definition
strict definition
well
A shaft drilled, bored, or dug into the earth to extract water, oil, natural gas, or similar substances.
A well is a shaft drilled, bored, or dug into the earth for the extraction of water, oil, natural gas, or another liquid, gas, or viscous substance. The shaft may be vertical, diagonal, angled, bent, or forked.
The shaft provides access to material below the surface. It can change direction or branch rather than being a straight vertical hole.
A wide open pit and a network of mining cavities have different excavated forms. The well is specifically the extraction shaft described above.
Related definitions
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landfill
An area whose shape is formed by accumulated refuse, whether deposited in an excavation or above existing ground. -
open pit
An excavated hole in the earth bounded on all sides and fully open to the atmosphere. -
trench
A waterless excavated channel below mean surrounding surface level, bounded by retained earth on both sides. -
underground mine
A cavity or network of tunnels dug under the earth for extraction of minerals.