Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Oil Well Data Logging

We all know that the Gulf of Mexico is experiencing an environmental catastrophe due to thousands of gallons of oil being released into the water, over a mile down. This is coming from an oil reservoir, which was found and was in the process of being capped for future extraction. As this capping process was being done, a burst of methane or natural gas, shot up through the well and ultimately to the drilling platform, where an explosion was sparked, whose origin is unknown at this time.

Off-shore oil exploration and drilling is a sometimes, hit or miss endeavor, where boreholes are dug and then mapping of or making a detailed record of the geological formations that the borehole penetrates are recorded and analyzed. This process is known as oil well data logging or well logging.


In geotechnical engineering, drilling fluid is a fluid used to drill boreholes in the earth. Liquid drilling flowing is often called drilling mud, whose main function include providing hydrostatic pressure to prevent formation fluids from entering into the well bore, keeping the drill bit cool and clean during drilling, carrying out drill cuttings, and suspending the drill cuttings while drilling is paused and when the drilling assembly is brought in and out of the hole.

It appears that this drilling fluid or drilling mud, acts as a barrier or safety mechanism for the stability of the oil well, if for instance, a burst of dangerous natural gas surges through the newly drilled well. This is what appears to have created the current situation in the Gulf of Mexico.

For a detailed diagram of the events leading up to the oil spill, click on this link to NOLA.com: Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Diagram




British Petroleum or BP has decided to attempt to stop the flow of oil by using a process called "top kill" which is basically ramming drilling fluids or drilling mud down into the well, to stop the oils flow and then cap the well permanently using a concrete block or other capping method.

It appears that the entire accident was caused by the accidental or intentional depletion of the drill fluid from the well, which when the concrete block failed was the last safety mechanism in place to prevent the natural gas surge and eventual explosion. This same drilling fluid is now being used in this top kill process to stem the flow of oil from this runaway well.

We would like to think that there are smart and bright people bringing all of their expertise to bear in stemming and eventually capping the flow of oil from this Gulf of Mexico British Petroleum oil well. There are processes such as oil skimming, oil dispersants and other capture techniques that should be and will probably be employed to catch this enormous oil spill. General Electric, for example, manufactures oil exploration and oil drilling equipment. Spellman High Voltage manufactures high voltage power supply equipment used in oil exploration and oil drilling equipment.

Actor Kevin Costner and his scientist brother have a process by which oil can be separated from water, which British Petroleum has recently agreed to test. We can only hope that the bright and smart people in charge decide to employ existing and emerging technologies to help the petroleum contaminants that are flowing unabated into the Gulf of Mexico, threatening its ecology and the means of living for millions of people.