Lesson 13 The search for oil 探寻石油

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

What do oilmen want to achieve as soon as they strike oil?

The deepest holes of all are made for oil, and they go down to as much as 25,000 feet. But we do not need to send men down to get the oil out, as we must with other mineral deposits. The holes are only borings, less than a foot in diameter. My particular experience is largely in oil, and the search for oil has done more to improve deep drilling than any other mining activity. When it has been decided where we are going to drill,

5 we put up at the surface an oil derrick. It has to be tall because it is like a giant block and tackle, and we have to lower into the ground and haul out of the ground great lengths of drill pipe which are rotated by an engine at the top and are fitted with a cutting bit at the bottom.

The geologist needs to know what rocks the drill has reached, so every so often a sample is obtained with a coring bit. It cuts a clean cylinder of rock, from which can be seen the strata the drill has been cutting 10 through. Once we get down to the oil, it usually flows to the surface because great pressure, either from gas or water, is pushing it. This pressure must be under control, and we control it by means of the mud which we circulate down the drill pipe. We endeavour to avoid the old, romantic idea of a gusher, which wastes oil and gas. We want it to stay down the hole until we can lead it off in a controlled manner.

T. F. GASKELL The Search for the Earth's Minerals from Discovery

An oil rig drilling in the Abu Dhabi offshore oilfields in the Persian Gulf

Unit 2 Lesson 13

New words and expressions 生词和短语

mineral (1.2) $/\min a$ r $= 1/a$ d $j$ . 矿物的 geologist (1.8) /dʒi'ɒlədʒɪst/ n. 地质学家 boring (1.2) / ’ boːrɪŋ/ n. 钻孔 coring bit (1.9) / kɔːrɪŋ-bɪt/ 取芯钻头 derrick (1.5) /'derɪk/ n. 井架 cylinder (1.9) /’sɪlɪndə/ n. 圆柱体 block and tackle (1.5) 滑轮组 strata (1.9)/’strɑːtə/ n. 岩层 [复] haul (1.6) /hɔ:l/v. 拖, 拉 ([单] stratum /straːtəm/ 或 strata [误用]) rotate (1.6) $/r = {\sigma }^{\prime }$ text/v. 使转动 circulate (1.12) $/$ ’s3:kjʊleɪt $/v$ . 注入,环流 cutting bit (1.7) 钻头 gusher (1.12) $/\prime g \land \int g/n$ . 喷油井

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 they go down to as much as 25,000 feet,

as much as 意为 “多达”,“达到 (量)”。

2 as we must with other mineral deposits,

must 后面省去了与上句中相同的部分 send men down 。

3 a foot in diameter, 直径 1 英尺。

4 every so often, 时常。

5 by means of, 用 ……, 靠 …… 手段。

参考译文

在所有洞穴中,为寻找石油所钻的洞是最深的,这些洞可深达 25,000 英尺。但是,我们不必像开采其他矿藏那样,把人送到地下去把石油取出。这些洞只不过是一些钻孔,直径不到 1 英尺。我是专门搞石油的,寻找石油比其他任何采矿业对改进深孔钻探作的贡献都要大。当确定钻孔地点后, 我们就在那里竖起一个井架。井架必须很高,因为它像一个巨型滑轮组。我们必须把很长的钻杆一节节地钻入地下, 然后再从地下拉出来。钻杆顶部安装的发动机带动钻杆旋转,它的底部装有钻头。

地质学家需要知道钻头已经到达什么样的岩层,因此时常要用取芯钻头取样。这种钻头能切割一段光滑的圆柱形岩石, 从中能看出钻头所钻透的地层。一旦到达油层, 石油就会由于地下巨大的压力流到地面上来, 这种巨大的压力来自地下天然气或水。这种压力必须加以控制, 我们让泥浆顺着钻杆向下循环, 用这种方法来控制压力。我们尽量避免使用陈旧天真的喷井方法,那样会浪费石油和天然气。我们要让石油留在井下,直到我们能用一种有控制的方法把它引上来为止。

Comprehension 理解

1 In a single sentence explain the purpose of an oil derrick.

2 Explain in a sentence how oilmen prevent oil from gushing to the surface.

Vocabulary 词汇

Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: in diameter (1.3); drilling (1.4): haul (1.6); rotated (1.6); every so often (1.8); endeavour (1.12).

Unit 2 Lesson 13

The paragraph 段落

A Which of these statements do you think the author would agree with? Give reasons for your choice: 1 The search for oil has led to an improvement in drilling techniques. 2 When drilling for oil, it is difficult to obtain samples of the rocks the drill has been cutting through. 3 Once oil has been found, it is impossible to prevent it from gushing to the surface.

B The following sentences have been taken from the first paragraph (lines 1-7). Arrange them in their correct order. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

1 My particular experience is largely in oil, and the search for oil has done more to improve deep drilling than any other mining activity.

2 When it has been decided where we are going to drill, we put up at the surface an oil derrick.

3 The deepest holes of all are made for oil, and they go down to as much as 25,000 feet.

4 The holes are only borings, less than a foot in diameter.

5 But we do not need to send men down to get the oil out, as we must with other mineral deposits.

6 It has to be tall because it is like a giant block and tackle, and we have to lower into the ground and haul out of the ground great lengths of drill pipe which are rotated by an engine at the top and are fitted with a cutting bit at the bottom.

