Locating oil takes time and effort using a combination of methods.
Oil reserves are typically hidden and it often takes strenuous effort to locate and determine their worth. Petroleum engineers seldom rely on a single method to locate oil, but rather use a combination of methods to locate oil reserves and assess potential drilling and extraction potential. Methods consist of surveys, geophysics and when warranted, even test drilling. No matter the method or combination of methods used, there are no guarantees except that the process is both expensive and time-consuming.
Analyzing Surface Features
The first method often relied on by petroleum engineers is observing the surface features of a potential oil field to determine whether the area observed might have potential oil reserves. Petroleum engineersl look for oil seepage on the surface. This is not the most reliable method, however, and is seldom the method responsible for locating vast oil reserves. From here engineers move to a surface exploration method to locate oil.
Surface Exploration
Petroleum engineers use a variety of exploration geophysics, beginning with surface techniques, to detect oil reserves. Surface exploration makes use of computer technologies to locate hydrocarbons, iron ore deposits and to analyze the geography of the area. If found, engineers move on to include a gravity survey and a magnetic survey and if both surveys indicate potential oil reserves, engineers begin more exploration exploration techniques for confirmation.
Seismic Survey
Petroleum engineers conduct seismic surveys to further evaluate potential for oil reserves. Seismic surveys make use of seismic waves that penetrate the earth. The waves help petroleum engineers make a virtual map of earth geology underground. Seismic waves penetrate the earth then bounce off various underground features and return back at varying speeds for engineers to analyze. The process gives petroleum engineers a good indicator at this point, whether the potential for oil reserves warrants test drilling for final confirmation.
Test Drilling
Test drilling is the final, most expensive and the most reliable method for locating and confirming the potential for oil reserves but is only conducted when the previous methods show promise. Test drilling provides confirmation of oil reserves present. It involves drilling one or more test wells and attempting to extract oil from the location for verification. Even at this stage, however, petroleum engineers can come up empty-handed. If so, they have to cut their loses and move on.
Tags: potential reserves, petroleum engineers, combination methods, drilling final, engineers move, method locate, most reliable
