Zebin Dholasaniya

ISM- Period 7
"Petroleum Oil and Natural Gas." Energy4me Petroleum Oil and NaturalGas Comments. N.p., n.d. Web.
04 Nov. 2014. http://www.energy4me.org/energy-facts/energy-sources/petroleum/

Process of petroleum extraction: geologist construct a blueprint of where to obtain oil from,
engineers drill a well using a rig, the well with bring a flow of oil and gas, a pump is placed on
well head, an electric motor operates a lever, the lever pushes the pump up and down, and
creates a suction to draw up the oil
Easier and more accurate means of identify oil reservoirs is the development of seismic
technology (technology that creates an images of the underwater by bouncing sound waves off
developing rocks
Drilling location modern technology allows oil and gas companies to drill vertically from a site
up to 5 miles away from target area
Drilling Process the use of motor to turn a pipe with a drill bit located at the end.
- Rocks are crushed to create a hole in the ground, the drill mud collected in the process of
drilling a well, travels through holes in the pipe and to the surface
Wells are expensive products, costing over $15 million each
Prior to drilling for oil extraction, companies must sign legal contacts, giving them the
permission to drill and confirming they are aware the impact drilling can have on the
environment
Collecting oil: Drill up until the location of oil, casing of concrete inserted into the newly formed
hole, holes in the bottom of casing are created, wells are attached with Christmas trees, which
will send out acid or pressurized sand to break through the final layer of rock and to gather oil
into well
Production of oil: After drilling has occurred, oil must be prepared for the refinery to be
processed at processing plants.
- Fluids obtained from underwater include oil, gas, and water, and require separation after
being transported to the surface
- Wellheads and other equipment undergo routine maintenance, to replace any machinery
that is malfunctioning
Ultra-deep water Operations a highly expensive process of oil retrieval that requires state of
the art technology, expertise, and money
Environmental Care: Using multiple wells at one location, padding to minimize damages to
water surface, well production stimulated by environmentally sound chemicals
Areas that are expected to contain significant new oil and gas reservoirs: Gulf of Mexico,
Offshore Brazil, Alaska, Offshore western Africa, Russia, and Areas across Asia and the Pacific.

This source provides an overview of the process of recovering oil including the approval of contracts,
the discovery of a drilling location, the drilling process, the production of oil, and the processing and
refining of hydrocarbon resources.