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Hancock County Deep Test Site: From Cow Pasture to Research Project

The Hancock County well site, graded and graveled, before the drilling started. Cellar and conductor pipe were installed in mid-April 2009 at the site. Another view of the cellar and conductor pipe installation. Another view of the cellar and conductor pipe installation.
The Hancock County, Kentucky, well site, graded and graveled, before the drilling started. Cellar and conductor pipe were installed in mid-April 2009 at the site. Another view of the cellar and conductor pipe installation. Another view of the cellar and conductor pipe installation.
The drilling rig arrives at the site on April 17, 2009. Raising the derrick on April 18, 2009. The site was getting crowded with equipment and vehicles as the drill rig was set up The assembled drilling rig, April 20, 2009.
The drilling rig arrives at the site on April 17, 2009. Raising the derrick on April 18, 2009. The site was getting crowded with equipment and vehicles as the drill rig was set up The assembled drilling rig, April 20, 2009.
A closer view of the drilling rig, owned by NorAm Drilling of Houston, Texas. The well site shortly before drilling started. The well site is in rural Hancock County, KY. Another view of the rural well site.

A closer view of the drilling rig, owned by NorAm Drilling of Houston, Texas.

 The well site shortly before drilling started. The well site is in rural Hancock County, KY. Another view of the rural well site.
The well site is in the middle of a remote private farm in southeastern Hancock County. An afternoon shower passed over the well site, leaving this view behind on April 20. A view of the entrance to the well site a couple of days into the drilling. April 25, 2009, a couple of days into the drilling.
The well site is in the middle of a remote private farm in southeastern Hancock County. An afternoon shower passed over the well site, leaving this view behind on April 20. A view of the entrance to the well site a couple of days into the drilling. April 25, 2009, a couple of days into the drilling.
Trailers, communications equipment and other facilities on the well site after drilling began. A closer view of the derrick after drilling had begun. The rack of drill pipe, drilling motor (yellow), and automatic pipe handling and other equipment in use at the well site. The automatic pipe handling equipment lifts a joint of drill pipe into position.
Trailers, communications equipment and other facilities on the well site after drilling began. A closer view of the derrick after drilling had begun.

The rack of drill pipe, drilling motor (yellow), and automatic pipe handling and other equipment in use at the well site.

The automatic pipe handling equipment lifts a joint of drill pipe into position.
As coring of the New Albany shale begins, workers lay down the core barrel on May 1. A core is cut into sections for shipping. Core sections are capped and sealed before being shipped for analysis. Sections of core are ready to be put on pallets and shipped.

As coring of the New Albany shale begins, workers lay down the core barrel on May 1.

A core is cut into sections for shipping. Core sections are capped and sealed before being shipped for analysis. Sections of core are ready to be put on pallets and shipped.
Hancock County Judge Jack McCaslin speaks to the fifty participants before a site tour on May 14. Dave Williams of the KGS Henderson office leads a group on the tour of the site in May. Dave Williams points out pieces of equipment from the drill platform. Donald Strehle of Sandia Technologies leads another group onto the drill platform.
Hancock County Judge Jack McCaslin speaks to the fifty participants before a site tour on May 14. Dave Williams of the KGS Henderson office leads a group on the tour of the site in May. Dave Williams points out pieces of equipment from the drill platform. Donald Strehle of Sandia Technologies leads another group onto the drill platform.
Indiana State Geologist John C. Steinmetz looks up at the drill rig during the site tour. Participants stand on walkways above the mud tanks as Donald Strehle describes the operation. The automatic pipe-handling arm is demonstrated for participants on the tour. Donald Strehle leads a tour group off the walkways over the mud tanks.
Indiana State Geologist John C. Steinmetz looks up at the drill rig during the site tour. Participants stand on walkways above the mud tanks as Donald Strehle describes the operation. The automatic pipe-handling arm is demonstrated for participants on the tour. Donald Strehle leads a tour group off the walkways over the mud tanks.
State Rep. Rocky Adkins talk to Paul Heard of ConocoPhillips at the end of the tour.

A view of the Hancock County site on August 19, when carbon dioxide was injected into the deep test well.

Truckloads of carbon dioxide are brought to the injection test site by the supplier, Praxair. Another view of the Nabors workover rig at the site during injection operations.
State Rep. Rocky Adkins talk to Paul Heard of ConocoPhillips at the end of the tour.

A view of the Hancock County site on August 19, when carbon dioxide was injected into the deep test well.

Truckloads of carbon dioxide are brought to the injection test site by the supplier, Praxair. Another view of the Nabors workover rig at the site during injection operations.
Inside a trailer at the site, a computer monitors and records information about the injection of CO2.      
Inside a trailer at the site, a computer monitors and records information about the injection of CO2.    

 

 

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Last modified August 1, 2012 .