The extraction of petroleum is the process by which usable crude oil is drawn out from beneath land or ocean

floor.
Typically begins with the process of drilling.

Drilling refers to the process of boring a hole through soil and rock to access geologic reservoirs that contain oil and gas.

There are two methods of drilling:

Onshore drilling refers to drilling deep holes under the earth’s surface
Offshore drilling relates to drilling underneath the seabed.

Similarities and Differences in Onshore and Offshore Drilling

In general, the equipment used in both offshore and onshore drilling are not much different. Both methods require tools
like exploratory equipment, waste-water/oil separators, pumps, pipelines and storage tanks.

However, there are some key differences between offshore and onshore drilling equipment as well, specifically in the
structure of the drilling rig itself. Onshore drilling rigs are the more classic drilling equipment and come in different sizes
and strengths. They are generally classified by their maximum drilling depth and their mobility. Conventional land rigs
cannot be moved as a whole unit and are typically used in the petroleum industry while mobile rigs are drilling systems
that are mounted on wheeled trucks and come in two different types, jackknife and portable mast.

Offshore drilling rigs are classified differently, mainly based on their movability and how deep the sea bed is. There are
two types of offshore drilling rigs.
1. Floating rigs
1. Semisubmersible
2. Drillships

2. Bottom-supported rigs: There are three types:

1. Jack-ups
2. Platform
3. submesrsible
4. Barge
1. Bottom-supported units are rigs that have contact with the seafloor. There are submersible bottom-supported
units and also jack up units that are supported by structured columns.
2. Floating units do not come in direct contact with the ocean floor and instead float on the water. Some are
partially submerged and anchored to the sea bed while others are drilling ships which can drill at different water
depths.

In simplified terms, the drilling process uses a motor, either at the surface or downhole, to turn a string of pipe with a
drill bit connected to the end. The drill bit has special “teeth” to help it crush or break up the rock it encounters to make
a hole in the ground. While the well is being drilled, a fluid, called drilling mud, circulates down the inside of the drill
pipe, passes through holes in the drill bit and travels back up the wellbore to the surface. The drilling mud has two
purposes:

To carry the small bits of rock, or cuttings, from the drilling process to the surface so they can be removed.
To fill the wellbore with fluid to equalize pressure and prevent water or other fluids in underground formations from
flowing into the wellbore during drilling.