Oil well drilling involves locating oil deposits, fulfilling legal and environmental responsibilities, preparing the site, and extracting the oil. Geologists use modern technologies to locate oil, legal issues must be addressed, and preparations involve clearing the site and constructing access roads. The rig is then constructed and deep drilling can begin, followed by the installation of a pumping system for oil extraction.
Drilling oil wells requires a great deal of work from a wide range of professionals. For oil well drilling to be performed successfully, many distinct stages of the process must be completed. These include: the initial search and discovery of oil; the fulfillment of legal and – increasingly – social and environmental responsibilities; the preparation of the systems; and finally, the extraction of the oil.
The first step in the process is to locate a source of oil. Geologists look for sites where rock and soil conditions suggest possible oil deposits. Today, satellite imaging helps them study terrain. Other modern technologies help measure anomalies in the Earth’s gravitational and magnetic fields that could be indicative of an oil deposit. Various seismological instruments can also be used to send shock waves through rock layers in order to determine whether there are pools of oil beneath them.
Once a site has been identified, legal issues need to be dealt with. Businesses must operate within the bounds of the laws of the jurisdiction in which the site is located. International efforts by countries and supranational and multinational organizations are now encouraging companies to maintain certain standards regardless of where they operate. Companies are increasingly required to research and minimize any possible negative social and environmental impacts of oil well drilling.
Preparations for drilling for oil wells involve clearing trees and leveling the land. A reservoir pit is constructed to store some of this natural debris, while man-made garbage should always be removed from a natural site. Natural wastes are also sometimes transported to another location if their collection at the site would cause environmental damage to the area. Access roads are generally required for transport to and from the site, but in cases where the site is very remote or road construction has been prohibited, alternative access by air or river may need to be established.
Once these preparations have been made, the crew digs a pit around the intended location of the bore hole. This workspace is known as a “cellar”. The main bore hole is then constructed and other holes are dug around it for storage. Finally, the rig is ready and deep drilling can begin. Casing pipe is inserted where the driller dug, followed by concrete to create solid walls. After the drilling process is complete, the rig is removed and a pumping system is installed. The oil can then be extracted.
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