The Process of Oil Extraction

Oil extraction was a guessing game in the mid-1800s.

In Colonial America, oil extraction was as easy as finding oil seeping out of the ground and collecting it. Modern oil extraction requires specialized electronic equipment to find oil reserves and special pumps to remove them.

Locating Oil

Today, geologists use seismic equipment to find possible oil deposits. The most advanced machines send sound waves into the ground and chart the results with a 3D model. Sometimes, 3D models are extrapolated over time to predict changes in reservoirs.

Types of Pumps

Once found, geologists take samples of the ground to see how feasible it is to drill. If economically viable, they have three choices of pumps: vertical, slant and horizontal. Vertical pumps go straight into the ground. Slant pumps lean at an angle to get around possible obstacles. Horizontal pumps are vertical pumps will special drills that can move left or right.

Separation

At the refinery, oil sits in a large tank where the different types of petroleum, such as kerosene and jet fuel, separate, according to the Energy Information Administration. The heaviest petroleum molecules sink to the bottom, while the lightest float to the top.

References

• Institute for Energy Research: Energy IQ: Sources and More Information
• Centre for Energy: How is Oil Found?
• Science Clarified: Oil Drilling
• Energy Information Administration: Energy Kids: Oil Basics