Oil extraction method

The oil

Oil, or what is called black gold or tar, is a thick, greenish-black liquid with a high density and flammable. It is found in the upper layers of the earth’s crust, and a group of different alkanes enter into its composition, which together form hydrocarbons.

Oil is considered one of the most important primary energy sources used in the production of electricity, and the manufacture of many chemical products such as pesticides, plastics, and many others. In this article, we will talk about the stages of oil extraction.

Oil extraction method

Determine its location

Oil is found at very low depths under the surface of the earth, oceans, or seas. In the past, exploratory wells were drilled in places where it was expected to be found. Currently, primitive methods are used to test its locations under the surface of the earth, where an explosion is carried out under the surface of the earth or oceans to measure the indicators. Seismicity in the place, after which the location of petroleum clusters is determined, and among the modern techniques currently used for this is: the use of magnetic methods, or aerial photography by aircraft, sonar devices, and satellites.

Oil well drilling

Oil wells are drilled using metal pipe technology, by inserting spiral pipes sequentially and hammering on them. To enter well into the ground, and at this stage: steam, acids, and water are used. To maintain constant oil pressure.

Oil extraction

This is done in three stages:

• Initial recovery phase: Extracting an estimated 15% of the oil well’s content. This step has low operational costs, as the pressure in the well is intense and sufficient to extract oil from the ground without using any other industrial means.
• Secondary recovery phase: Extracting an estimated 45% of the content of the oil well. In this step, the pressure of the well decreases, and thus there becomes a need to use additional industrial means. To pull him from the well.
• Hard extraction stage: At this stage, the oil has a very high viscosity, as it is difficult to extract it using electric turbines, so heat is used. To reduce its viscosity, by using the gas extracted from the well to generate electrical energy, where hot water vapor is pushed into the ground, thus increasing its temperature and reducing its viscosity, which facilitates the process of extracting it from the well.

Oil refining

This is done by separating the various oil derivatives through the distillation process, where they are exposed to a high temperature. To heat it, and separate each compound at a specific temperature, that is, the heavy compounds are separated at a low temperature, then extracted through low openings located at the bottom of the distillation tower, while gaseous compounds are extracted through openings located at the top of the tower.