Non-living Resources
The most valuable non-living resources found in the ocean are oil and natural gas. Of course,
these resources are below the seafloor, and require drilling to reach. Oil platforms can hosts
dozens of oil wells that are drilled in places where the ocean is sometimes 2,000 meters deep
(Figure14.26). Working on oil platforms is dangerous for workers, who are exposed to harsh
ocean conditions and gas explosions. Oil rigs also pose a threat to the ocean ecosystem, as
a result of oil leaks and disruption of the natural environment.
Figure 14.26: Oil platforms like this one of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico can be fixed or
they can float. They are generally used on the continental shelf but new technology allows
them to be in deeper places. ( 5 )
Many minerals are found on the ocean floor. They can form crystallized spheres called
nodules that one day may be collected or mined from the bottom of the ocean (Figure