America has depended on oil since the 1800s and the invention of modern machinery. From skin care products to the gasoline in our cars and engines, petroleum is the basis of almost everything we use in everyday life. Without oil the nation could not meet the energy demands we need to survive. Continued exploration has been the subject of heated debate between supporters and opponents, especially when it comes to offshore drilling. My goal here is to show the different views on oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and present a better understanding from a national perspective. Drilling for our offshore oil reserves can save the United States billions of dollars. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW For decades, offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has provided much of the natural petroleum resources to meet our nation's vast energy demands. From 1978 to 1982, the United States owned 38 percent of the world's offshore oil wells, most located in the Gulf of Mexico. From mid-1954 to 1984, an average of 755 wells were drilled per year. While oil production from shallow waters is declining, deep-water productivity is steadily increasing. Overall, resources produced by drilling in the Gulf represent more than 25% of our oil production and 20% of our natural gas production. According to the most optimistic surveyors, the Gulf could contain more than 40 billion barrels of undiscovered oil, which could support our national energy needs for many years. Discoveries in these deeper rock formations, known as the Lower Tertiary, are said to yield up to 15 billion barrels of reserves. Chevron and BP, two of the world's largest oil exploration and engineering companies, are constantly seeking new... paper reserves... that we already own could dramatically increase our prosperity for decades to come. Cited Associated Press. “Pelosi: Democrats Open to Limited Offshore Oil Drilling.” Fox News. Fox News Network. August 16, 2008. Web. February 21, 2011. Daily, Mathew, Brendan Farrington. “Obama Administration: No Offshore Drilling in Eastern Gulf of Mexico or East Coast for Seven Years Due to BP Oil Spill. Huffington Post. Huffpost Green. December 1, 2010. Web. February 21, 2011. Mouawad, Jad. “Deep Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.” New York Times. New York Times. November 8, 2006. Web. February 15, 2011. Restuccia, Andrew. “Upper House Republicans to Offer Drilling Bill.” The hill. Capital Hill Publishing Inc. March 16, 2011. Web. February 22. 2011.