2006年VOA标准英语-Deepwater Oil Discovery Flows from Advances in

By Paul Sisco
Washington, DC
20 September 2006
 
watch Deepwater Oil

Super computers, mathematical formulas, and advances in imaging all played a part in a much-publicized recent oil discovery beneath the Gulf¹ of Mexico.

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Consider the idea of drilling a pipeline² straight down Mount Everest -- 8,850 meters, give or take a few. That is just about how deep geologists³ went from an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this year to find oil.  The equipment used set records for pressure, depth, and for duration in deep water.   

Roger Anderson

Geophysicist Roger Anderson from Columbia University adds, "It's a last frontier, unquestionably.  It is what we call the ultra deep water."

Down they went, through more that 2,100 meters of water, continuing six kilometers more through a thick layer of hardened salt, to an ancient rock layer geologists know as the lower tertiary trend.  

Advances in seismic⁴ imaging, platform stabilization⁵ and the use of supercomputers made it possible.  Computers calculate size and location of probable oil deposits and help guide exploratory pipelines⁶ to it. It is still risky⁷ business, says Anderson.

"It is an interesting random⁸ poker⁹ game and somebody has to take a chance in order for the industry as a whole to move forward."

Americans use about seven-and-a-half billion barrels of oil a year.  Industry analysts¹⁰ estimate the newly discovered field could hold between three and 15 billion barrels of oil and natural gas. And there are plans for other deep well explorations in the area.  There has been no announcement so far about how the oil and gas will be brought to shore; only that it will be difficult, costly¹¹, and take years.

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

3 geologists   

地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
• Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。

4 seismic   

a.地震的，地震强度的

参考例句：

• Earthquakes produce two types of seismic waves.地震产生两种地震波。
• The latest seismic activity was also felt in northern Kenya.肯尼亚北部也感觉到了最近的地震活动。

5 Stabilization   

稳定化

参考例句：

• The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
• With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。

6 pipelines   

管道( pipeline的名词复数 )； 输油管道； 在考虑（或规划、准备） 中； 在酿中

参考例句：

• The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
• The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

7 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

8 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

9 poker   

n.扑克；vt.烙制

参考例句：

• He was cleared out in the poker game.他打扑克牌，把钱都输光了。
• I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it.我打扑克是老手了，可以玩些花样。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。