Unusual Structures? I Think Not

A while back I was on Facebook and I admittedly clicked on an article that was obvious click-bait.  I forget what the article was titled, but the purpose of the article was showing unusual objects visualized in Google Earth. One image, in particular, caught my interest, and I will share a similar image below. Note the square objects in close proximity.

Image was taken in New Mexico

Because of my love with browsing through Google Earth, I found more images in other locations that showed a similar pattern! Again please note the square objects.

Image was taken in Pennsylvania

Image was taken in Ohio

Image was taken in Louisiana

Image was taken in Arkansas

Image was taken in Texas

Image was taken in Texas

I am sure at this point some people are thinking "These features are not unusual objects, I know what they are!"  I will admit, I knew what these objects were as soon as I saw the original image on that article. I remember laughing and saying: "these aren't unusual objects, they are drilling pads!"

In particular, these drilling pads are located in locations where hydraulic fracturing is occurring to access petroleum in tight rocks such as organic-rich mudstones. The images in descending order are from the Permian Basin in New Mexico, Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, Utica Shale in Ohio, Haynesville Shale in Louisana, Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas, Eagle Ford Shale in Texas, and the Barnett Shale in Texas.

These pads are constructed to accommodate the drilling rig and all the associated equipment with drilling and completing of a well. In the first image, the drilling pads are so close together because the operator is trying to access all the hydrocarbons that they can. When one well is finished drilling and completing, they move the rig over to the next pad and drill again. I am making an assumption here, but I would guess that all those wells are vertical wells, and that is why they are so close together. A new method is now being used where multiple wells are being drilled from a single well pad. These wells are horizontals that will project in different directions. The advantage is reducing costs as well as the overall footprint because you only need one pad instead of multiple. Some of the other pictures may be showing the multipad technique, and this is why the pads are further apart from each other. Another reason the pads may be further from one another is because of the topography of the land. Well placement is important for several reasons, one of which is avoiding areas with large slopes. Drillers want to drill in areas of flat ground because it is easier and cheaper to build the drilling pads. In locations such as Pennslyvania and Ohio where you are more likely to have rolling hills, the pads will always be further apart than in areas in Texas where the topography is mostly flat.

In conclusion, everyone can rest easy because these structures are not the work of aliens or a government doing something they shouldn't.