1. HGS Petroleum Exploration Methods What Geologists and Geophysicists
do to find oil and gas
Cerro Azul #4 blow-out,
Veracruz, Mexico
February 1916
Houston Geological Society
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2. HGS Petroleum Exploration Methods Part I: What is petroleum
and where is it found?
Houston Geological Society
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3. What is Petroleum?
A natural, yellow-to-black, flammable, liquid hydrocarbon found beneath the earth’s surface
Houston Geological Society
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4. The Origin of Petroleum
Organic-rich
Source Rock
Thermally Matured
Organic Matter
Oil
Houston Geological Society
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5. Kerogen Types TOC 2.12 WT.% TOC .38 WT.% Houston Geological Society
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6. Oil and gas are formed by the thermal cracking of
Types of Petroleum
Oil and gas are formed by the thermal cracking of
organic compounds buried in fine-grained rocks
Algae = Hydrogen rich = Oil-prone
Wood = Hydrogen poor = Gas-prone
Houston Geological Society
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7. What is Petroleum? What is it used for? Houston Geological Society
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8. Detergents - Cosmetics Fertilizers - Weed Killers
What is Petroleum?
More Than 3,000 Products
Detergents - Cosmetics
Fertilizers - Weed Killers
Medicine - Antiseptics - Anesthetics
Plastics - Synthetic Fibers
Synthetic Rubber
Rust Preventatives
Liquid Petroleum Gas
Houston Geological Society
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9. Petroleum—Where is it found? Basins are containers for sediment
Earth’s basins contain sediment/rocks, air, or water
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10. Basins: Forces that shape the earth’s crust
Plate Tectonics
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11. Basins: Forces that shape the earth’s crust
Basins form in response to subsidence caused by movement of the crust and grow due tectonic “loading”
Houston Geological Society
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12. Basins: Forces that shape the earth’s crust
Basins form in response to subsidence of the
crust and grow due “loading” of sediment deposited in them
Houston Geological Society
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13. Basins: Sedimentary rocks accumulate in basins
Basins may contain petroleum
source rocks, reservoir rocks and
seal rocks
Houston Geological Society
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