WHAT IS PETROLEUM

EDITED BY WIDODO, S.T.,

M.T.
Cerro Azul #4 blow-out,
Veracruz, Mexico
February 1916

What is Petroleum?
A natural, yellow-to-black, flammable,
liquid hydrocarbon found beneath the
earths surface

The Origin of Petroleum

Organic-rich
Source Rock

Thermally Matured
Organic Matter

Oil

Kerogen Types

TOC 2.12 WT.%

TOC .38 WT.%

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Types of Petroleum

Oil and gas are formed by the thermal cracking o

organic compounds buried in fine-grained rocks

Algae =

Hydrogen rich = Oil-prone

Wood =

Hydrogen poor = Gas-prone

What is Petroleum?
What is it used
for?

What is Petroleum?
More Than 3,000 Products

Detergents - Cosmetics
Fertilizers - Weed Killers
Medicine - Antiseptics - Anesthetics
Plastics - Synthetic Fibers
Synthetic Rubber
Rust Preventatives
Liquid Petroleum Gas

PetroleumWhere is it found?
Basins are containers for sediment
Earths basins contain sediment/rocks, air, or water

Basins: Forces that shape the earths crust

Plate Tectonics

Basins: Forces that shape the earths crust

Basins form in response to subsidence caused by

movement of the crust and grow due tectonic loading

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Basins: Forces that shape the earths crust

Basins form in response to subsidence of the
crust and grow due loading of sediment deposited in
them

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Basins: Sedimentary rocks accumulate in

basins

Basins may contain petroleum

source rocks, reservoir rocks and
seal rocks
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