Exploration for oil

Exploration for oil around the Scottish shores has become a very big industry. This is an account of how oil is extracted from beneath the North Sea.

To get the oil out, four production platforms will be used: huge structures, three made of concrete and one of steel, designed to work for 25 years or more. Instead of floating, they are planted firmly on the sea bed and designed to stand up to the worst of sea and weather. From each platform a series of holes is drilled, some going almost straight down, others drilled at an angle away from the platform so that a large volume of oil can be extracted. The oil does not lie there like a great swimming pool full of black liquid, it is trapped in small spaces between the porous rocks. To get as much as possible out many separate holes have to be drilled.

Each platform has accommodation for 90 people. The life is tough, the work heavy and difficult, and the hours long. No alcohol is allowed on the platforms but the food is good and there is plenty of it, a necessity for men who work hard all day in cold wet conditions. The living quarters are comfortable, but far from luxurious, and the noise is continuous.

Questions for discussion:

1. What constructions are used to extract oil?

a) 4 floating production platforms;

b) 3 floating and 1 stable platforms;

c) 4 concrete stable platforms;

d) 4 stable production platforms.

2. Where is oil?

a) by the sea, on the coast;

b) floating on the sea surface;

c) trapped between the rocks in the sea;

d) lying under water like a swimming pool.

3. To get much oil it is necessary to:

a) drill one deep hole;

b) drill a series of holes;

c) drill many holes going straight down;

d) drill a hole at an angle from the platform.

4. What is not true about the life of oilmen?

a) working hours are long;

b) living quarters are luxurious;

c) the noise is constant;

d) there is much good food.

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