Oil prospecting

[harlequin death rebel]

Who would know anything about the process of oil prospecting? If say, for example, a group of people were sent to look for oil caches in Alaska. Would a group of people go up there and start seismographs? What qualifications would these people have?

Any kind of info anybody's got about anything of that sort would be appreciated.

[elroy butch]

Brushed on this topic about six years ago for my degree so you're really stretching the limits of my memory.

However, I'll have a go! Chances are these people would be geologists. Modern techniques involve loads of things, seismographs, as you say, but also ultra-sound and mathematical models covering the rock/soil type, fossil data and stuff like that to ascertain the real likelihood of oil being produced.

The ultra-sounds determine differences in density through the earths crust, and fossil data can tell you what types of vegetation would have been found going back thousands of even millions of years at any one spot. Oil is formed from to decomposing carbon based compounds under extreme pressure, over many thousands of years, so previous carbon based life in the area is a must.

That's all I can remember off the top of my head, but I'll dig out some of my old books and see if I can find any more for you.

E

[elroy butch]

I was right about the geologist bit, and some of the rest too! I feel better, my education wasn't a complete waste.

Try this site

www.schoolscience.co.uk/content/4/chemistry/findoils/ (http://www.schoolscience.co.uk/content/4/chemistry/findoils/)

Nice and basic, should help.

E

[Meltdown]

drop me and E-mail (see profile). Both akarichie and myself work in the oilfiled - akarichie actually works on the oil rigs while drilling and I have friends in exploration.

Cheers

Meltdown

[harlequin death rebel]

Elroy, Meltdown,

Thanks a lot for your help, both of you.
I appreciate it.

harlequin