Notes on the Climate: No end in sight

Millions of litres of oil are flowing daily from the wellhead of the destroyed Deepwater Horizon drilling platform into the Gulf of Mexico - and an end is not in sight. The current oil catastrophe has touched off a wide discussion on the risks and utility of offshore drilling for oil. Particularly risky are deep and very-deep water drilling. Despite the evident risks and often expressed reservations, oil companies are increasingly planning the exploration of new off-shore oil deposits. This article presents an overview of current offshore drilling in its geographical, economic and political context.