The exploration, production, and environmental biotechnology of petroleum are all topics covered in the Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology. Petroleum exploration and production involves extracting hydrocarbons from the earth's underground reservoirs with the aid of several different disciplines, including petroleum geology, drilling, reservoir simulation, reservoir engineering, completions, and oil and gas facilities engineering. Crude oil or natural gas are two of the available forms of the hydrocarbons that were generated. Environmental engineering is a method for integrating science and engineering that can be used to enhance the quality of the environment, including the air, water, and land.

Geology is the study of rocks, and petroleum geology is the application of geology to the search for and production of oil and gas. Chemistry, physics, and biology serve as the foundation for geology, which applies fundamentally abstract ideas to evidence that has been observed. These data were primarily observable and subjective in the past, but they are becoming more physical and chemical now and are therefore more objective. Petroleum geology in particular and geology in general still rely on value judgments based on past experience and an evaluation of the reliability of the facts supplied. The earlier section demonstrated how various geological techniques' evolution over time had aided in the advancement of petroleum exploration. It is time to think more carefully about how chemistry, physics, and biology relate to petroleum exploration.

Major sub disciplines in petroleum geology

Source rock analysis

It is necessary to establish a number of facts before doing source rock analysis. First, it is necessary to determine whether the region truly has any source rock. In order to ascertain the possibility that organic-rich sediments have been deposited in the past, studies of the local stratigraphy, palaeogeography, and sedimentology are necessary for the delineation and identification of probable source rocks.

Basin analysis

Prior to identifying leads and prospects for potential future drilling, a comprehensive basin analysis is typically conducted. The petroleum system is examined in this study, along with the source rock, burial history, maturation, migration, and focus, as well as potential regional seals and significant reservoir units. These factors are all utilised to determine the likely migration paths for hydrocarbons. Then, in the region where hydrocarbons are likely to have been received, traps, prospective leads, and prospects are defined.

Appraisal stage

The extent of the discovery is defined during the appraisal step. To assess the possible recoverable volumes, hydrocarbon reservoir features, connectivity, hydrocarbon type, and gas-oil and oil-water contacts are examined. Typically, this is accomplished by drilling additional appraisal wells close to the original exploratory well. Production testing may also shed light on reservoir connection and pressures. Information on the type of hydrocarbon and the characteristics of the reservoir are provided by geochemical and petrophysical analysis.

Production stage

The production stage is started once a hydrocarbon occurrence has been found and evaluation has determined it is a commercial find. The regulated extraction of the hydrocarbons is the main goal of this step. Strategic locations are chosen for drilling and finishing production wells. By this point, 3D seismic is typically available to precisely target wells for the best recovery. Occasionally, improved recovery is utilised to reclaim defunct fields or extract more hydrocarbons.

Reservoir analysis

Through a mix of regional research, stratigraphy and sedimentology, and seismic interpretation, the presence of a reservoir rock is ascertained. A hydrocarbon explorationist is interested in a reservoir's bulk rock volume, net-to-gross ratio, porosity, and permeability once a potential hydrocarbon reservoir has been located.