Ask Dave Wrestler of Humboldt about oil production and hes apt to say its much like farming, which he does as well as work in oil.
The two pursuits involve risks that are beyond human control, although technological advances have improved opportunities for success.
A drillers concern with Mother Earth is whether a small shaft punched 800 or 900 feet into the ground thats the length of three football fields hereabouts will intercept a layer of sand holding oil created millions of years ago. Oil formed when tiny plants and animals died, fell to an oceans bottom and were trapped in sand and mud. When that occurred, oceans and continents were configured much differently.
Heres where technology enters the picture in a significant way.
Satellites circling the Earth detect release of hydrocarbons, which tell those meaning to drill wells where oil is likely to be found. The caveat is that recordable wisps may have migrated a mile, or more, through rock fissures from where pockets of oil actually lie.
But, the science is good enough that Wrestler and other producers dote on the information.
Drilling a well and finding oil is an involved procedure.
However, technology again has a role. Earlier in his career, Wrestler said it took better than three days to complete a well in eastern Kansas; now it can be done in six hours or so, for about $30,000.
By comparison, high-producing West Texas wells reach 10,000 feet to tap into massive reservoirs. They cost a million dollars or more and take weeks to complete.
Drilling wells is kind of like harvesting (crops), said wife Lisa (nee Korte). You never know what the yield will be until youre done.
Dave, 56, owns DMJ Oil with his wife and sons Derek and Josh. Theyve put down better than 200 wells.
Dave detailed a typical drill. He mentioned penetrating several layers of limestone, sand and shale before reaching one of the sand formations that typically pays off, known by such names as Bartlesville, Squirrel, or Tucker.
When the bit is 800 or more feet down, shale color gives a clue. If its white, I know were close to oil. If its dark, I dont feel good, get sick to my stomach.
When they hit oil, it doesnt gush out like in the movies.
Such events require large amounts of high-pressure natural gas. Most of our gas is gone, said Wrestler, and has been for 100 years.
Instead, the oil is extracted by a pipe inserted in the drilled hole, protected by a collar of concrete around steel casing, and attached to a pump jack. The jack raises and lowers the pipe about 24 inches with each stroke, with moveable leather cups similar to check valves to trap oil on the down stroke, and raise it on the up stroke.
