Oil field

An oil field is an area with an abundance of oil wells extracting petroleum (oil) from below ground. Because the oil reservoirs typically extend over a large area, possibly several hundred kilometres across, full exploitation entails multiple wells scattered across the area. In addition, there may be exploratory wells probing the edges, pipelines to transport the oil elsewhere, and support facilities.

Related Topics:
Oil well - Petroleum - Oil reservoir - Kilometre - Well

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Because an oil field may be remote from civilization, establishing a field is often an extremely complicated exercise in logistics. For instance, workers have to work there for months or years and require housing. In turn, housing and equipment require electricity and water. Pipelines in cold areas may need to be heated. Excess natural gas needs to be burned off if there is no way to make use of it, requiring a furnace and stacks, and pipes to carry it from well to furnace.

Related Topics:
Logistics - Natural gas

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Thus, the typical oil field resembles a small self-contained city in the midst of a landscape dotted with drilling rigs and/or the pump jacks known as "nodding donkeys" because of their bobbing arm. Several companies, such as Bechtel, Esso and Halliburton, have organizations that specialize in the large-scale construction of the infrastructure required to operate a field profitably.

Related Topics:
Drilling rig - Nodding donkey - Bechtel - Esso - Halliburton - Infrastructure

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More than 40,000 oil fields are scattered around the globe, on land and offshore. The largest are the Ghawar Field in Saudi Arabia and the Burgan Field in Kuwait, with more than 60 billion barrels (10 km³) estimated in each. Most oil fields are much smaller. According to the US Department of Energy (Energy Information Administration), as of 2003 the US alone had over 30,000 oil fields.

Related Topics:
Ghawar Field - Saudi Arabia - Burgan Field - Kuwait - Billion - Barrel

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In the modern age, the location and proven oil reserves of oil fields are a key underlying factor in many geopolitical conflicts.

Related Topics:
Oil reserves - Conflict

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