subject: The Need For Oil Field Services [print this page] Under the Department of Energy (DOE) fossil fuels comprise the vast majority of energy that is consumed in North America. Fossil fuel is categorized to include coal, natural gas, and oil. The oil and energy industry is vital to meet our growing energy needs, that can provide an economic platform for a boost in the economy. North America holds vast reservoirs of natural gas and oil. The more natural resources that are domestically produced the less dependency on foreign fuel is needed. The two main sectors in the industry consist of "upstream and downstream" which relate to the oil field services "Upstream" is easily understood as the process to extract the oil and transport it to the refining process. The "downstream" is the commercial side of the industry. This would include the gas stations and the energy companies to provide energy to consumers and business.
In the "upstream" process, it is divided into two parts, the drilling division and the oil field services. After a reservoir has been identified, it is time to begin the drilling process. The drilling companies are responsible for the drilling and the pumping the oil out of the ground. These men are highly skilled and in great demand. Many drilling companies contract for the skilled men due to the enormous demand for their skills; and the salaries that the drilling companies would be required to pay if they were employed full time. Contracting the skilled men when they are needed saves the companies money and allows the drillers to actually make more money. Drillers are contractors that are hired by the oil and gas producers for a specific period of time. A producer might lease the drilling equipment that has the specific purpose that is required for the type of drilling that will be required. When the drilling is on land a land rig will be used which has drilling depths ranges of 5,000 to 30,000 feet below the surface.
Another area of oil field services is the commencement of all the peripheral preparation that must be completed. Roads must be built to handle the heavy equipment trucks that will be coming onto the drilling site and going off the site. Heavy duty machinery will be on site to dig the vast pits to hold water that needs to be hauled onto the site for drilling. Equipment haulers will be delivering well heads, pumps, platforms, and numerous other supplies and equipment required throughout the drilling process.
The oil field services companies will be contracted to assist with the drilling companies. Among their various duties, they will be setting up the oil and gas wells. They will be bringing in the equipment, laying the platforms, digging trenches, laying pipe, delivering the well heads, setting up the tanks, welding. Or any other situations that come up to assist in the drilling and the preparation to transport the oil to the refinery.
Additionally, the oil field services include more specialized services such as seismic testing. This would include the mapping of the geological structure beneath the surface to identify the areas of rock, sand, and water to help determine how deep the drilling will need to be. Another aspect of oil field services is in the transportation services. This would require the movement of the equipment and the delivery of the water brought in and taken out.
Directional services are also part of the oil fields services. This encompasses the need to change the direction of the drilling. Not all wells are drilled straight down. Some of the oils field services companies have specialized in the drilling of angles or horizontal holes. These are highly sought after services that carry a heavy price. Oil field services are a critical aspect of the oil industry.
