Drilling is a process of making a hole in the earth’s surface by using a drill bit. It is mainly done for the purpose of extracting oil or gas from underground reservoirs. Drilling can also be done for other purposes like creating geothermal wells, water wells, and even for mining operations. The process of drilling generally consists of four main steps: well logging, spudding-in, drilling, and completion.
The first step in drilling is well logging which involves recording data about the geological formations that are encountered while drilling. This data is used to create a model of the reservoir which helps in planning the subsequent steps of drilling. Spudding-in is the second step and it refers to starting the actual process of drilling. A drill bit is attached to a drill pipe which is then lowered into the hole. The drill bit rotates and cuts through the rock formations creating a hole.
As drilling progresses, more and more drill pipe is added so that it can reach deeper depths. The third step, therefore, involves adding more drill pipe as required. Finally, once the desired depth has been reached, completion can begin. This may involve various activities like installing casing or cementing them in place so that the borehole does not collapse. In some cases pumps may also be installed to extract fluids like oil or water from underground reservoirs.