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• What is a Petroleum Geologist looking for?

– Rocks that contain Oil and Gas (Hydrocarbons)

• Oil / Gas Reservoirs

– Not a Pool / Cave
– It is actually a rock formation like a sponge
that contains a hydrocarbon (Oil / Gas) in a
large quantity.
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Petroleum geology: is the study of origin,

occurrence, movement, accumulation, and
exploration of hydrocarbon fuels. It refers to the
specific set of geological disciplines that are
applied to the search for hydrocarbons (oil
exploration).

Relationship of Petroleum geology to science

It is the application of geology (the study of rocks) to the exploration for

and production of oil and gas.

Geology itself is strongly based on physics, chemistry and biology,

involving the application of essentially abstract concepts to data.

In the past these data were basically observational and subjective.

Petroleum geology, in particular still rely on value judgments based on

experience and an assessment of validity among the data presented.

Exploration had advanced over the years as various geological techniques

were developed.
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1.1 Historical Aspect

The early uses of oil date from the time of Noah, who had used

asphalt to make his ark watertight; in those times, oil was used for

medication, waterproofing, and in warfare. Many references are

found to using pitch or asphalt, collected from the natural seepage

with which the Middle East abounds.

It is interesting to note that in early petroleum drilling operations, a

major American company once employed a chief geologist whose

exploration philosophy was to drill in old Indian graves.

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What is Petroleum?

Petroleum (Petra, from Greek: (rock) + Latin: oleum (oil)) is a

naturally occurring flammable liquid consisting of a complex
mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and
other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic
formations under the Earth's surface.
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Natural Oil Spills

Anticlinal Theory
a theory in geology: oil and natural gas migrate to the most elevated
portions of permeable beds and so will usually be found in anticlines.
Drill here!

Gas
Oil
Water
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Industry ‘Technological’ Milestones

1883: Anticlinal theory (where to drill)

1914: Seismograph invented (remote sensing)

2D Seismic Line
Gulf of Mexico (offshore)

Industry ‘Technological’ Milestones

1883: Anticlinal theory (where to drill)
1914: Seismograph invented (remote sensing)
1920s: Introduction of rotary drilling (well control)
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Rotary Drilling Rig Schematic

Large Land Drilling Rig
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Industry ‘Technological’ Milestones

1883: Anticlinal theory (where to drill)

1914: Seismograph invented (remote

sensing)

1920s: Introduction of rotary drilling (well

control)
Start of water flooding (improved
recovery)

1924: First electrical well logging

(formation evaluation)

Industry ‘Technological’ Milestones

1883: Anticlinal theory (where to drill)

1914: Seismograph invented (remote sensing)

1920s: Introduction of rotary drilling (well control)

Start of water flooding (improved recovery)

1924: First electrical well logging (formation evaluation)

1930s: Offshore drilling (access to prospective areas)

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Jack-Up Drilling Rig (Texas Federal Waters ~150’ water depth)

Industry ‘Technological’ Milestones

1883: Anticlinal theory (where to drill)

1914: Seismograph invented (remote sensing)

1920s: Introduction of rotary drilling (well control)

Start of water flooding (improved recovery)

1924: First electrical well logging (formation evaluation)

1930s: Offshore drilling (access to prospective areas)

1960s: Digital computers (data manipulation)

1970s: Directional drilling

1980s: 3D seismic (enhanced imaging)

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Gas
Cap
Oil
Accumulation
Entrapment Seal Rock
Water
Reservoir
Rock

Migration
120° F

350° F
Generation Source Rock
24803

Petroleum System is defined as a natural system that

encompasses active source rock and all related oil and

gas and which includes all of the geologic elements and

processes that are essential if a hydrocarbon

accumulation is to exist.
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• Source Rock - A rock with abundant hydrocarbon-prone organic matter.

• Reservoir Rock - A rock in which oil and gas accumulates:

- Porosity - space between rock grains in which oil accumulates.
- Permeability - passage-ways between pores through which oil and gas moves.

• Seal Rock - A rock through which oil and gas cannot move effectively (such
as shale, mudstone and claystone).

• Migration Route - Avenues in rock through which oil and gas moves from
source rock to trap.

• Trap - The structural and stratigraphic configuration that focuses oil and
gas into an accumulation.

The elements

Overburden

Overburden

Seal layer

Reservoir layer

Source rock layer

Source rock layer

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The processes

GOC
OWC

Top of oil window

Top of gas window

Generation Expulsion Migration Accumulation Preservation

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The End