Goal
We have explored ways to find oil, now, our job is to extract the oil and we will learn about the business of fossil fuel energy.
Materials
o Oil field (from part one)
o Map (from part one)
o Markers
o Ruler
o Chopsticks
o Toothpick
o Tape
o Reservoir Volume and Recovery Rate Cards
Drilling Rules
Each group starts with a three million drilling budget. The goal is to make money by extracting oil. To drill, a group attaches a drill bit (toothpick) to the drilling rig (chopstick). Then, the group uses the map to drill in places they feel are likely to contain oil. The following budgetary rules apply.
o $225,000 to set up the drill rig in a new location
o $100,000 for each centimeter drilled
o $500,000 for a broken drill bit and replacement
o $500,000 for EPA infractions (disturbing the surface of the oil field)
Instructions
Each team will use the oil field map they created using the seismic data provided by the Kearny Geological Solutions field team. The team will choose a grid square in which to drill, following the rules above. Once the team has located the oil, they will draw a card (a pic of Monopoly popped up into my head for some reason) representing the size of their reservoir (between five and eight km^3) and the recovery rate of the oil (between twenty-five percent and fifty percent). They can then calculate the amount of oil in the reservoir and the amount of oil extracted.
o Amount of oil in reservoir > reservoir volume * 0.5 (due to rocks, sand, and etc.)
o Amount of oil recovered (km^3) > amount of oil in reservoir *recovery date
o Barrels of oil > amount recovered (km^3) * 6290 (barrels/km^3)
o Money from sale > barrels of oil * 93.76 ($/barrel)
Procedure
1. Measure and mark each centimeter on the chopstick
2. Attach the drill bit (the toothpick)
3. Select the location for the first drill site and drill straight down. Make sure to note the depth of the drilling bit (in cm).
4. Record the cost associated with the first site and the depth you drilled.
5. If there was no oil, select another site and repeat the process (make sure to record all costs).
6. After oil is discovered, inform the site foreman (Mrs. Ogo/Mr. Greg), select a reservoir and recovery rate card and calculate the total money spent and generated by this site.
Lab Questions
1. Was your oil exploration operation profitable? Why or why not?
It indeed was profitable. The family car got $737,188 from the extractions.
2. Did your oil exploration and recovery efforts make money? Discuss which variables would you want to change to make your business more profitable.
The family car did make money. However, they did not get a lot, compared to the other teams. The variables that the family car would want to make were to change fate. Sabrina wanted to get different reservoir and recovery rate cards.
3. Complete the "T-chart" below to show which aspects of this simulation were realistic and which aspects did not mimic reality. Discuss how some of these variables were unrealistic.
Summary
4. What was the purpose of this activity? What were some things you learned about oil exploration and extraction?
Perhaps this activity wanted us to engage in the work ahead. Referring back to the finding oil lab, I learned that oil extraction does take time and planning. The oil workers don't just drill randomly. They have to create maps and charts to help them save time and money. Finding oil is pretty much hard work. When you are successful in finding oil, then you have to commit to selling it for money. That's how hard the work is. It's not all fun and games. You have to get your hands dirty, and I mean LITERALLY get your hands dirty. That oil is icky. Was it, family? The mature twin sis wasn't there.
We have explored ways to find oil, now, our job is to extract the oil and we will learn about the business of fossil fuel energy.
Materials
o Oil field (from part one)
o Map (from part one)
o Markers
o Ruler
o Chopsticks
o Toothpick
o Tape
o Reservoir Volume and Recovery Rate Cards
Drilling Rules
Each group starts with a three million drilling budget. The goal is to make money by extracting oil. To drill, a group attaches a drill bit (toothpick) to the drilling rig (chopstick). Then, the group uses the map to drill in places they feel are likely to contain oil. The following budgetary rules apply.
o $225,000 to set up the drill rig in a new location
o $100,000 for each centimeter drilled
o $500,000 for a broken drill bit and replacement
o $500,000 for EPA infractions (disturbing the surface of the oil field)
Instructions
Each team will use the oil field map they created using the seismic data provided by the Kearny Geological Solutions field team. The team will choose a grid square in which to drill, following the rules above. Once the team has located the oil, they will draw a card (a pic of Monopoly popped up into my head for some reason) representing the size of their reservoir (between five and eight km^3) and the recovery rate of the oil (between twenty-five percent and fifty percent). They can then calculate the amount of oil in the reservoir and the amount of oil extracted.
o Amount of oil in reservoir > reservoir volume * 0.5 (due to rocks, sand, and etc.)
o Amount of oil recovered (km^3) > amount of oil in reservoir *recovery date
o Barrels of oil > amount recovered (km^3) * 6290 (barrels/km^3)
o Money from sale > barrels of oil * 93.76 ($/barrel)
Procedure
1. Measure and mark each centimeter on the chopstick
2. Attach the drill bit (the toothpick)
3. Select the location for the first drill site and drill straight down. Make sure to note the depth of the drilling bit (in cm).
4. Record the cost associated with the first site and the depth you drilled.
5. If there was no oil, select another site and repeat the process (make sure to record all costs).
6. After oil is discovered, inform the site foreman (Mrs. Ogo/Mr. Greg), select a reservoir and recovery rate card and calculate the total money spent and generated by this site.
Lab Questions
1. Was your oil exploration operation profitable? Why or why not?
It indeed was profitable. The family car got $737,188 from the extractions.
2. Did your oil exploration and recovery efforts make money? Discuss which variables would you want to change to make your business more profitable.
The family car did make money. However, they did not get a lot, compared to the other teams. The variables that the family car would want to make were to change fate. Sabrina wanted to get different reservoir and recovery rate cards.
3. Complete the "T-chart" below to show which aspects of this simulation were realistic and which aspects did not mimic reality. Discuss how some of these variables were unrealistic.
Summary
4. What was the purpose of this activity? What were some things you learned about oil exploration and extraction?
Perhaps this activity wanted us to engage in the work ahead. Referring back to the finding oil lab, I learned that oil extraction does take time and planning. The oil workers don't just drill randomly. They have to create maps and charts to help them save time and money. Finding oil is pretty much hard work. When you are successful in finding oil, then you have to commit to selling it for money. That's how hard the work is. It's not all fun and games. You have to get your hands dirty, and I mean LITERALLY get your hands dirty. That oil is icky. Was it, family? The mature twin sis wasn't there.