[Eclogite]

Since I make a living out of helping to create them, the Earth holes I am most interested in are the boreholes drilled for oil and gas.

Technology has advanced dramatically over the last decade or so. At one time most wells were vertical, or inclined at shallow angles. Now wells may have complex geometries, or be drilled horizontally (to maximise production rates) 10kms or more from the rig location. Real time, down hole surveying equipment allows wells to be targeted to within metres and trajectories controlled so that the well path remains within the productive horizon.

However, recognising this is a specialised area with little of interest for the layman, I now return you to the world of natural Earth holes.

[freeztar]

I'm certainly an interested layman.

To be honest, I'd always assumed that bores were always vertical or horizontal. What are these "complex geometries" you refer to?

You gave me a new thread tag to add btw.

[Moontanman]

Originally Posted by Eclogite

Since I make a living out of helping to create them, the Earth holes I am most interested in are the boreholes drilled for oil and gas.

Technology has advanced dramatically over the last decade or so. At one time most wells were vertical, or inclined at shallow angles. Now wells may have complex geometries, or be drilled horizontally (to maximise production rates) 10kms or more from the rig location. Real time, down hole surveying equipment allows wells to be targeted to within metres and trajectories controlled so that the well path remains within the productive horizon.

However, recognising this is a specialised area with little of interest for the layman, I now return you to the world of natural Earth holes.

Have you read the book "The Deep Hot biosphere" by Thomas Gold? He contends that oil is not a fossil fuel but is produced by the action of microbes deep with in the Earth. since the boiling point of water goes up with pressure these microbes can live several miles down and "eat" the methane and other chemicals trapped in the Earth when it was formed. If you have read this book do you have a take on Golds theory.

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Moontanman

Is anyone aware they have found deep sink type holes on mars?

I heard that too. Here's an image. Don't fear the Reaper.

APOD: 2007 May 28 - A Hole in Mars

[CraigD]

Originally Posted by Moontanman

Is anyone aware they have found deep sink type holes on mars?

I’d say the 7 features in these images are likely sinkholes – and big ones at that, 100 to 252 m in diameter and estimated to be 73 m in depth. As of the time of the article, it reports, analysts were unsure if these holes are just pits, or openings to caves, but it’s hoped the MRO’s ground-penetrating radar can answer the question.

As evidence suggest that Mars has had volcano’s and large flows of liquid water, it should have caves similar to Earth’s, including sinkholes.

[Turtle]

I think I found a hole in the Earth! What happened was, I went looking for holes in the Earth & I found one. It looks like a hole, and it isn't so unreasonably far away that I might not plan a walkabout to go and see if it smells like a hole too.

Turtle's Hole In The Earth Location
45º 39' 13.54" N
121º 06' 29.98 W

[CraigD]

Originally Posted by Turtle

I think I found a hole in the Earth!
…

Turtle's Hole In The Earth Location
45º 39' 13.54" N
121º 06' 29.98 W

Congratulations!

My inexperienced GoogleEarthy eyes can’t tell if it’s a hole, or a dull-colored pond, but it’s definitely worth a looksee if you’re in the vicinity.

There appears to be about 400 m of dirt road running from a marked road right by the thing, and whatever it is, it’s about 50 m across, so should be hard to miss up. Because of the road, I’m guessing it’s man-made, some sort of quarry, mine, or a drainage pond.

I wonder if it’s a much smaller version of what’s at 45 38 37 N 121 09 59 W ?

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by CraigD

Congratulations!

My inexperienced GoogleEarthy eyes can’t tell if it’s a hole, or a dull-colored pond, but it’s definitely worth a looksee if you’re in the vicinity.

There appears to be about 400 m of dirt road running from a marked road right by the thing, and whatever it is, it’s about 50 m across, so should be hard to miss up. Because of the road, I’m guessing it’s man-made, some sort of quarry, mine, or a drainage pond.

I wonder if it’s a much smaller version of what’s at 45 38 37 N 121 09 59 W ?

OK It's about an 80 mile drive from my location & I'm trying to rally a possee. If the feature is an unusual natural one , perhaps the dirt track you mention is the result of people going to see it. I am familiar with the geology of the area, and the rock at my hole is as best I recall Columbia River Flood Basalt. Could be a lava vent or a crater formed by a steam explosion or of course, the ultimate hole in the ground, a meteorite crater. : >> CVO Website - Pacific Northwest Volcanics - Map

The large round structure you point out Craig is I think a mineral operation and or associated with the Dalles dam just upstream, but this doesn't rule it out as related to my hole by the above criteria and simply turned to some use by da peeps.

Just west of the hole I see a roundish structure too: perhaps something similar but eroded.

Oooooo!! Scanning around there while I type; look about 100 yards ESE of the center of the hole and there is a house/building nestled in the top of the draw. I will take a map printout with me in case anyone challenges what I'm doing there. Good morning Mam; nice Benelli you have there. My name is Turtle and I am here doing a ground survey of a geologic feature for Google Earth Community in cooperation with Hypography Science Forums.

[Mercedes Benzene]

There are some very nice holes in the "Caves" episode of "Planet Earth".

I just found a clip of one of the holes so if you haven't seen this episode, you may also enjoy it.

YouTube - Cave of Swallows - Schwalbenhöhle in...

[freeztar]

Here's a hole in the Earth that I'm hoping someone can identify.
It measures about 3 inches in diameter.



And, also in my backyard, is this neat ant nest without all the extraneous dirt piled atop.