The average person uses many products created throughout the complex downstream segment of the oil and gas industry. Crude oil can turn into countless goods you rely on daily. But before it can reach consumers like you, crude oil must go through the upstream segment. Empower your upstream endeavors! Visit this website for industry-leading software for upstream oil and gas operations.
Upstream processes are the farthest away from consumers, but there'd be no oil and gas industry without them. Software for upstream oil and gas companies helps manage many activities. Here's a glimpse of what happens during the upstream process.
Exploration
Exploration refers to the act of finding suitable sites for extraction. There are oil reserves worldwide, but companies must find the most profitable ones to invest in extraction. Geological surveys are a big part of the exploration process. Various tests help determine the viability of extraction.
Exploration also includes complex tasks like acquiring land and gaining access to mineral rights. There are also many environmental and government regulations to follow. Software for upstream oil and gas processes can help manage those complicated logistics.
Extraction
The next stage is extraction. Oil and gas production is one of the most expensive elements of the upstream segment. Not only does it require heavy-duty equipment, but extraction companies also need skilled labor. The location of drill sites can also add to costs.
Onshore drilling is the most economical option. In these situations, groups of wells connected via carbon tubes send crude oil and gas to a processing facility for refinement. Onshore drilling is expensive. It can use mobile or fixed drilling stations, but the extracted oil and gas must move to production facilities onshore.
Fracking is another method of extraction that approximately 90 percent of new wells use in the United States. It involves using high-pressure liquid to extract crude products from geological formations.
Upstream processes encompass everything it takes to find and extract crude oil and gas. From there, the crude products move into the downstream processes for refinement, continued production and eventual sale to consumers worldwide.
Read a similar article about EPA methane regulations here at this page.