Oil well drilling is an extremely complex and intricate operation requiring individuals very skilled apart from specialized tools and machinery. A hole in the earth is drilled to fetch these natural products. Huge rigs called oil rigs tap out the resources of oil and natural gases, underneath the earth. It is because they offer access to lucrative reserves of fuel that are deep inside the earth or underneath the ocean’s floor, these are an important part of the global energy sector. These platforms-on-land or water-use sophisticated, tricky technology to extract oil from the depths every day that we consume at home. Under this article of The Article Heaven about the process of oil rigs.
Oil rigs can range in size and shape based on their location.
- Onshore rigs are mostly used on land and are relatively smaller and less complex than offshore rigs.
- Unlike onshore rigs, offshore rigs are massive structures that stand on bodies of water; they are constructed to withstand terrible conditions of weather and huge waves.
Oil rigs include shallow water jack-up rigs, deeper water semi-submersible rigs, and drillships to reach into very deep seas. Irrespective of the type, the role played by all oil rigs is drilling into the earth to extract oil or natural gas.
An oil rig is like a power drill; you would use it to drill a hole in your wall to hang a picture or install a light fixture. It has tools to connect or detach pipe pieces as you draw back out or go deeper, a large rack to carry pipe lengths, and a powerful motor to spin metal pipes with a drill bit on the end. Perhaps you’re always wondering how these constructions are done. We are here today to give you a basic understanding of the very challenging conditions in which these huge rigs are constructed.
Full Process Of Oil Rigs Working
1. Setting Up and Choosing a Site
It is only at this point that drilling can take place. Oil companies look for potential sites where oil could be discovered using seismic surveys. These surveys inject sound waves into the Earth and assess the outcome to determine formations in the subsurface area that may hold oil or gas. In case a positive indication is shown as an oil reserve, a company will do the necessary for the environmental studies and go ahead to seek drilling permissions.
2. Constructing and Moving the Rig
Following the selection of the location for drilling, the rig is constructed. Onshore rigs are usually assembled at the drilling site. The development of offshore rigs is more extensive. According to their design, these enormous rigs can be built in parts and later transported to their destination on barges or tugboats. Offshore rigs have to be anchored if they float on water.
3. Exploring the Well
The primary role of an oil rig is to drill wells. To start drilling, a rotating drill bit attached to a long pipe string is first lowered into the earth. The drill bit is designed to pierce the sedimentary and geological layers in order to reach the oil reservoir underneath. Depending on the depth of the well, this may take weeks or even months. As the drill bit goes deeper, drilling fluid or what is known as mud is poured into the well to cool it, to flush out rock pieces, and to decrease the likelihood of blow out, surprise breakouts of gas or oil.
4. Removing the Oil
It is now time to pump out the oil from the well when capped and cased. Sometimes pressure under the earth causes the oil to rise up to the surface by itself. However, for most of the wells, other methods are used to force the oil up to the surface.
Pumps are also extensively used on offshore rigs to lift up the oil from the well. Gas or water injections are sometimes made to raise the pressure in the well to force out the oil. In secondary recovery, this process brings out as much oil as possible from the reservoir.
5. Oil Storage and Separation
The extracted oil often contains a mixture of gas, water, and oil. Separators are typically placed on site at the rig that separates this mixture into its constituent parts. In many cases, the oil is stored in tanks while the petrol is flared, burned off, or even stored for later use. The water may often be treated and reinjected to the well for optimal pressure.
6. Transporting the Oil
The final step is transferring the oil from the rig to a refinery where it is converted into chemicals, petrol and diesel. Oil can be transferred from offshore rigs to onshore or other offshore storage facilities through pipelines. Sometimes, the oil is transferred to tanker ships which carry it to refineries around the world.