boreholes
Narrow underground passages
Boreholes are narrow shafts drilled into the ground, typically to extract water, oil, or gas, or to gather geological samples.
The term emphasizes the drilling process—boring a hole—rather than what's extracted.
Scientists use boreholes to study underground temperatures and rock formations.
The village relies on a borehole for its water supply.
Narrow vertical passage
- tubingHollow cylindrical conduit
- cementationMineral-binding of particles
- completionAct of finishing
- liningInterior fabric layer
grouting · casing · wellhead · screen · annulus · seal · bentonite · collar
Equipment arrangement or vehicle
- augerSpiral hole-maker
- bitSmall amount or portion
- rotaryInvolving circular motion
- derrickMovable boom apparatus
casing · core · penetration · reamer · mud · circulation · cuttings · kelly
Groundwater-bearing geological formation
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
- wellspringPrimary source of something
- artesianGroundwater under natural pressure
- water tableTop of groundwater zone
pump · irrigation · potable · recharge · drawdown · yield · abstraction · submersible
Underground hydrocarbon reserve area
- hydrocarbonsCarbon-hydrogen organic compounds
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- extractionAct of removing
- productionMaking or generating something
injection · petroleum · gas · offshore · onshore · logging · perforation · stimulation
Parallel geological layers
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- core sampleCylindrical subsurface extraction
- subsurfaceBelow the outer layer
- formationCreation or arrangement
bedrock · geophysics · fault · stratigraphy · overburden · weathering · fracture · porosity
Searching for mineral wealth
- surveyingMeasuring and charting terrain
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- geochemistryEarth's chemical makeup science
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
assay · mineralization · target · anomaly · discovery · feasibility · evaluation
shaft
Narrow vertical passage
- tubingHollow cylindrical conduit
- cementationMineral-binding of particles
- completionAct of finishing
lining · grouting · casing · wellhead · screen · annulus · seal · bentonite · collar · cap
rig
Equipment arrangement or vehicle
derrick · casing · core · penetration · reamer · mud · circulation · cuttings · kelly · drawworks
aquifer
Groundwater-bearing geological formation
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
- wellspringPrimary source of something
- artesianGroundwater under natural pressure
water table · pump · irrigation · potable · recharge · drawdown · yield · abstraction · submersible · hand pump
oilfield
Underground hydrocarbon reserve area
- hydrocarbonsCarbon-hydrogen organic compounds
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- extractionAct of removing
production · injection · petroleum · gas · offshore · onshore · logging · perforation · stimulation · fracking
strata
Parallel geological layers
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- core sampleCylindrical subsurface extraction
- subsurfaceBelow the outer layer
formation · bedrock · geophysics · fault · stratigraphy · overburden · weathering · fracture · porosity · permeability
prospecting
Searching for mineral wealth
- surveyingMeasuring and charting terrain
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- geochemistryEarth's chemical makeup science
reconnaissance · assay · mineralization · target · anomaly · discovery · feasibility · evaluation
- water sourcesriver, lake, rain, well, pond
- water supplydrinking water, potable water, tap water, municipal water, water tanks
- African farmingmaize, cassava, sorghum, millet, yams
- drought responsewater rationing, water trucks, water storage, water tanks, emergency relief
- rural developmentrural housing, land reform, farm loans, rural roads, rural infrastructure
- South African farmingmaize, sheep farming, citrus, grain farming, grapes
boreholestunnels
Underground hollow pathways
open-pit mines · quarries · strip mines · trenches · caverns
boreholesmounds
Heaps of earth
embankments · landfills · berms · earthworks · levees