Introduction

The Petroleum Industry

 Includes multiple stages:
Exploration, Extraction, Refining, Transportation,
Marketing.

 The main products are fuel oil and gasoline.

 Petroleum is a raw material for many chemical

products:
Pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, plastics and pesticides.

 The industry is divided into 3 sections:

Upstream, Mid stream and Downstream.
 Introduction
Importance of Petroleum Exploration Methods
 The impact on the environment due to:
Drilled rock cuttings, Seismic operations, Accidental discharges.
 Identification of type of reservoir and porosity of rock.
 Verification that the location was not previously drilled by
another company.
 Reduction of costs and time of Drilling procedure.

Role of Petroleum Geologists

 Analyse data and prepare reports.
 Determine whether the area is viable for drilling.
 Identification of high-pressure zones.
 Exploration Techniques
Geochemical Methods
 Conducted to reduce risks associated with exploration. Remote
Sensing
 Molecular composition and Isotopic composition of
Gases.
Isotope
Magnetic
Biomarker compositions of Oils. ratio
 Method
Analysis
 Hydrocarbon maturity, continuation of reservoir,
migration and accumulation processes. Exploration
Techniques

Geophysical Methods Biomarker Gravity

Analysis Method
 The study of physical properties of the subsurface rocks:
Density, Magnetic and Acoustical.
Seismic
 Gravity, magnetic and seismic methods are usually Method
combined for more accurate results.
 Geochemical Methods
Biomarker Analysis
 Found in oils, rock extracts, recent sediments and
soil extracts.
 They are analyzed using gas chromatography and
mass spectrometry.
 Used to estimate the migration pathway of
petroleum deposits.

Isotopic Analysis
 Isotopic ratios analyzed to determine hydrocarbon
origin.
 Used to estimate the accumulation of oil and gas.
 Remote Sensing
 The use of aerial photographs to locate and map
surface features.
 Satellite imagery reveals soil moisture, mineral
and vegetable distribution and soil type.

How does Remote Sensing work?

 An energy source is required, this is the light from
the Sun.
 A satellite sensor records the reflected
electromagnetic radiation.
 A computer processes the electronic information
into an image.
 Magnetic Surveying
Definition
 Magnetic surveying is a method used to investigate subsurface geology on the
basis of anomalies that occur in the Earth’s magnetic field.

Survey Routes
 Airborne/Aeromagnetic is more advantageous as it covers a larger area within a
smaller time frame.

Instrumentation
 A magnetometer is a complex instrument that measures both the orientation and
strength of a magnetic field.
 Proton Precession and Gradiometer are common types of magnetometer systems
used within industry.
 Magnetic Surveying
Magnetic Surveying Results

A magnetic reading profile across a dyke

 Gravity Surveying
Definition
 Gravity surveying measures the change in rock density by looking at changes in
gravity.
 The strength of the gravitational field is directly proportional to the density of
the subsurface materials.

Survey Routes
 Ground-based approach used as these surveys are the most sensitive.

Instrumentation
 A gravimeter is used to measure the variations in the Earth’s gravitational field.
 Worden and the Scintrex are common types of gravimeters used within industry.
 Gravity Surveying
Gravity Surveying Results

Gravity profile across a buried salt dome

 Seismic Surveying
Definition
 Seismic surveying involves sending strong pressure/sound waves through the
earths surface and then receiving the reflected waves of the various surfaces of
the subsurface rock layers.
 Sound waves can be created using huge land vibrators or explosives.

Survey Routes
 Ground based surveying route.

Instrumentation
 Seismograph -records the arrival of seismic waves with respect to time.
 Geophone - small receivers that detect and convert the mechanical energy
(wave) to electrical voltages.
 Seismic Surveying
Types of Seismic Surveying

Seismic refraction:
 Occurs when the sound wave travels
through an upper medium and
along an interface and
then back to the surface.

 Method used for mineral

investigations

Seismic Refraction
 Seismic Surveying
Types of Seismic Surveying

Seismic reflection:
 Occurs when the sound wave travels
down to a geological interface and then
reflects back to the surface.

 Method used for oil and gas exploration.

Seismic Reflection
 Conclusion
 Geochemical and geophysical exploration methods were assessed for the petroleum
industry.

 The magnetic and gravity methods must be paired with other data sets.

 The seismic reflection surveying was selected as the suitable exploration method
• Accurate surveying method
• Subsurface layering and mechanical properties provided
• Method with best resolution of features.
 References
Adebayo, A. and Tawabini, B. (2012). Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production- A Balance Between Benefits to the Society and Impact on
the Environment. Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology, 03(03).
Assaad, F.A., 2009. Surface Geophysical Petroleum Exploration Methods. In Field Methods for Petroleum Geologists (pp. 21-23). Springer,
Berlin, Heidelberg.
Clark, D. (2014). Methods for determining remanent and total magnetisations of magnetic sources – a review. Exploration Geophysics, 45(4),
pp.271-304.
Haldar, S. (2013). Exploration Geophysics. Mineral Exploration, pp.73-93.
Japex.co.jp. (2019). [online] Available at: https://www.japex.co.jp/english/technology/pdfdocs/JAPEXRC_Brochure_svc05_e.pdf [Accessed
20 Sep. 2019].
Mariita, N. (2007). The Magnetic Method. [online] Naivasha. Available at: https://orkustofnun.is/gogn/unu-gtp-sc/UNU-GTP-SC-05-18b.pdf
[Accessed 20 Sep. 2019].
Sharma, A. and Chaturvedi, D. (2014). GEOCHEMICAL METHODS OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION. International Journal of
Scientific & Engineering Research, [online] 5(5), pp.108-112. Available at: https://www.ijser.org/researchpaper/GEOCHEMICAL-
METHODS-OF-PETROLEUM-EXPLORATION.pdf [Accessed 20 Sep. 2019].
Silingi, S. (2016). Exploration and Mining Geology.
State. (2008). Geophysical Techniques. [online] Available at: https://www.state.nj.us/dep/srp/guidance/fspm/pdf/chapter08.pdf [Accessed 20
Sep. 2019].
Weatherford.com. (2019). [online] Available at: https://www.weatherford.com/en/documents/labs-articles/geochemistry-for-
exploration/weatherford-using-oil-biomarkers-in-petroleum-exploration/ [Accessed 20 Sep. 2019].
THANK YOU