Petroleum Systems

Petroleum Systems

I. Introduction

This paper covers a very interesting topic for people who are keen on the geological concepts to the discovery of petroleum. The subject matter itself covers research findings on how related areas in petroleum discovery can be appreciated by students in this particular field; more so, by ordinary people who may or may not have a deeper level of understanding and appreciation about the wealth of the earth, particularly on petroleum.

The work required of this paper is not easy. It takes a lot of patience in finding the right mix of materials that would produce the kind of output the student wants to find out and to prove his thoughts about the subject matter. Considering that the subject matter is highly technical, one has to patiently go through the rigors of reading lots of materials, comparing and writing down notes and drawing conclusions for one self. How one appreciates the subject matter and his researched work truly reflects how this paper, as a whole, is well thought about, understood and presented. It is hoped that at the end of this paper, one is able to get the bigger picture about the processes involved in the petroleum system, from its source to trap, and that he can draw for himself, in layman's terms, how processes can be understood by ordinary people.

II. Petroleum

Petroleum "occurs in a liquid phase as crude oil and condensate and in a gaseous phase as natural gas" (Petroleum Geology, 2003). The development of petroleum in gaseous phase is largely dependent on the "kind of source rock from which the petroleum was formed and the physical and thermal environment in which it exists" (Petroleum Geology, 2003). Petroleum is commonly identified as the crude oil, in liquid form, which is found deep below the ground surface around less than 20,000 feet.

Petroleum is "found in sedimentary basins in sedimentary rocks" and for it to develop accumulations it has to meet several conditions, namely: "(1) There must be a source rock, usually high in organic matter, from which petroleum can be generated; (2) There must be a