Migration and Accumulation of Petroleum

Name: Migration and Accumulation of Petroleum
Author: KnowledgeCity

Learn the upstream processes of petroleum engineering

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Course: On-Demand

Petroleum exploration and production— Exploration and production companies focus on discovering different types of oil and putting them through a process of augmentation, production, and finally, merchandising. There are four stages to this part of the industry, which is known as the upstream portion. The first stage is exploration, where the search for deposits of oil and natural gas begins. Crew members search below ground for shale formations. One way this is done is by seismology, the process of using vibrations from explosions or machines at the Earth's surface. The next stage, well development, occurs once viable fields have been detected. Engineers bring in a certain number of wells that will meet production requirements and plan out proper extraction of liquid hydrocarbons. The cost to do this depends on the site, but recent technologies have been cutting down the cost. No matter what type of environment, this phase practices environmental protections. The hydrocarbons are extracted and separated from non-sealable components during the third stage, production. Natural gas is processed on the facility while oil is sent to a local refinery before merchandising. The final stage of the process is abandonment. If a site isn't operating properly, whether from unproductivity or faulty conditions due to overcapacity, the wells will be plugged. This is a devastating result of an unsuccessful extraction. When a well is abandoned, the company that abandons it will attempt to restore the environment to its pre-drilling state. If the source rock is old and deep, it more often forms light oil or natural gas because these rocks are under more pressure and the pore volume in the rock is less. The squeezing pressure forces out some fluid while lighter fluids migrate upward until they find porous or permeable rock. Gas migration usually occurs within a water solution. For a liquid gas, it is unknown if a water solution also transmits it. When petroleum reaches more permeable layers like sand or limestone, the oil and water move inside the porous material. Gravity separates the hydrocarbons inside the porous layers and a gas or oil field can form. If there is no geological feature to trap the oil or gas, it migrates to the Earth's surface and is dispersed in the atmosphere. Straight-run gasoline is created by the distillation of crude oil.

Essential Provider : KnowledgeCity 4 Lessons · 14m in Arabic, English

Course Description

Science has shown that oil and gas do not originate in the rock where they are found. Oil and gas occur in porous permeable rock which allows it to migrate vertically and laterally within a reservoir. The migration path is the route the petroleum travels from the rock source to the petroleum reservoir.

In this course on Migration and Accumulation of Petroleum, we will discuss the different types of petroleum migration, the chemical composition of petroleum, crude oil classifications, and the stages of upstream petroleum exploration and production.

What You'll Learn

Identify the three types of petroleum migration
List the properties and chemical composition of petroleum
Compare and contrast crude oil classifications
Explain the stages of upstream petroleum exploration and production
Describe the nature of gas and oil and how they migrate within a reservoir

Key Takeaways

Oil and gas do not originate in the rock where they are found; they migrate from a source rock to a petroleum reservoir.
Oil and gas occur in porous, permeable rock that allows petroleum to migrate vertically and laterally within a reservoir.
The migration path is the route petroleum travels from the source rock to the petroleum reservoir.
The course covers the types of petroleum migration, the chemical composition of petroleum, crude oil classifications, and the stages of upstream exploration and production.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this course cover?

The course discusses the different types of petroleum migration, the chemical composition of petroleum, crude oil classifications, and the stages of upstream petroleum exploration and production.

What will I be able to do after completing this course?

You will be able to identify three types of petroleum migration, list the properties of petroleum, compare and contrast crude oil classifications, and explain the stages of upstream exploration and production.

What lessons are included in this course?

The course includes lessons on the Nature of Gas and Oil, Petroleum Migration, and Petroleum Exploration and Production, followed by a Test Your Knowledge assessment.

What skills does this course help develop?

It supports skills in hydrocarbon exploration, oil and gas, oil fields, petroleum engineering, petroleums, and petroleum geology.

Where do oil and gas come from according to this course?

Science has shown that oil and gas do not originate in the rock where they are found; they occur in porous permeable rock that allows them to migrate vertically and laterally from the source rock to the reservoir.