Does it fill with sea water if oil is taken offshore and what damage does it do the the earth?
2006-09-27 08:34:47 · 12 answers · asked by RonT 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The only one of these answers that is even close is edward I's. It is a common misconception that oil is found in big pools in underground chambers. There are certainly cases where oil can be found in small cracks or chambers in the rock, but for the most part oil is contained in porous rock between two layers of non-porous rock.
If I were to show you a sample of oil-bearing rock, it would look like a block of concrete. Think of a sponge full of water. Where is the water? It's in all the little nooks and crannies in the sponge. In the same way oil is contained in all the nooks and crannies in the porous rock. This rock is under tremendous pressure, so that when you poke a hole in the formation with a drill, the oil comes spurting up, like squeezing the water out of a sponge.
So, in answer to your question, there is no space to fill when the oil is taken out of a formation, just as there is no space to fill when the water is squeezed out of a sponge. The sponge, like the rock, is still there taking up the space. The only difference is that the little nooks and crannies are now filled with air instead of water, or oil.
2006-09-27 09:39:29 · answer #1 · answered by Jeffrey S 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Most oil wells don't do anything when oil is taken from them, but if it is an artisian well, water is often pumped in. Artisian wells are oil wells where force is not used to extract the oil, pressure forces the oil up to ground level once you have bored the wells. These wells are rare, but they do exist, at least in Prudhoe Bay. At Prudhoe Bay, they pump seawater into the oil deposits so the pressure is not reduced to much so the oil keeps on flowing. The water does not keep the ground from collapsing, and this is a fairly rare case. Most oil wells do not pump water back into the oilfield.
2006-09-29 02:58:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jeffrey S describes it perfectly. However, rock is actually elastic, and the pressure of the oil in the pores of the sponge pushes the grains apart very slightly. Not much, but over the whole reservoir depth it mounts up. When the pressure is relieved by extraction, those grains settle a little closer together, and the surface actually settles, in some cases up to a couple of metres. You won't normally notice it as everything around settles by the same amount, but it can affect low-lying areas.
2006-09-28 17:36:05 · answer #3 · answered by Paul FB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It might result in some settling but no it doesn't damage the earth. If you have a house above it and are very low in elevation like New Orleans, it might be a problem for you. Often they pump water in to replace the oil that is removed. It is such a small amount, it doesn't matter.
2006-09-27 15:36:46 · answer #4 · answered by JimZ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is filled with sea water.
There is no damage to the earth (well rock) as it is already contaminated with oil and the water just replaces the oil.
2006-09-27 15:48:44 · answer #5 · answered by Rich S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually they fill it with sand or water, depending upon where they take it from. Sand gives better support than water, but seawater works OK. It doesn't really do much damage to the Earth, but if it isn't filled in, sink holes may occur.
2006-09-27 15:42:48 · answer #6 · answered by ohmneo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those pockets of oil are in rock. Nuttin replaces it, unless a rare cave-in occurs or an earthquake.
2006-09-27 15:45:16 · answer #7 · answered by ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oil is taken from such agreat depth that when the drills are removed a suction is created forming a vacuum and taking up sediments to seal the hole
2006-09-27 15:54:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Something must go in as the oil is pumped out, so I agree, seawater.
2006-09-27 15:38:00 · answer #9 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Earthquakes.
2006-09-27 15:50:58 · answer #10 · answered by Matthew. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