http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/oil Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:21:08 -0400 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:21:08 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1509/commercialization-of-biochar-and-the-benefits-for-climate-change-and-agriculture By Nate D. Van Beilen - Biochar is biomass that has been converted into charcoal through the pyrolysis process. Biochar is applied into soils for carbon sequestration or for improving soil fertility. The carbon bonds in biochar are very stable and do not break down easily which makes biochar a long term carbon storage solution. The physical structure of biochar improves soil fertility by decreasing soil tensile strength and bulk density. Biochar also acts as a soil aggregate which provides habitat for microorganisms. Additionally, the porosity of biochar improves nutrient and water retention in soils thereby improving... Wed, 21 Dec 2016 11:58 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1509/commercialization-of-biochar-and-the-benefits-for-climate-change-and-agriculture http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1536/environmental-decisions-in-the-context-of-war-bombing-isils-oil By David C. Harary - This paper evaluates the ethical dilemma coalition forces had to face when deciding to target and take out ISIL's primary source of revenue – oil. By gathering the impacts ISIL has had on the globe as well as the impacts aerial attacks could have on the MENA region; this paper was able to create a decision matrix that quantitatively weighs the options decision-makers had to limit further harm done on the region's society, environment, and economy. This paper serves as a baseline tool by which policymakers can quickly process the plusses and minuses of initiating attacks. Future research... Wed, 30 Nov 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1536/environmental-decisions-in-the-context-of-war-bombing-isils-oil http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1414/angola-1990-2000-oil-democracy-and-a-successful-failed-state By Eric Wilcox - Four decades after independence from Portugal, Angola remains a country with significant barriers to good governance and social development. Although the state's constitution established a multiparty democracy in the early 1990s, measures of high poverty and low state provision of public goods, in addition to high levels of corruption from the Angolan executive government headed by President José Eduardo dos Santos, do not equate with the proclaimed status of a democracy. Through an analysis of Angola's attempts at and challenges in democratization, particularly in the decade of the constitutional... Mon, 23 May 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1414/angola-1990-2000-oil-democracy-and-a-successful-failed-state http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1376/the-resource-curse-in-nigeria-comparing-the-security-of-offshore-and-onshore-oil-production By Mary L. Kleinpeter - Developing states with large natural resource industries have an inclination to become over-reliant on one source of capital, causing other industries to fail, promoting corruption, and stimulating crime. Nigeria is one such case, as their booming oil industry has lead to the creation of new militant groups who target petroleum production sites to either loot oil, kidnap for ransom, or damage infrastructure. In the past decade, major international drilling companies such as Royal Dutch Shell have begun to focus their drilling operations offshore in the Niger Delta in result of the increasing attacks... Wed, 09 Mar 2016 01:20 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1376/the-resource-curse-in-nigeria-comparing-the-security-of-offshore-and-onshore-oil-production http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1529/effects-of-conventional-and-organic-agricultural-techniques-on-soil-ecology By Nate Van Beilen - This paper explores the differing effects that conventional and organic agriculture have on soil ecosystems. The findings are primarily based on a review of published literature found in journal articles and government reports. Conventional agriculture is found to generally have higher yields than organic agriculture. However, the monetary benefits of high yielding conventional agriculture systems use monoculture cropping, tilling, pesticides, and fertilizers that have a significant negative effect on the natural processes soil ecosystems. As a result, these natural process need to be replaced... Sun, 31 Jan 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1529/effects-of-conventional-and-organic-agricultural-techniques-on-soil-ecology http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/978/exchanging-oil-sands-expansion-for-renewable-energy-growth-in-canada By Scott Sutherland - An important pipeline, called the Keystone Export Limited (XL) pipeline, connecting Alberta oil sands to refineries on the Texas gulf cost would hasten this process. It is estimated that between 2010 and 2025, more than $379 billion will be invested in oil sands development.[1] As a result, oil production is expected to more than double, to roughly 3.7 million barrels a day by 2021.