Preparation and Drilling

Video 3: Well Pad Preparation and Drilling in the Marcellus Shale(8 minutes 55 seconds)

Learning Activity 2: Well Pad Preparation and Drilling

Instructions

Watch Video 3 and answer the following questions.

  1. What is prepared before drilling begins?

  2. Where do drilling operations occur?

  3. What are the key steps taken to protect the environment in well pad preparation?

  4. How many levels of containment do diesel tanks have?

  5. What is an earth berm and what does it do?

  6. How many well types are used to drill for and produce natural gas? What are they?

  7. Why is horizontal drilling preferable to vertical drilling?

  8. How many well pads are needed for vertical drilling vs. horizontal drilling?

  9. How long does it take to drill one well?

  10. What two things take place while drilling the well to protect the environment and secure it for production?

  11. What is steel casing? What is it used for? Why is it important?

  12. When does the drilling and casing process finish? How is it determined?

  13. How is the drilling process controlled?

  14. What does the drilling rig do?

  15. What is tripping in and tripping out of the hole?

  16. What is one thing that is done before the drilling rig is brought onsite?

  17. What does conductor casing do?

  18. How far does surface casing extend? What purpose does it serve?

  19. When is air used instead of drilling fluid to drill the well?

  20. The deeper the well-hole; the smaller or bigger the drill bit used?

  21. What is production casing?

  22. What is the production zone?

  23. What is drilling fluid or mud, and why is it used?

  24. What happens to the rock cuttings and used mud?

  25. What is the “blow out preventer” or “B.O.P.”?

  26. When is the B.O.P. installed?