60 Questions
Which of the following is NOT a component of a functional petroleum system?
Trap rock
What is the main factor responsible for the formation of coal?
Burial of land-plants
Which type of kerogen is derived from land plants?
Type III
What is the main factor determining the quality of a source rock?
Total organic carbon (TOC) content
What is the main purpose of 3D seismic data in petroleum exploration?
To create detailed seismic images of the subsurface structure for detailed planning
What is the key phase in petroleum exploration involving the use of seismic imaging?
Seismic acquisition
What is responsible for the accumulation of oil and gas in a petroleum system?
Traps
What determines the quality of a source rock?
Organic productivity
How are seismic images produced?
By the reflection of soundwaves at subsurface interfaces
What is the process responsible for the migration of oil and gas?
Fluid buoyancy
What is a necessary process in a petroleum system for the accumulation and retention of hydrocarbons?
Source rock maturation
What role do reservoir rocks play in the migration of oil and gas?
Facilitating the flow of oil and gas due to high porosity and permeability
Which type of kerogen is not mentioned in the text?
Type IV
What is the carbon cycle primarily involved in transferring between various components?
Organic matter
What is seismic migration considered to be?
A non-unique process requiring iteration and advanced technology
What is amplitude extraction tuned to as a direct hydrocarbon indicator?
The gas-sand response
Which type of material primarily contributes to the formation of oil?
Algal and planktonic material
What type of rocks can serve as reservoir rocks for oil and gas?
Sandstone
What are the essential processes for a functional petroleum system?
Source rock maturation, migration, and accumulation in traps
What geological process is primarily responsible for the formation of coal?
Burial and subsequent compaction and heating of land-plants
What is the primary reason for the migration of oil and gas through reservoir rocks?
Fluid buoyancy
What is the main purpose of seal rocks in a petroleum reservoir?
Prevent hydrocarbon leakage over geological time
What is the phase that comes after exploration in petroleum exploration?
Appraisal
What geological period primarily contributed to the formation of much of the world's coal?
Carboniferous period
What is the main purpose of seismic imaging in petroleum exploration?
Create a picture of subsurface structure
What are the essential characteristics of reservoir rocks for oil and gas?
Porosity and permeability
What is the primary process responsible for the formation of coal?
Burial and subsequent compaction and heating of land-plants
What is the main factor causing the migration of oil and gas through reservoir rocks?
Fluid buoyancy
What are the initial recoverable reserves of the West Sole gas field in the Southern North Sea?
200 million boe
What is the estimated exploration success rate in offshore Ireland?
30%
Which basin is the Corrib Field associated with?
Slyne Basin
What is the classification for ultra-deep water drilling?
Drilling in depths greater than 1500m
Where does the Norwegian oilfield production mainly come from?
Brent province reservoirs
Which basin is not mentioned as an Irish exploration discovery offshore Ireland?
Saloum Basin
What are the selected petroleum provinces of NW Europe mentioned in the text?
The North Sea, Permo-Triassic Rotliegend system, and Paleogene turbidite system
What is the current status of oil exploration in Ireland?
Paused
What is the estimated recoverable reserves of the Groningen Gas Field in The Netherlands?
73 TCF
What is the estimated exploration success rate in offshore Ireland?
1 in 10
What is the depth classification for ultra-deep water drilling?
Greater than 1500m
Which rift system is mentioned as a major petroleum province in NW Europe?
The North Sea rift system
What is the initial recoverable reserves of the West Sole gas field in the Southern North Sea?
2.4 TCF
What is the exploration success rate in offshore Ireland approximately?
1 in 10
What is the classification for ultra-deep water drilling in terms of depth?
Depths greater than 1500m
What type of kerogen source rock are Coal Measures in the North Sea?
Type 3
What period are Carboniferous rocks in the North Sea associated with?
Permian period
What is the depositional environment represented by the Saloum Delta in West Africa?
Deltaic
Which reservoirs were highlighted in the Oseberg and Gullfaks oilfields?
Brent province
What is the association of the 2017 Druid/Drombeg well?
Porcupine Basin
Are oil exploration licenses still being issued in Ireland as of July 2019?
Yes
What do the creaming curves suggest about the Central North Sea and West of Shetlands?
Likely to contain major undiscovered reserves
What type of depositional environment do Paleogene turbidite reservoirs represent?
Deep-water fan
What are the aims of the Programme for Government regarding oil and gas exploration?
Stop the oil exploration ban and stop issuing licenses for gas exploration
Which geological period contributed to the formation of much of the world's coal?
Carboniferous period
What is the estimated exploration success rate in offshore Ireland?
15%
What is the classification for ultra-deep water drilling in terms of depth?
Below 3000 meters
What type of kerogen source rock are Coal Measures in the North Sea?
Type III
Which petroleum province is associated with the Jurassic Brent system?
The North Sea
In which basin is the Dunquin well discovered?
Druid/Drombeg Basin
What type of reservoir is the Druid/Drombeg well associated with?
Paleogene turbidite reservoirs
Based on the creaming curves, which provinces are suggested to contain major undiscovered reserves?
Central North Sea and West of Shetlands
Study Notes
Petroleum Geology and Exploration Summary
- The carbon cycle involves the transfer of carbon between the atmosphere, the oceans, and rocks, including the surficial and subsurface cycles.
- Much of the world's coal is the product of land-plants alive in the Carboniferous period, while oil is produced from algal and planktonic material.
- Oil is primarily produced from algal and planktonic material, not land-plants.
- Reservoir rocks need to have porosity and permeability to allow fluid flow, and sandstone is a type of sedimentary rock that can serve as a reservoir rock.
- Seal rocks in a reservoir must have low permeability and high ductility to effectively prevent hydrocarbon leakage over geological time.
- A functional petroleum system requires the processes of source rock maturation, migration, and accumulation in traps.
- Seismic imaging is used in petroleum exploration to create a picture of subsurface structure by analyzing reflected energy from soundwaves sent into the subsurface.
- Coal is primarily formed from land-plants and the subsequent compaction and heating over millions of years.
- The phases in petroleum exploration are exploration, appraisal, development, and production.
- Carbon is cycled between the atmosphere, the oceans, and rocks.
- Coal is formed from the burial of land-plants and the subsequent compaction and heating over millions of years.
- Oil and gas migrate due to fluid buoyancy, causing them to rise through the reservoir rocks.
Petroleum Exploration and Reservoir Systems in NW Europe
- The creaming curves suggest that the Central North Sea and West of Shetlands are likely to contain major undiscovered reserves
- The Programme for Government aims to stop the oil exploration ban and has pledged to stop issuing licenses for gas exploration
- Coal Measures are a type 3 kerogen source rock for gas in the North Sea
- The West Sole gas field in the Southern North Sea has an initial recoverable reserves of 2.4 TCF
- Carboniferous rocks in the North Sea are associated with the Permian period
- The Saloum Delta in West Africa represents a deltaic depositional environment
- The Brent province reservoirs were highlighted in the Oseberg and Gullfaks oilfields
- The exploration success rate in offshore Ireland is approximately 1 in 10
- Ultra-deep water drilling is classified as depths greater than 1500m
- As of July 2019, oil exploration licenses are still being issued in Ireland
- The 2017 Druid/Drombeg well is associated with the Porcupine Basin
- The Paleogene turbidite reservoirs represent a deep-water fan depositional environment
Test your knowledge of petroleum geology and exploration with this quiz. Explore topics such as the carbon cycle, formation of coal and oil, reservoir rocks, seal rocks, petroleum system processes, seismic imaging, phases of petroleum exploration, and more.
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