You might be considering a career in drilling, you could already be working in the industry, or you could just be interested in learning a little more about the process of extracting oil. In any case, this is the blog for you!
The oil and gas industry is unbelievably expansive, but this blog will focus on breaking down the drilling side of the operation. Drilling refers to the process of cutting deep into the earth’s surface to identify geological deposits and create a hole for extracting crude when a viable reservoir is found.
Almost every rig in operation today is a Rotary Rig, meaning that they use a spinning point to drive through geological formations. Think of an 18V drill you’d use in your garage, the principle is the same. The rig drives a bit into the ground, using drill pipe (hollow lengths of metal) to extend the drill string and enable the creation of deeper wells.
If you’ve ever been on an airplane, you’re familiar with the concept of pressure. The same pressure that pops your ears would collapse the walls if you tried to drill straight down without any controls. To balance the pressure in the well bore with the balance of the pressure in the earth’s formation, weighted mud, or drilling fluid, is pumped into the well and circulated. The mud is very important, not only does it maintain pressure, but it also keeps the bit cool and cycles out the cuttings from the bottom of the well.
The drill string and the mudworks are the two main ingredients of an oil rig, but there’s obviously much more you need to know. This is a very, very simplified overview of the drilling process. Bear with us as we explain each step and component in much greater detail.
Let’s keep it down to earth!