There are various ways that oil is drilled. Factors such as the location of the oil, the material that needs to be drilled through, and the depth the well needs to be drilled, will all affect which method of drilling that will be used.  A qualified geologist or hydrologist decides which drilling method to use.

Hollow-Stem Auger Drilling Method

The hollow-stem auger mechanically excavates as it drills. The outside diameter can be as wide as 14 inches. This type of auger allows access to the bottom of the hole that is being drilled without the auger string needing to be removed. For monitoring wells, hollow-stem auger of drilling is often chosen. For shallow wells it will drill the well quickly when drilling in sediment that is poorly lithified to unlithified. It is a continuous- flight auger.

Solid-Stem Auger Drilling Method

The solid-stem auger cuts and transports cuttings to the surface as it drills. It is available in a diameter up to 14 inches and as small as 3 inches. To allow for the placement of sealing material and the well filter, the hole will need to be drilled larger than the monitoring well. It should be 3-5 inches larger. A smaller rig, which is easily available, can be used than is used with other methods of drilling. For shallow wells, a solid-stem auger is fast at drilling wells.

Bucket Auger Drilling Method

A common posthole digger works in a similar fashion as a bucket auger. They can drill large holes that are up to 60 inches in diameter. It is more common for the bucket auger to be used to drill holes that are about a foot in diameter. It is an affective method of drilling for depths of about 100 feet. There are few parts that need lubricating so it has little risk of contaminating a well for testing or a well for monitoring.

All drilling methods have advantages and disadvantages. An experienced geologist or hydrologist will be able to determine which of the three above drilling methods will work or if other drilling methods will need to be used.

As oil drilling increases, so does the investment opportunities of oil. Investing in oil companies, Max Tech Oil is a simple way to be part of the growth. Depending on the type of investment, it can be a low risk investment with the potential of high returns for the Investor. Oil is a non-renewable resource that has a growing demand, so this will affect the price and it is expected to continually rise.