How Oil Drilling Has Changed

In the modern world, people prefer oil as the ultimate source of energy. The oil industry’s steady growth is due to the increase of automobiles and generating electricity. On the other hand, technology and the economy are affecting the way companies drill oil.

The Evolution of Oil Drilling

Companies drilling oil are changing the way they operate to keep up with the market trends. Currently, oil rigs are much safer and efficient than they were before. They are also friendly to the environment. Also, there are new machines and tools in the market.But most of the changes happened in the drilling. Here are some of the changes that make up modern-day oil drilling;

Technological advancements

The software and hardware that aid oil drilling is different from what was in use before. Unlike what the operators previously used, the equipment is user-friendly and automated. It is easy to control the drilling machines as if it were a computer game. The displays are touch-enabled, with joysticks to control the movement. Offshore and onshore drilling is now safer due to the new types of crane brakes with hydraulics and air compression. It helps the machines adapt to the environment while improving on its efficiency.

Horizontal Drilling

Thanks to technology advancements, oil drilling companies can engage in multi-dimensional oil exploration. In the past, it was impossible as the machines would drill only in one direction. After realizing that companies can find more oil deposits when they dig horizontally, the tools’ manufacturersdecided to improve the equipment. At first, the drilling starts vertical but goes horizontal once the rig reaches a certain depth they are targeting.

Horizontal drilling is more eco-friendly, and it is much cheaper to use the technique than it was in the past. This is mainly due to more advanced methods taking a foothold in the market.

Seismic Imaging

Before the integration of technology in oil exploration, there were limited ways to locate oil. The technicians would look at points where the surface show signs of oil presence. It was impossible to identify places to explore oil as the reserves are located deep below the ground. Oil drilling companies would suffer losses as they were not sure if they will find oil. However, things are now different as geologists found the ideal method of determining if a particular area is viable for oil exploration.

The seismic imaging method entails the use of sound waves. It looks at whether the waves find an obstruction to determine oil reserves. Oil drilling firms can accurately predict the existence of oil deposits in a particular area.

Hydraulic Fracturing

Although hydraulic fracturing started in the 1900s, it is becoming popular because it is a versatile oil exploration technique, especially for rocky places. Since there is little pressure for the oil to come out, the method uses a combination of water and chemicals to fracture the rocks. It then allows oil to flow freely.