PETROLEUM

EXPLORATION METHODS
Carl Gatlin

Branches of Petroleum
Engineering

Exploration

Drilling

Reservoir

Production

Exploration Engineering

It deals with the exploration and involves

techniques which are used to find out
the presence and quantity of crude oil.

First and Foremost important thing in the

hierarchy of petroleum engineering.

Objectives

Petroleum exploration methods

Following techniques are used to

explore petroleum:
Direct indications
Geological methods
Geophysical methods

Improvement need to be done in the

Exploration methods.

Petroleum exploration methods

Direct indications:

Surface evidence of presence of

petroleum.

For example natural seepages of oil,

outcrops of oil bearing rocks.

Direct Indications

Limitations ???
Not that much Effective.
Does not tell you about quantity of oil which

is present beneath.

Petroleum exploration methods

Geological exploration methods:

In order to make predictions about the occurrence of

petroleum in a particular area, the geologists prepare
maps, both surface and subsurface.
Surface features such as elevations, dips and strikes of
the outcrops and lithological changes may be mapped as
clues to subsurface features.
Aerial photographs are valuable in locating subsurface
structures.
The value of surface mapping is restricted to shallow
areas.

Petroleum exploration methods

Subsurface maps:

1. Structural contour maps:

Composed of lines connecting points of equal elevation.
a. Used to find out the presence of traps
b. Used to find out the probable location of hydrocarbons.

2. Isopachous maps:
Maps composed of lines connecting points of
equal bed thickness.
a. Used to find out the volume of hydrocarbons.
b. Used to find out the drilling depths
3. Cross Section Maps:
A form of subsurface presentation which depicts
the position and thickness of various strata.

How to construct contour Map:

Contour Maps

Petroleum exploration methods

Subsurface maps are a necessary part of any

reservoir study.

Sources of data for subsurface maps:

1. Well logs:
Representation of rock properties versus depth.

2. Core drilling:
Shallow small hole drilling for information purposes
only.
3. Strata tests:
Deep exploratory holes drilled primarily for information.

Petroleum exploration methods

Geophysical methods:

Physical measurement of subsurface

condition made from surface location.

Methods to be discussed:
Gravitational
Magnetic
seismic

Petroleum exploration methods

Gravitational Method:
This method is based on the hypothesis
that every particle in the universe
attracts every other particle.

Petroleum exploration methods

Denser rocks cause a

higher gravitational
force in their vicinity.

Gravimeter is used to
make these
measurements.

Previously used
instruments were
torsion balance and
pendulum.

Petroleum exploration methods

Magnetic Method:

Maps anomalies in earths magnetic field and correlate

these with underground structure.

Sedimentary rocks are essentially non magnetic.

Any Irregularity spotted is attributed to depth variation of

basement rock.

Instruments used in this method vary from dip needle to

compass.

Petroleum exploration methods

Seismic Method:

Most successful and widely applied.

Seismogram is used in this method.

These waves are generated by explosion of dynamite.

A pattern of recording detectors arranged at known

distances from the shot points receive the reflected
and refracted waves.

Based on difference in propagation velocity of elastic

waves generated artificially through subsurface strata.

Petroleum exploration methods

If wave paths and their velocities are known,

then their travelled distances can be found
by the time of arrival at the detectors.

2 types of waves are used for interpretation

reflected waves and refracted waves.

Data received is recorded on a paper known

as seismograph.

Petroleum exploration methods

Geochemical methods:

Hydrocarbons present in an oil pool tend to

move upwards, due to their low density.

It is assumed that eventually some molecules

reach the surface.

Analysis of soil samples taken over known

fields have shown high percentage of
hydrocarbons.

It is searching of oil and not the structure.