Drilling

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/drilling

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the rotary drilling principle?Utilizes a rotating drill bit to grind and remove subsurface material
2. What is the drilling fluid functions?Cools bit, lubricates string, stabilizes borehole, removes cuttings, controls pressure
3. What is drilling and why do people use it?Drilling is making cylindrical holes with a rotating bit. People use it to find oil, gas, water, and to learn about the Earth.
4. How did drilling tools change from the past to today?Early drills were hand‑turned tools like the bow drill. Modern rigs use powerful machines, special drill bits, and computer controls.

Drill String: A series of connected pipes that transmit torque and weight to the drill bit.
Annulus: The space between the drill string and the borehole wall through which drilling fluid circulates.
Hydraulic Fracturing: A process used to release oil or gas from dense rock formations by injecting fluid at high pressure.