[2] With the current debate surrounding the oil sands, this doubling of production will have major implications for Canada and the world. Based on a thorough analysis, I will demonstrate that further oil sands development... Fri, 09 Jan 2015 01:14 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/978/exchanging-oil-sands-expansion-for-renewable-energy-growth-in-canada http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/868/soil-pollution-from-recycling-centers-case-study-analysis-from-the-campus-of-michigan-state-university By Kaycee Morra Et. Al. - Soil composition greatly affects the health of the entire ecosystem, making it useful to investigate how anthropogenic processes impact soil chemistry. Industrial facilities are common sources of known soil contaminants. In this study, we hypothesized that the Michigan State University recycling center would alter the soil composition of the surrounding area. Soil samples were taken at various distances from the center’s dropboxes, including those from the adjacent Baker Woodlot. Analysis of the samples for aluminum, phosphorus, pH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and ferric iron revealed a number... Mon, 17 Mar 2014 11:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/868/soil-pollution-from-recycling-centers-case-study-analysis-from-the-campus-of-michigan-state-university http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/758/the-barents-sea-conflict-russia-and-norway-competing-over-fossil-fuel-riches-in-the-arctic By Niklas Witte - This article aims to investigate the effects of moderators such as culture, power dynamics and political factors on the negotiation behavior and processes displayed in a dyadic, geopolitical negotiation scenario by using a hybrid model of well-established negotiation frameworks. In addition, it evaluates if and to what extent media attention and (third-party) political coalitions influence this negotiation scenario and the resulting bilateral negotiation outcomes.The majority of existing negotiation research on the Barents Sea conflict focuses on agreements regulating the fishing industry only... Mon, 16 Sep 2013 10:53 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/758/the-barents-sea-conflict-russia-and-norway-competing-over-fossil-fuel-riches-in-the-arctic http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1106/the-north-pole-shall-we-race By Sofiya Kartalova - The territorial claims on the North Pole are the latest contentious grey area amongst world forces – Russia, Canada, the USA, Denmark and Norway. The events could have been the perfect opportunity for a lesson in puppet mastery on the international political stage conducted with precision and panache. Instead, the political leaders provided their fair share of immature tantrums and pointless boasting. They enjoyed being in the spotlight, boosting the national confidence by flexing their muscles in front of cameras and voters. And as ever the obliging media gladly followed suit and fitted... Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1106/the-north-pole-shall-we-race http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/353/big-oils-stranglehold-on-america By Regina L. Diamond - Big oil’s ruthless supply and demand tactics have monopolized the entire energy industry by shredding competitors’ attempts to offer alternatives. Consumers are thus forced to surrender their right to choose due to the aggressive techniques being used by the oil industry to prevent the use of clean energy. Unfortunately, the American government has historically sided with the oil tycoons. In the movie Who Killed the Electric Car the executive director for Energy and Climate Solutions, Joseph J. Romm accurately declares, “There’s no question that the people who control the... Wed, 05 Jan 2011 09:22 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/353/big-oils-stranglehold-on-america http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1255/getting-it-right-searching-for-the-elusive-solution-in-the-niger-delta By James Davis - The Niger Delta conflict is one created and exacerbated by the oil and natural gas riches of the region. Great hydrocarbon wealth has been extracted over the past decades, yet Delta residents continue to live in underdeveloped and polluted circumstances. This situation has fueled widespread, and often violent, conflict within the region. While the Nigerian government has made attempts to resolve the conflict, most recently with the 2009 amnesty program, these attempts have repeatedly failed. This essay will discuss these failures, as well as present a set of initiatives for the Delta that, together... Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1255/getting-it-right-searching-for-the-elusive-solution-in-the-niger-delta http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/163/michael-cassio-as-a-foil-to-shakespeares-othello By Veronika Walker - Theodore Spencer wrote of Shakespeare's Othello, “In presenting the character of Othello to his audience, Shakespeare emphasizes very strongly his grandeur, self-control, and nobility” (Spencer 127-28). This observation demonstrates that these three main traits—grandeur, self-control, and nobility—are key to understanding Othello's complex character, and even more helpful in understanding the contrasts between him and his subordinates. Most notably in this comparison is young Michael Cassio, a beautifully written foil character to the general in the fact that where Othello... Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:50 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/163/michael-cassio-as-a-foil-to-shakespeares-othello