Learn what oil and gas extraction is, its process, the OSHA regulations that govern it, and how a digital inspections and safety app can help organizations ensure compliance with standards and regulations to keep workers safe.
Oil and gas extraction refers to the industrial process of locating, drilling, and extracting hydrocarbons, such as crude oil and natural gas, from beneath the Earth's surface. This process covers a range of activities, starting with the exploration phase, where geologists and geophysicists use seismic surveys and other methods to identify potential reservoirs.
Once companies identify a viable site, they use drilling rigs to drill deep wells into the Earth's crust and access the resources. After extraction, they transport the oil and gas for refining and distribution.
Oil and gas extraction remains a major driver of economic activity worldwide, supporting industries, governments, and local communities. As global energy demand rises and oil still accounts for about 40 percent of the world's energy mix, the sector remains a key driver of both short‑ and long‑term economic growth.
These impacts show up in several key economic benefits outlined below. More specifically, oil and gas extraction helps:
Generate jobs and expand employment opportunities: The industry provides over 41 million direct and indirect jobs across drilling, refining, transportation, and support services. It also creates employment in related sectors such as construction and logistics.
Increase government revenue and fund public services: Oil and gas activities generate substantial income through taxes, royalties, and licensing fees, which governments use to support healthcare, education, and infrastructure projects.
Reduce energy costs and strengthen industrial competitiveness: Domestic production helps stabilize supply and lower dependence on imports, thereby reducing fuel and electricity costs for households and businesses.
Boost export earnings and improve economic stability: Producing countries benefit from strong export revenues, which increase foreign exchange reserves and help balance trade deficits.
Drive regional development and infrastructure growth: Extraction projects often spur the construction of roads, ports, and power systems, especially in remote or resource-rich areas, thereby stimulating local economies.
Support broader economic and industrial activity: Oil and gas serve as essential inputs for transportation, manufacturing, and petrochemical industries, enabling production and sustaining economic growth.
Energy production from oil and gas continues to meet global demand, but it also poses a range of environmental challenges affecting air, water, land, and ecosystems.
The following are the key environmental impacts associated with oil and gas extraction:
Increases greenhouse gas emissions and accelerates climate change: Extraction activities release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, with methane being about 25 times more potent than CO₂ over 100 years, contributing heavily to global warming.
Degrades air quality and increases health risks: Operations emit pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. This exposes nearby populations, including millions of people living close to oil and gas sites, to health risks
Destroys habitats and reduces biodiversity: The development of well sites, roads, and pipelines ruins ecosystems, causing habitat loss and declines in wildlife populations, particularly in sensitive, previously undisturbed areas.
Contaminates water sources and increases water stress: Oil spills, leaks, and drilling fluids can pollute groundwater and surface water, while extraction processes consume large volumes of water, putting pressure on already limited local supplies.
Degrades soil and pollutes land resources: Spills and improper waste disposal introduce hydrocarbons and heavy metals into the soil, reducing land productivity and causing long-term environmental damage.
Causes oil spills and large-scale ecosystem damage: A major offshore drilling incident in the past released over 100 million gallons of oil into the ocean, highlighting how large-scale accidents can devastate marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.
Regulatory frameworks play a critical role in controlling how teams plan, execute, and monitor oil and gas activities across different jurisdictions. These rules manage environmental risks, ensure worker safety, and maintain fair use of natural resources while supporting industry operations.
Below are the key regulatory areas that govern this process.
These laws regulate how oil and gas operations manage emissions, wastewater, and waste disposal to minimize environmental damage.
In the United States, the Oil and Gas Extraction Effluent Guidelines (40 CFR Part 435) set specific limits on wastewater discharge from drilling and production activities. Compliance is typically enforced through permits, monitoring, and penalties, ensuring that operators follow strict environmental standards.
Occupational regulations govern worker safety by addressing risks such as hazardous materials, equipment operation, and working conditions. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces these standards, including requirements for fall protection, confined spaces, and chemical exposure.
Additionally, the General Duty Clause further requires employers to proactively address serious workplace hazards, even if existing rules do not explicitly cover them.
Governments require permits, leases, or concessions before companies can explore and extract oil and gas resources. These rules define land use and include conditions related to environmental protection, waste management, and site rehabilitation.
Regulatory agencies monitor compliance, and violations can result in fines, operational restrictions, or loss of extraction rights.
Laws govern the transportation and distribution of oil and gas to ensure the safe and efficient development of infrastructure.
The U.S. Natural Gas Act regulates interstate gas pipelines, including their construction, operation, and pricing. Meanwhile, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 influences broader energy policy, including incentives, market structure, and regulatory oversight of energy resources.
A combination of national laws and international agreements governs offshore oil and gas activities.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) establishes rules for the use of marine resources, environmental protection, and jurisdiction over offshore areas. These frameworks are essential for managing cross-border issues, preventing environmental damage, and ensuring coordinated responses to incidents such as oil spills.
Extracting oil and gas involves a sequence of technical steps that move from site preparation to drilling, production, and eventual site restoration.
Below is a step-by-step method of oil and gas extraction.
Operators must prepare the site before drilling can start. It involves clearing land, building access roads, and setting up facilities. They use rigging equipment to handle heavy materials and machinery. This stage also includes planning for safety, traffic, and environmental protection.
Drilling starts with assembling the rig and creating a vertical hole that extends below groundwater sources. The well is then gradually turned horizontal to reach oil and gas reserves, allowing for more efficient extraction from the rock formation.
Operators insert steel casing into the drilled well and cement it in place to protect groundwater and maintain structural integrity. Thorough testing ensures the well is sealed properly and prevents leaks before moving to the next stage.
A perforating process creates openings in the rock layer, allowing oil and gas to flow into the well. This step connects the resource-bearing formation to the wellbore, enabling extraction.
High-pressure fluid is injected into the rock to create fractures that release trapped oil and gas. This process, commonly known as fracking, is repeated along the well's horizontal section to maximize resource recovery.
Once the well is active, oil and gas flow to the surface for processing and distribution. At the same time, fracking operations often recover and recycle fluids to reduce waste and environmental impact.
When production ends, crews permanently seal the well and restore the site to its original condition. Environmental measures, including a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan, help prevent contamination and ensure long-term site safety.
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