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