HGS Petroleum Exploration Methods What Geologists and Geophysicists

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 Academic Liaison Committee 1

HGS Petroleum Exploration Methods Part II: Petroleum System: Accumulation Houston Geological Society Academic Liaison Committee 2

Where oil can be found Houston Geological Society Academic Liaison Committee 3

Oil and gas are trapped in accumulations or fields Houston Geological Society Academic Liaison Committee 4

Prudhoe Bay Oil Field (1968) South Anticlinal element of trap North Sealevel -10, 000’ -20, 000’ -30, 000’ Largest field in North America Over 8 Billion barrels recoverable Houston Geological Society Academic Liaison Committee 5

East Texas Oil Field (1930) 120°F Largest North American field before Prudhoe Bay • More than 5 billion barrels recoverable Houston Geological Society Academic Liaison Committee 6

Source: US Energy Information Administration's US Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids Reserves, November 2001 Houston Geological Society Academic Liaison Committee 7

HGS Petroleum Exploration Methods Part III: Early Exploration Spindletop, 1903 Houston Geological Society Academic Liaison Committee 8

The first oil well, 1859 The discovery was important but only produced about 25 barrels per day Houston Geological Society Academic Liaison Committee 9

The first major oil discovery Spindletop, Texas 1901 The “Lucas Gusher” produced over 100, 000 barrels of oil per day into the air before the well could be capped and controlled This was the first realization that a significant supply of the well-known fuel could be achieved. It was also the first time that fortunes were made in the oil fields. Houston Geological Society Academic Liaison Committee 10

The largest oil discovery Cerro Azul, Veracruz State, Mexico, 1916 The Cerro Azul #4 flowed 850, 000 barrels of oil between February 15 -19 before it was capped and controlled. The well produced over 57 million barrels in its lifetime. Houston Geological Society Academic Liaison Committee 11