How do you know when an oil rig has struck oil?

Answer 1

Well, in the old days we would find out when the oil came gushing up out of the pipe. Fortunately, we have better ways to tell now and we actually do our best to keep that from happening. Most wells now have tools on the drill string while the well is being drilled that give us information about the rock type we are drilling through and whether the fluid in the porous rock is salt water or oil or maybe gas. This is called logging while drilling. We measure various things like, for example, the resistivity of the rock. Oil and gas would show much higher resistivity to current than the salt water that fills the pore space normally. If you don't run the measurements while actually drilling then you get the information afterward by running what are called wireline logs. You actually can get much more information with this type and they are usually run in all exploration wells. These logs are measuring things like resistivity, density, how fast sound travels through the rock, how much gamma radiation they give off, and other things. This information can be used to tell what the rock type is, how porous it is, if the rocks contain hydrocarbon (oil or gas), and how well it is likely to flow. I also run what are called mudlogs on my wells sometimes. These are basically the notes of a geologist that collects samples from the mud and cuttings coming up the drill pipe as the well is drilling and analyzing them for traces of hydrocarbon (as well as describing the rock type). So, fortunately for everyone, we are long past the days of waiting for a 'gusher'. I'll bet that sure made a huge mess.

Answer 2

when we no longer get our oil from Iraq and gas prices are sensible.

Answer 3

everyone starts yelling Alahu Akbar...we're rich...death to America!!!