Drilling for oil and gas can be very profitable, and this is why exploration drilling companies are busy on the news circuit talking about their exciting discoveries. They have various methods for finding these precious minerals, and some strategies are riskier than others.
Air Drilling
One method that many exploration drilling companies use is air drilling. Air drilling is used when there is an abundance of natural gas or oil to drill into. When this happens, the air must be pumped into the area where the gas or oil will be located. The drilling company then uses an air compressor to blast holes and pump the air deep into the ground.
Core Drilling
One well-liked method of extracting precious minerals from the earth is by using the process of core drilling. Core drilling is drilling vertically into the ground to reach the core, where valuable minerals are found. Water is pumped into the core, pumped out, and the drill bit emerges to extract the mineral. In some instances, water is pumped in before the core drilling is done to ensure that the water makes it to the well and that there are no clogs in the pipes. These water extraction methods have been in existence for decades, but they are very costly, so most companies do not use them much.
Mineral Exploration Drilling
Another commonly used method of mineral exploration drilling is to use the technique of mineral drilling. This technique involves using a shaft or a well drilled into the earth’s surface to reach the base of the formation. The shaft or well is then filled with water, and mining begins. The water is pumped to keep the water from freezing. At the same time, it is being tested for the proper mineral composition, or as is the case with underground river deposits, for the mineral density.
Reverse Circulation Drilling
One technique that is now used a little bit is reverse circulation drilling. This drilling method involves having a small drilling machine penetrate the earth’s surface using a small drill bit attached to a small auger. An electronic sensor then guides the drill bit on the end of the bit to drill into the target area. As the drill bit moves through the dirt, it is exposed to magnetic forces that determine the exact mineral composition of the soil or core sample. By varying the amount of magnetic force applied, the drilling engineers can set the proper sample depth and mineral makeup.
Diamond Drilling
One of the more interesting exploration drilling methods that exploration drilling companies can use is diamond drilling. In this process, a diamond drill bit is embedded into the target area, and the magnetized edges of the bit push the diamond down into the hole. This technique sometimes uses rock cored cylinders to increase the effectiveness.
