[skeptoid]

SNIP . . The industry has rebounded from an oil price collapse in late 2008. The number of operating rigs in North Dakota dropped from 96 in November 2008 to a low of 32 in May 2009.

“Once crude oil prices got back up above $60 a barrel, then the rig count started to climb very rapidly,” Helms said.

I did not know that.

[Frantzie]

Creating wealth, jobs and tax revenue - plus taking money out of the Saudis pockets.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[olepap]

Theres oil, theres gas, lots of it. Theres lots of oil in the gulf - and we have the technology to get it. Go Texas Tech!

One day we will cut ‘em loose and the black gold will flow.

[subterfuge]

All the drilling is good, but it won’t help as much if we DON’T BUILD SOME REFINERIES!!

[Cheetahcat]

Drill Drill Drill!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dallas59]

Racism!

[TexasBarak]

There is no such thing as an oil rig.

Here’s the process, in a nutshell (and greatly simplified)-

A drilling rig is moved onto likely site, and drills a narrow, but very deep hole. This process could take from a couple of days on up, depending on circumstances. If traces of oil are found, casing (constant diameter pipe) is run into the hole, and cemented in. If no traces of oil, the hole is plugged (not capped- plugged with cement).

Then a workover rig is brought in to make the cased hole into a well, and the necessary hardware is installed at the top of the hole to pump the oil.

The men who work on drilling rigs are called “roughnecks”- yes, that’s really a job description. I and all of my brothers have been roughnecks at one time or another.

Around here, we call the men who work on workover units “roustabouts”- and it’s miserable, tough work.