Key structures 关键句型

A Supply the correct form of the missing verbs (must, need or have to) in these sentences. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

1 We do not _____ to send men down to get the oil out, as we _____ with other mineral deposits. (II.1-2)

2 It _____ be tall because it is like a giant block and tackle and we _____ lower into the ground and haul out of the ground great lengths of drill pipe. (II.5-6)

3 The geologist _____ to know what rocks the drill has reached. (I.8)

4 This pressure_____be under control, and we control it by means of the mud which we circulate down the drill pipe. (II.11-12)

B Supply $a$ or the where necessary in the following. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

_____ deepest holes of all are made for_____oil, and they go down to as much as 25,000 feet. But we do not need to send _____ men down to get _____ oil out, as we must with _____ other mineral deposits._____ holes are only borings, less than _____ foot in _____ diameter. _____ my particular experience is largely in _____ oil, and _____ search for _____ oil has done more to improve _____ deep drilling than any other mining activity. (11.1-4)

C Supply (be) going to or will in these sentences:

1 When it has been decided where we _____ drill, we put up at the surface an oil derrick. (II.4-5)

2 Ask Mary. I'm sure she _____ be able to help you.

3 He _____ be far more co-operative if you speak to him nicely.

4 If ever you want any information, we _____ always be glad to help you.

5 He's changed his mind again. He _____ make out another will. Unit 2 Lesson 13

D Note the order of the words in italics:

The geologist needs to know what rocks the drill has reached. (1.8)

Complete the following sentences:

1 Tell me where _____.

2 I don't know why _____.

3 Ask him how _____.

4 Did he tell you when _____.

E Note the word order in this sentence:

We want it to stay down the hole. (I.13)

Write sentences using the same pattern with the following verbs: allow, ask, teach, cause, warn and advise.

Special difficulties 难点

A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference. 1 hole (1.1) - whole

We'll just dig a hole in the ground and bury the box in it.

You have your whole life ahead of you.

2 engine (1.6) - machine

A car like this needs a powerful engine.

How often should you equip a factory with new machines?

3 fit (1.7) - suit

That jacket really fits you at the shoulders.

Pastel colours suit me.

4 clean (1.9) - clear

Please hand me a clean towel.

You must never do that again. Is that clear?

5 control (1.13) - check

• OPEC no longer has control over the price of oil.

It's hard to keep a check on the number of people coming into the country.

B Supply verbs which could be used in place of the expressions in italics:

1 When it has been decided where we are going to drill, we put up at the surface an oil derrick. (II.4-5)

2 It took them several hours to put out the fire.

3 I won't put up with this sort of thing any longer.

4 Because of the bad weather, the match has been put off until next week.

C Explain the meaning of the words or phrases in italics:

1 Once we get down to the oil, it usually flows to the surface. (1.10)

2 I'm ashamed to say I've only been to the Louvre once.

3 Once upon a time there was a poor woodcutter who lived in a forest.

4 I see him once in a while.

5 I'll come at once.

6 All at once there was a loud explosion.

Unit 2 Lesson 13

D Write sentences using the following expressions: under control (1.13); out of control; beyond control. E Note the use of off in this sentence: We want it to stay down the hole until we can lead it off in a controlled manner. (1.13)

Write sentences using the following verbs:

drive off; cool off; hurry off; switch off; wear off.

Multiple choice questions 多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions.

Comprehension 理解

1 Deep drilling techniques have improved greatly because _____ .

(a) of the need to locate oil

(b) it is necessary to go down as much as 25,000 feet

(c) there is no need to send men down deep holes to get oil

(d) of the constant search for mineral deposits

2 It's necessary to put up an oil derrick _____ .

(a) because it is like a giant block and tackle

(b) to rotate the engine at the top

(c) to control all the equipment needed to drill a deep hole

(d) to decide exactly where to drill for oil

3 The only way of knowing what rocks the drill has reached is to _____

(a) cut clean cylinders of rock

(b) use the coring bit

(c) take note of the strata below the surface

(d) bring up specimen material from time to time

4 If you don't control the oil pressure _____ .

(a) oil will be forced to the surface with great force

(b) mud will have to be circulated down the drill pipe

(c) you will have to catch the oil at the surface

(d) water will gush to the surface

Structure 句型

5 The holes made for oil go down as _____ as 25,000 feet. (1.1)

(a) many (b) long (c) far (d) distant

6 Nothing has done as _____ as to improve deep drilling as the search for oil. (ll.3-4)

(a) many (b) much (c) long (d) far

7 The geologist needs to know _____ rocks the drill has reached. (1.8)

(a) that (b) when (c) how (d) which

8 _____ we get down to the oil, it usually flows with great pressure. (1.10)

(a) Immediately (b) The first time (c) Until (d) As long as Unit 2 Lesson 13

Vocabulary 词汇

9 The holes are only borings, less than a foot _____ . (ll.2-3)

(a) round (b) across (c) through (d) along

10 The engine at the top makes the drill pipe go _____ . (1.6)

(a) up and down (b) in and out (c) round and round (d) deeper and deeper

11 a sample is obtained with a coring bit. (ll.8-9)

(a) Every now and again (b) In one way or another

(c) Often but not always (d) After a long time

12 We _____ avoid the old, romantic idea of a gusher. (1.12)

(a) make sure we (b) can’t (c) attempt (d) try to

Unit 2 Lesson 14