusion of our interview session we all came to an agreement that this man rich in his knowledge on this subject had helped us in our own personal understanding of the politics and functioning process of offshore oil drilling. It is our hope that the efforts of reaching out awareness do not go un-noticed and that qualified people step up and offer their solutions for the betterment of our great nation.

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