Why is drilling for oil so dangerous?

I know that there is a possibility of explosion, but other than that what makes it such a dangerous job? how else to people get hurt in this line of work? I've always wanted to know this, but I never had anyone to ask!Why is drilling for oil so dangerous?
Drilling for oil is one of the most technogically and physically challenging tasks ever undertaken by man. The major risks involved are those of environment and political settings. In terms of politics, drilling in stable countries like the US, Canada and Europe, are relatively safe. Not so in places like the Middle East or Africa or Indonesia.





The environmental challenges range from drilling in deep water (10,000' deep) several hundred miles offshore from a mobile drilling ship to exploring for oil in hot arid regions where temperatures exceed 120 F to drilling in the frozen expanses of the Arctic where temperatures routinely reach 40 to 70 below zero... where one square inch of exposed flesh can freeze solid in seconds.





The other challenges and risks arise from the act of drilling itself. In order to reach hydrocarbon bearing rocks that may be several miles below the surface, the drilling rig has to have the power and capability to reach those objectives. Large drilling rigs are powered like locomotives (Diesel electric systems) where large diesel generators create massive amounts of electricity to power all the systems on the rig. (Mud pumps, hoists, rotary power, lights, etc.) A typical drilling rig can create enough electricity to power a small town.





The act of drilling itself consists of taking large sections of heavy hollow steel pipe called drill pipe, attaching a drilling bit to the end, lowering it in the hole, then pumping a specialized drilling fluid knows as drilling ';mud'; down the pipe at very high pressure (2000-4000 psi) and out small nozzles in the drill bit. Once assembled, the drill string is rotated at high speed to penetrate the rock formations and can reach over 20,000 feet in length and weigh many, many tons. Handling and moving this pipe around poses many risks.





The other risk is that of the unpredictability of nature. Many rock formations at great depth are under unimaginable pressure. The weight of the drilling mud in the hole is meant to hold this pressure back (visualize diving into a swimming pool and feeling the pressure in your ears as you go deeper. The same principle of hydrostatic pressure applies in the mud column) If the weight of the mud column somehow becomes less that the pressure in the formation, any pressured fluids in the well (oil, gas, water) will flow into the well and this is the classic ';blowout'; we've all seen dramatized in the movies. Once flammable hydrocarbons reach the surface, all they need is a source of ignition and an explosion and fire will follow, often with catastrophic consequences, especially offshore.





However, in modern drilling, this phenomenon is well understood and with proper industry training and practices, the Hollywood style ';blowouts'; have become exceedingly rare.





In general, the forces involved in drilling an oil well are titanic. A drilling rig is a collection of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, potential and kinetic energy sources that if not managed properly, can be released and cause injury and even death. Sadly in the past, this has been an all too common occurrence. Pinch-point injuries, back strains, punctures, impact fractures, eye injuries, chemical contact, and electrical contact and lacerations were the most common injuries to oil rig workers. Even sadder still, the statistics from the past showed it was the new person on the rig just learning the job (a ';worm';) was the one most likely to be injured.





However, the industry has come to realize in the last 25 years that safety, in addition to being the proper humanitarian approach (no one wants to have employees or co workers hurt), safety improves the financial bottom line. By reducing injuries, the insurance and workers compensation costs were reduced significantly. Budgeting $250,000 annually for safety can avoid multi-million dollar losses and makes good financial sense to any company. Thus, safety has been accepted by many companies as a prudent and reasonable investment. Employees are now educated and trained in many aspects of safety, and the personal protective equipment (PPE) that they are mandated to wear have reduced injuries significantly. These days, with most major oil and drilling companies, new employees ';the worms'; are trained intensively before they ever set foot on a drilling rig and are identified with a distinctive colored hard hat (usually orange), so more seasoned employees can watch over them and mentor them in safety. Once they reach a certain level of experience, 6-12 months, they exchange their colored ';worm'; hard hat for another color signifying they are now an experienced, safe worker.Why is drilling for oil so dangerous?
All construction work is dangerous. Oil drilling is more dangerous than most construction because it is done in very hostile environments. All of the easy oil has already been pumped.





Oil also creates situations of political instability that adds to the problem, such as in Nigeria and Iraq.
I worked as a geologist for a major oil company and you are overstating the danger. The worst thing I saw was a sprained back from a fall. Relax, oil exploration is fun and rewarding, as well as lucrative for the 'ol wallet.
large pieces of rotating metal... hostile environments... hazards of nature... take your pick.