I'm wondering what happens beneath the earth while we keep drilling for oil.

If you know that we drill millions of liters a day, what does this do to the mantel of our earth? :shrug:
Are there giant caves ? you could fit city's in it.:eek:
Are earthquake a result of this?
What happens if by some way the mantel colapses. Would this leave a giant hole? and if so what effect would this have on the spinning of the earth?:confused:

I know that are a lot of "ifs" butt it is something i think about alot.
Mankind is destroying our planet but doesn't care.

There won't be caves. Oil is held in pore spaces in solid rock, so when you remove it, you end up with solid rock without oil (probably replaced by water). The mantle won't be affected, as this is generally separated from the oil bearing rocks by several of kilometers of crust. There is sometimes some subsidence related to oil extraction though.

When oil comes out of a well its under lots of pressure, shoots up like firehose water. There must be lots of rock weight pressing in on it where its stored underground. So when the oil is gone, surely some of the rock must move in to fill the spaces or pores?

It might be in places, something comes up from below to take its place, like lava. This article says maybe in future the subsidence could get worse, and work together with seas rising to put land underwater.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-337/extraction.html

When oil comes out of a well its under lots of pressure, shoots up like firehose water. There must be lots of rock weight pressing in on it where its stored underground. So when the oil is gone, surely some of the rock must move in to fill the spaces or pores?
Usually something else is pumped into the well. Especially towards the end of the well's useful life, so that the stuff being pumped in forces the last drops of oil out.

People squeeze out the rocks like a sponge? - execpt them put water IN at the end, not wring it out.

I though crude oil's much heavier molecules thn water.. never understood why it floats so well!

Crude oil, Mexican 60oF 973 kg/m3
Water - sea 77oF 1022 kg/m3

Yes they pump seawater into oil wells to displace the oil, and so the well won't collapse.

Crude oil, Mexican 60oF 973 kg/m3
Water - sea 77oF 1022 kg/m3

Yes they pump seawater into oil wells to displace the oil, and so the well won't collapse.

It's not just for displacement but continued well pressure.

What they should be pumping down there though is replacement organic waste. Like for instance particular oils that are from grown produce, so when we eventually run out there is something there to decompose in the future.

What they should be pumping down there though is replacement organic waste. Like for instance particular oils that are from grown produce, so when we eventually run out there is something there to decompose in the future.

Cool idea, but wouldnt it take millions of years to make more crude?

Even if not, it seems like a false economy to spend fuel powering pumps to put future oil IN the gound, just so we or our grandkids can pump it back up later...

in a lot of countries (like my own) there to much menure; maybe that would be a solution as long as they don't put toxicwaste in it it would be fine i guess. Would seawater get warm if it's to deep onderground? What if it transforms into steam, would the presure get to great?:shrug:

If the steam hasn't got a way out it may rip the ground open.:bugeye:

My guess is that oil drilling barely affects the earth in any significant way, except in earth quake prone areas. Off shore drilling is more effective since it can affect marine life.

Would seawater get warm if it's to deep onderground? What if it transforms into steam, would the presure get to great?:shrug:

If the steam hasn't got a way out it may rip the ground open.:bugeye:

Seawater gets way hotter than boiling at deep ocean volcanos, like all along the Atlantic ridge. Cant boil though, cause like you say the pressure is to great. And far under ground its even greater. Im sure water works its way down subduction zones into the mantle all the time, but theres no big steam cloud pushingthe Earth's crust off! :D