Drilling Process #7

The drilling process actually begins with a spudding which means that drilling oil wells in deep water (>1000′), this involves forcing 300-400 feet of 36″ diameter metal tubing, called casing. The 36″ casing is sunk to the seafloor by “drill pipe”.  Each section of drill pipe is 30-45 feet long and about 6″ in diameter.  The drill pipe is connected end to end and gradually lowered down into the well and back up to the surface as needed.

Each section of drill pipe is called a “joint“, and when two or more “joints” connected and “racked back” in the derrick they are then called a “stand“.

Casing getting deeper and deeper into the ground, some rigs use enormous hammers to pound the casing into the ground to the desired depth. When the 36″ casing is set to the correct depth, the drill pipe is pulled from it and it will be put back to the surface.

 Source: http://www.treesfullofmoney.com/?p=1610