Exploring For Oil

How is science involved in the exploration for oil and natural gas?

• Requires an understanding of geology.

How is technology involved in this exploration?

• Computer models are generated

• Seismic surveys

• Satellites are used to collect data.

How did oil and natural gas begin?

• Plants and animals

Briefly explain the role of sedimentation and dead organisms in producing

oil and natural gas.• Organisms died

• Covered by layers of sediment

• Over time, alternating layers of dead organisms and sediments were formed.

• As the layers stacked up, the tremendous heat and pressure converted the dead organisms into oil and natural gas.

Why do oil and natural gas move upwards towards the surface?

• Oil is less dense than water.

Difference between reservoir rocks and impermeable rocks-

• Reservoir rocks have pores

• Gas and oil pass through them.

• Impermeable “trap” rocks trap fluids and gases so they cannot pass through

Explain how the rocks below the surface of the earth cause this

difference to occur

• Oil seeps through the surface = reservoir allowing it to pass through.

• Oil is below the surface = impermeable rock prevented the oil from seeping through.

Through what type of rock are geoscientists trying to access oil and

natural gas today?

• Impermeable

Sound waves to locate oil on ground-

• Sonic sound waves shot through the ground

• Computer records how long it takes for the waves to echo off each layer of rock.

• Data are used to create maps

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Sound waves to locate oil and natural gas below the seafloor?

• Submerge an air gun and shoot bursts of sound.

• Hydrophones pick up reflected sound waves.

• The data is collected onboard or by satellite.

How do geoscientists use computer modeling with the data gathered

through sound waves?

• Make 3-d map

What are the three dimensions referred to in the term “3D”?

• Height

• Width

• depth

What is the fourth dimension referred to in the term “4D”?

• time

Why is the fourth dimension important in mapping oil and natural gas?

• Oil migrates

Why are “virtual drilling” and visualization rooms so important to

geoscientists?

• Drill efficiently

What is an exploratory well?

• Drilled to determine whether oil or natural gas is present.

When is an exploratory well drilled?

• When a 4-d map shows oil/ gas

What are the four aspects that geologists must consider before recommending

additional wells for production to occur?

• Amount that can be produced

• Technology required to bring it to the surface

• Cost of getting it out of the ground

• Time required to start and to maintain production.

What happens if an exploratory well finds little or no oil or natural gas?

• The well is termed a “dry hole” and is sealed to protect the environment.