Is there a danger of sections of earth collapsing due to voids left after pumping oil or gas?

Question

Is there a danger of sections of earth collapsing due to voids left after pumping oil or gas?

Answer 1

The voids are filled with non contaminated water if it is in sea. If it is in land the drill holes are closed with some solid materials.They will not leave the void to create land slips.

Answer 2

Yes, if you don´t pump back anything in.

Answer 3

Yes, but these collapses are much smaller than you think.  Sometimes they create earthquakes that can be felt, but I cannot think of any place off the top of my head where there were actually depressions created in the surface of Earth.

Usually if the surface collapses into a giant hole in the ground, this occurs because of water removal, not oil or gas.  The effects of water are much more powerful.

Answer 4

Not really.  The oil and gas is usually trapped in sandstone so it does not really leave an empty void. Gas or water pressure forces the oil out of the sandstone and up the well. When the well is exhausted the only actual hole is the well hole itself.

Think of the sandstone as kind of like a sponge, porous. with the oil soaked into it.

Don't think of the oil as like a big empty blister or pus pocket down there.

Answer 5

dont the scientists and all the people working at the site, figure out ways of preventing that before they pump the oil or gas out?