| Remember when Jed Clampett discovered | | | | jurisdiction having been determined |
| that "bubblin' crude" on the fanciful | | | | (often in question with off shore |
| Beverly Hillbillies television show in | | | | drilling). Oil companies have the best |
| the 1960's? While being an entertaining | | | | lawyers who use their expertise to help |
| show that spawned several spin-off ideas | | | | expedite the acquisition process. |
| (think Green Acres and Petticoat | | | | Once issues of legality have been |
| Junction), it was not, however a | | | | decided, large excavation machines must |
| realistic portrayal of the way | | | | be brought to the site to prepare for |
| entrepreneurial oil companies locate, | | | | drilling. Land must be cleared and |
| acquire, and process the precious oil | | | | roads must be built in order to bring |
| that is used in so many ways by | | | | all the necessary equipment to the site |
| consumers around the world. | | | | before drilling can begin. Companies |
| While Jed's methods of discovery and | | | | must be conscious that they are also |
| extraction were luck and his trusty | | | | stewards of the land, protecting the |
| shotgun, most oil companies today use | | | | environment around the drill site, |
| tried and true methods that are quite | | | | following specific guidelines to ensure |
| more technologically advanced, often | | | | that the animal population is minimally |
| employing geologists to carry out | | | | disturbed and ecologically sensitive |
| initial searches. These teams of | | | | areas must be closely monitored to |
| geologists study landforms, specific | | | | maintain their fragile existence. |
| types of rocks such as non-magnetic | | | | Extraction processes have remained |
| sedimentary rocks that are known to be | | | | mostly constant over the years. Using a |
| oil-bearing, and seismic activity can | | | | large rig system and a drill with bits |
| also be a telling way to find much | | | | made of tungsten carbide steel or |
| elusive oil deposits. This is not to | | | | diamond depending on the rock being cut |
| say that luck was never a part of oil | | | | through, companies penetrate the rock |
| exploration. In fact, in the early | | | | formations, using sophisticated |
| days, prospectors simply guessed and dug | | | | equipment to determine when the proper |
| near known gas and oil seeps (just like | | | | and final depth has been reached. Once |
| Jed) and were often rewarded amply by | | | | the well has been dug and reinforced |
| the black bounty lying beneath the | | | | with concrete, a pump is then installed |
| surface. But today, we should | | | | which creates the necessary suction that |
| understand that exploration is much more | | | | extracts the oil to the surface. Much |
| scientific, and as a result, much more | | | | has changed since Jed Clampett's story, |
| efficient in locating and exploiting | | | | but one thing remains the same: Oil is |
| much needed oil reserves. Once oil is | | | | an efficient fuel and a many faceted |
| located, legal ownership of the land, | | | | resource, and we would be hard pressed |
| right-of way accesses, and the right to | | | | to replace the many products its |
| drill, must be obtained by lawyers | | | | exploration and acquisition has a hand |
| through courtroom proceedings, legal | | | | in supplying. |