Houston Geological Society

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HGS Petroleum Exploration Methods
What Geologists and Geophysicists do to find oil
and gas
Cerro Azul 4 blow-out, Veracruz, Mexico
February 1916
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HGS Petroleum Exploration Methods
Part IV What Geologists and Geophysicists Do
Seismic and Maps
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Seismic Data is acquired in all terrains and uses
different techniques and technologies
Veritas DGC, Inc.
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Geologists make maps
Seismic imaging helps fill in the gaps between
wells using sound waves and their reflections
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Seismic energy is put into the earth
Dynamite
Veritas DGC, Inc.
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Seismic energy is put into the earth
Vibrators
Veritas DGC, Inc.
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Seismic imagery can also be obtained on water
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Seismic energy is put into the earth and its
return time is measured at many different points
Veritas DGC, Inc.
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Seismic energy is put into the earth
Airgun
Veritas DGC, Inc.
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Seismic and wells allow us to map anticlines in
the subsurface
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Seismic and wells allow us to see patterns in the
rocks called stratigraphy
Offshore Brazil