Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Notes on the world of carbon-based fuels and extracting the fuels from the earth

Why does the oil and gas industry first erect a steel tower, or superstructure, aka a derrick, when they begin drilling? The derrick
enables the crew to hoist up lengths of steel pipe (30 foot pieces, traditionally) that will be connected to the drill bit and sent on its way into the earth.

Today several innovations in extraction technology have become part of the energy industry -
- horizontal drilling (first the drill goes into the earth vertically - later it veers)
- steerable drill bit
- coil tubing (replacing the straight steel pipe)

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