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Classmates, My assigned nonrenewable resource was petroleum (oil). During my research there it was said that there is evidence going back to the early 1400’s that Native Americans knew of oil being beneath the earth and would dig small pits and harvest it for medicinal purposes (PRI, 2016). Early European settlers had harvest oil from above ground seeping using it as lantern fuel and lubrication for machinery as well (PRI, 2016). In the 1850’s an attorney by the name of George Bissell of New York thought that oil could be very profitable if harvested commercially and sold to the end user (PRI, 2016). This lead to men trying to conjugate methods for extracting the crude oil from the land. In 1859 in Western Pennsylvania Col. Edwin Drake came up with a method of drilling that became known as the Drake Well after his name. It is said to be one of the first successful Oil Wells for the sole purpose of locating oil beneath the ground (PRI, 2016). The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) holds 81% of the world’s oil with Venezuela at 24.9% and Saudi Arabia at 22.1% being the largest producers (OPEC, 2014). OPEC was established in September of 1960 in Baghdad in an effort to unify and coordinate petroleum policies within its member’s countries (OPEC, 2014). Geologist use seismic surveys to locate the earth’s surface where the ground underneath maybe beneficial for drilling and harvesting the oil (EIA, 2014). There is then a large hole drilled into the surface of the earth and a large pipe is inserted into the hole for structural integrity and then more holes are drilled beneath to allow oil to pass into the bore (EIA, 2014). At the top of the hole is a large collection of valves called a “Christmas Tree” that regulate the pressure and flow rates. Even though there have been precautions taken to limit the harm caused to the environment when harnessing the oil, the fact remains that all of the techniques used to do so have harmful effects on the environment. Though technology has aided in the reduction of environmental harm there is still much concern. Drilling for oil disturbs the land and marine life. When drilling using seismic techniques on off shore oil rigs there in harm caused to the fish and marine life while drilling an oil well requires clearing the land of all of its vegetation (EIA, 2014). Hydraulic fracturing requires large amounts of water and thus affects the aquatic life in that area as well has reducing the amount of water available in the area has well as creating waste water, toxic chemical, and other contaminants (EIA, 2014). Although the harnessing of oil has many adverse effects on our environment and is used in the vast majority of our everyday lives. Oil is used for heating, auto fuel, jet fuel, and diesel fuel just to name a few. The fact remains that the byproduct of oil usage causes air pollution, water pollution, diseases to both human and animal life, and plants (EIA, 2014). Researchers are continuing to explore other avenues to take the place of our heavy needs of consumption. They are continually striving to limit the impact on the environment as well. The fact remains it is similar to a productive relationship. You cannot continue to take, take, take, and not give anything back in return and that is what humans have done to garnish this precious resource. Chad Reference OPEC. (2014). Petroleum and its production. Retrieved from http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/data_graphs/330.htm The Paleontological Research Institute. (2016). The Drake well - the first oil well in pennsylvania. Retrieved June from https://www.priweb.org/ed/pgws/history/pennsylvania/pennsylvania.html U. S. Energy Information Administration. (2016). Oil (petroleum). Retrieved from http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=oil_home-basics