Sunday, May 19, 2013

What Goes Into The Production Of Seismic Drilling Products

By Kathryn Neal


Seismic drilling can be referred to by several terms, including shot drilling, and is used in the process of surveys for geological purposes and seismic drilling products. The purpose of this type of exploration is to get an idea of the earth's underlying surface, in order to find out if there are any valuable substances in the vicinity. The survey will also reveal if it is possible to reach the material underneath, by way of drilling, and can provide valuable information about subsurface formations that can be used by scientists for several purposes. Oil and gas are often found by the use of seismic surveys.

The first part of the proceedings involves the digging of a hole. Various products are used to perform this action, such as those that make use of water or air. The drills are steadied upon sledges or another form of platform, and are preferably mobile. The team of workers cannot spend too much time taking the drills to another place, and then setting them up again.

Explosives are the next stage of the survey. They are what cause the very important vibrations that reflect and refract from the materials underground, which in turn reveals their locations. Seismic equipment is used to follow the vibrations. The explosives are placed inside the holes that were formed by the shot hole exploration equipment. Explosive experts are therefore also required on the work site, alongside the geologists and other personnel that work with seismic surveys.

Shot hole exploration can be harmful and disruptive to the area in which it is performed. It could destroy important plants and animals that are in the surroundings. It may even be disturbing to the people nearby the exploration site. For this reason, a permit must be obtained, which can be done by stating to the necessary authorities why the work is needed.

The use of heavy machinery, and especially explosives, can be dangerous. The workers on the site will therefore adhere to certain safety precautions. The company conducting the survey will also need to be responsible for the clearing of any waste products left behind by their work.

The vibrations of the explosions will show if there are substances under the ground, at which point the workers can decide if they want to drill actual wells. They could drill test wells first, with minimal effort, before they start the main proceedings. Shot hole exploration is sort of like a gamble, as there is no way to confirm without a doubt that the findings will be useful. Sometimes it is also the case that the formations (materials) are too deep to reach, or too impossible to retrieve. The survey would then be a waste of time.

Over the years there have been many ways of finding resources underground. The use of explosives to shake the ground and provide wave recordings was referred to as land-side seismology, while Palmieri's seismology involved the use of electricity and mercury to provide findings. Nowadays, geological seismology has become more technical, and is more efficiently performed.

However, as people grew increasingly aware of the delicate ecosystem in which they live, there became a need for a better way to perform seismic surveys. The explosions were just to destructive. Thumper trucks are an alternative method of causing vibrations, and large air guns are useful for marine surveys. Seismic drilling products are extremely useful, but should not put the environment in jeopardy.




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