OCR Text |
Show i9ei 24, Sun Satina The for Gas or Oil At Fishlake National Forest IHow to Drill and haul its eouinment (Editors Note: With the influx of oil companies drilling for black gold in the area, an exploration into the ins and outs (or ups and downs) of oil and gas drilling and development seems in order. With the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the accompanying article discusses some aspects of geophysical exploration at Fishlake National tripped in or out of the hole. Other duties of rotary helpers are to After the location is prepared to accommodate the rig and its equipment, the next step is to prepare the spot where the hole will actually be drilled. Later, the rig is placed over this. In areas that are accessible by roads and highways, trucks are used to transport the equipment to the site. Because of their great expense, drilling rigs are often kept in operation around the clock and throughout the year, barring severe weather. It cost somewhere between to three one and one-hamillion dollars to drill a wildcat well. The number of employees involved is relatively small, but at lf each stage of its activities the oil company will attempt to hire some of its employees locally. Employees brought in from other places live in campers, motels, mobile homes, and rented apartments. Much of the income is spent locally, thereby supporting a number of services. The number of persons on a drilling crew varies from rig to rig, most crews consist of a tool pusher, a driller, derrick-maand two or three n, rotary helpers. Some- times the crew includes a motorman, a rig mechanic, and a rig electrician. The operating company usually has a representative on the site at all times. The company man is in direct charge of all the company activities on the drilling location. The tool pusher is the drilling contractors top man on location at the drill site. He supervises all drilling operations and coordinates company and contractor affairs. He, like the company man, lives on location in a trailer and is on call 24 hours a day. The driller is under the direct supervision of the tool pusher and is the overall supervisor of the floormen. He operates the drilling machinery on the rig floor. The derrick-ma- n works on the monkeyboard, a small platform located up in the derrick at a level of the upper end of a length of drill pipe. When pipe is taken out of the hole, he handles the upper end of the pipe, guiding it to and from the special equipment it takes to run pipe in and out of the hole. The rotary helpers are responsible for handling the lower end of the drill pipe when it is being (2-- maintain equipment, keep it clean and painted, and, in general, lend a helping hand wherever it may be needed on the location. The motorman is responsible for keeping the engines that provide the power for the drilling equipment on the rig in good working order. The rig mechanic is an aU- (Continued on Page S) , Fo- rest.) When a company makes a preliminary exploration of an area, suspects the presence of oil and-o- r gas, and leases a large tract of land, more intensive exploration is like to follow. The company must believe strongly that oil and-o- r gas exist in the subsurface under the spot where the well will be started, because only by drilling will the oil company know if the rods contain oil or gas. Several steps are required of the oil company by the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) before actual drilling can begin. First, a Notice of Intent to Drill is submitted to the USGS by the oil company indicating a desire to drill. An environmental analysis (EA) is prepared, and after a field inspection of the drill site is held, permit to drill is approved and operations are begun. An oil and gas lease is a contract between the mineral rights lessor (U.S.) and the lessee. It grants the lessee the right to search for and produce oil and gas for a specified period of time -provided he agrees to comply with specified IBH IM DUM IPDHS MANOR HOUSE m Compote and Sane! SAFEWAY DURRITOS 5 OUNCE SIZE DDILCI CASE OF 9 TREASURE ISLE SHRIMP MATES ASSORTED FLAVORS GREAT VALUE! DELICIOUS SEAFOOD JUST HEAT 'N SERVE stipulations, including those which minimize certain environmental effects. ' The oil company must also secure a bond to insure compliance with all terms of the lease and conditions of approval to drill. Federal oil and gas rights are leased in such a manner that all individuals have an equal opportunity to acquire them. The BLM was assigned primary responsibility for issuing leases under the 1920 and 1947 leasing acts. The USGS has the major role in administering and supervising operations on mineral leases. The Forest Service shares the responsibilities in regard to surface resources which include road locations, timber cutting, fire protection and suppression, wildlife management, location of structures, etc. on National Forest lands. The Forest Service considers mineral exploration and development to be an important use of National Forest lands, and closely coordinates oil and gas leasing concerns with the BLM. The Forest Service reviews permits and lease applications and makes recommendations to protect surface resources and to prevent conflict with other activities, plans and programs of the Forest Service and other users. The USGS ensures, based upon Forest Service recommendation, that impacts upon surface resources are mitigated to the maximum degree possible, and that the land affected BJGKV B P ASSORTED L FLAVORS CEREAL GENERAL MILLS Large Size Onion or Kaiser Rolls 6 m99 Cherry Coconut Macaroon Coohios DKM99 $ 89 Freshly Bahcd Apple Pios INCH SIZE is Learning Words Can Be Fun For Tour Children! ESETDOUAES 15-o- z. cons zirg GIT THE Temporary roads are built to the site and installed with culverts and other drainage structures as needed. Bulldozers, graders, EACH AVAILABLE IN STORES WITH SAKE SHOPS ONLT rehabilitated. Prior to drilling, a drill pad from 1 to 4 acres in size is cleared of all vegetation and leveled for the drill rig, mud pumps, mud pit, generators, pipe rack, and toolhouse. mmi&v WORD Voluntas 2--8 only $2.49 occh 'GO'fEE and other types of heavy construction equipment may be used to construct and maintain temporary well roads. The oil company will utilize subcontractors to drill its wells, build its roads. T to A fit) FROM THE BIRD wm 11,1111 COPTRIOHT 1911 SAFEWAY ST INCORPORATED i |