Drilling for Oil

How is oil formed?

The remains of ocean plants and animals drift to
the ocean bottom.
Sand and silt cover the remains.

Over millions of years the sand and
silt develop into a thick layer.
Heat and pressure from these layers help to
turn the remains into crude oil.

Oil gathers in a pocket called a
reservoir.

3 conditions must be met:
1. A source rock rich in hydrocarbon material must be
buried deep enough for heat to cook it into oil.

3 conditions must be met:
2. A porous reservoir rock must be present for the oil
to accumulate

3 conditions must be met:
3. An impermeable rock (doesnt allow liquid or gas through) must be
above to seal the oil from escaping to the surface

Once an oil reservoir is located,
the oil is pumped out.
oil

Oil Exploration Activity ~ where to drill?

How oil is trapped by impermeable rock
animation

Once an oil reservoir is located,
the oil is pumped out.
oil

Drill bit animation
When the bit gets to a certain depth, heavy mud is circulated
to float the rock bits up out of the hole.

Then the drill bit continues farther down
animation

Oil rig
with
drill bit
close-up
animation

Searching for oil over water using
seismology

Drilling in the ocean ~ the depth of
the water dictates the best platform

Lowering the Blowout Preventer to
the seafloor.
animation

Oil is sent to shore via pipeline or tanker

At the refinery, crude oil is processed

Crude oil
becomes.