Completion Of An Oil Well

By Bob K. Jent

Once a site has been excavated and the digging has reached the appropriate depth, a well must be made ready to produce the oil the far reaching drill has accessed. This process is called the "completion" of an oil or natural gas well, and is as important a step in oil exploration as any, for, until the well is "completed", the valuable oil in the depths of the earth cannot be extracted, processed, and used ultimately by millions of consumers.

There are several different categories and types of completion that may be considered depending on the geographical or environmental concerns of an individual site. Barefoot completion is the most basic type, but can only be used when the rock formations around the well are hard and stable. Open-hole completion refers to the method where tubing is used, but the tubes are not cemented into place. Open-hole completion is very popular when dealing with horizontal wells, because cementing these wells can prove a tedious, painstaking undertaking, costing much time and money. Open-hole completion can be used in special situations where sand and debris from the formation around the well threatens movement. Open-hole sand control is the most viable option using stand-alone screens, open-hole gravel packs, and expandable screens to hold back the sand and rock so that oil production is not compromised. The most common form of completion is cased-hole completion. This involves cementing a casing or liner inside the well and is most effective in controlling the flow of the fluids within the well because of the seamless connection of the well bore and the formation. This connection is made possible through precise perforating and employment of controlled charges to increase and control oil flow.

Different completion components are used in the upper portion of the well to transport the oil from the well to the process plant. The festive name of "Christmas tree' is given to the assembly of valves which resembles the seasonal conifer of the holiday season. This assembly allows for precise control of oil flow as well as providing several points of access, allowing for well interventions such as the hooking up of a pump to import necessary chemicals into the well. Other parts of upper completion include many safety valves and production tubing in order to provide safe transport of oil to the processing plant. Companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corp can then process the valuable commodity and expedite its arrival and use by the large population of consumers in America and beyond.

Bob Jent is the president of Triple Diamond Energy Corp. Triple Diamond Energy specializes in acquiring the highest quality prime oil and gas properties. For more information, visithttp://www.triplediamondenergycorp.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_K._Jent

Offshore Drilling Jobs - How To Get Hired Without Drilling Experience

By Calvin Loh

So, you want to work an offshore drilling job. Do you know which companies are involved in offshore oil drilling? Besides the super-big players like Esso, BP, Shell, etc. Did you know that these big boys do not always do their own drilling? Quite often nowadays, they are forced to subcontract some of the work to smaller players.

Have you heard of these companies: Diamond Offshore (Houston, USA), Dolphin Drilling (Tananger, Norway), and Frigstad Offshore (Singapore)? How about Offrig Drilling ASA, Scorpion Offshore, Songa Offshore and Thule Drilling ASA? These are just some of the companies in the modern oil industry. In their own way, you can call them the modern wildcatters. During the last slump in oil prices, the giants like BP and Shell stopped investing in their staff and oil drilling technologies. But some smaller companies correctly predicted that prices would rise again. They invested in R&D to develop new drilling techniques and technologies. They build new oil rigs for deep-ocean drilling. These are the boys that Shell and BP are sub-contracting for oil drilling services.

If you want to work on an offshore oil drilling rig, you have two main choices. The path most people think of is to go on board as part of the drill crew. If you have prior experience, you will probably be a pumpman or derrickman. If not, you have to get in as a roughneck or roustabout. Drillers are pretty much the 2nd-in-command and assistant of the oil rig manager. Technically, a roughneck/roustabout is a laborer. On the other hand, how many laborers earn $50,000 per year for just 6 months of work every year? Unlike a normal laborer, who never gets the chance to work his way up to manager level, a roughneck with the proper attitude has a reasonable chance to become a manager on an oil rig. Of course, first he has to work his way through derrickman and driller.

This is not the only way to get an offshore drilling job. If you have some useful trade, like a cook or medic, this will be a good choice regardless of your offshore oil rig experience. You get the same generous living conditions of the drill crew, and better salary than a comparable job on dry land.

Just because it is an offshore oil rig does not mean it does not need office staff. No matter where you go, you can't escape paperwork. You'll still find your paper pushers. Except that on the oil rig they are called tool pushers. They work in the rig offices and rig floors.

You also have the mechanical department and electrical department. The mechanical department hires motormen, mechanics and maintenance supervisors who are responsible for all mechanical operations. The electrical department includes jobs like electrician, electronics technician and maintenance supervisors who repair and look after of all the electrical equipment.

An offshore drilling job is a very lucrative career. As you can see, you do not need drilling experience to get hired on an offshore oil rig. And now that you know there are companies other than Shell hiring people, you have many ways to get in on the action. You can get in as part of the drill crew, or as a tradesman.

RigWorker.com has been helping people get offshore drilling jobs since 1998. Click here to to learn how we can help you get your offshore drilling job Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Calvin_Loh

Types of Exploration Drilling

By Carmen Linehan

There are different types exploration drilling for oil and gas. There are some areas of the world that you can find oil or gas seeping from the earth's crust. It may be visible directly or there may be a "pockmark", which is an indentation in the ocean's floor that it is created from seeping gas. It is near the surface and has broken through the crust. This is unusual. Normally wells must be drilled to reach oil and gas. This can be an expensive and timely venture. Depending on the type of exploration, an exploration well may or may not be successful.

Technology has advanced in recent years and has made exploration for oil and gas much more efficient and productive. The different methods and types of oil and gas exploration include the following:

• GRAVITY SURVEY - measures the constant downward acceleration of gravity. It can measure the smallest changes. For gravity surveys, the instrument that is used is a gravimetor or a gravitometer.
• MAGNETIC SURVEY - measures the differences in the magnetic fields in the earth. The magnetmeter is used for magnetic surveys.
• PASSIVE SEISMIC SURVEY - it detects low frequency that occurs naturally. Passive seismic surveys are done with seismometers that "listen" over hours or days.
• REFLECTIVE SEISMIC SURVEY - it uses a controlled source of energy to reflect (bounce sound). An air gun or seismic vibrator is used for reflective seismic surveys.

These are exploration methods are known as geophysical explorations.

When a type of exploration results in a "lead" then further exploration is done before drilling begins. This is usually done with more sophisticated seismic exploration is done. Different oil drilling companies have different criteria when it comes to actually starting to drill. When there is a lead in remote areas or if the lead is offshore, smaller oil companies will not be able to finance the drill and larger oil companies will be the ones that will drill the well. Though independent oil companies are responsible for a majority of the oil drilled, they will not usually take on the more expensive drill. There are an abundant number of wells that have not proven productive enough for the larger company, but will still produce significant amounts of oil and/or gas if the well was developed.

Read more about Exploration Drilling. Visit Max Tech Oil's Featured Investments Portfolio for additional project information and geological surveys for oil drilling investments. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carmen_Linehan