There has been evolution in oil production technology today compared to how it was in the past as you will learn more here. Because of its importance in our lives, it is best if we take a look at the changes that have taken place since it was discovered. The ancient people in Mesopotamia used a hardened substance called bitumen to construct sailing vessels and put jewelry pieces together. The Kings of Egypt used bitumen for the construction of the famous pyramids. Bitumen, asphalt and mortar although did not require drilling, were the substances that led to the discovery of oil.
The first method used to extract oil was by digging up the soil to reach the oil. The people living in this period used oil to heal diseases, light their lamps and heat their houses. There was not much knowledge of oil and the people came up with myths about the earth releasing gases and liquids.
The technology that followed drilling was the use of spring poles. The device as you discover more here, was attached to a tree which provided the required resistance to reach greater depth, was used by the Ruffner brothers to enhance salt extraction. The importance of oil was still not known to people at this time even though they knew it was a multipurpose commodity. When steam was introduced to provide energy for the spring pole for the extraction of salt the process became enhanced. A chemist at Yale by the name Benjamin Silliman discovered more about distillation of oil into Kerosene that could be used in lamps to provide lighting and even cook. It is at this point that the society became interested in the commodity and commercial drilling began.
As you learn more about how the demand for oil surged in this website. The number of oil deposits discovered in the earth increased. However there were hard sediments that made drilling difficult hence the need for improved equipment. Thus the rotary whose drill head went deeper past the sediment without the need to clear the debris constantly was developed. One historic moment was witnessed in Texas where a rig in Beaumont struck oil and it rose to the surface trickling like rain water. Because the world was getting ready for the first war, the need for oil skyrocketed leading to the development of better oil tools as a result of competition. The most successful development for the rotary drill was the ability to dig deeper.
Today, the most common method of extracting oil is the rotary rig. However, they are advanced technologically as they are fitted with digital tracking devices, touchpads and video control to monitor and access the rigs from a fur. As you will see here, the rigs are enhanced compared to the past. For example ,as you see here is that one rig can drill multiple oil wells and even move on their own.