Off Shore Hydrocarbon
What is hydrocarbon?
A compound of hydrogen and carbon, such as any of those that are the chief components of petroleum and natural gas OR
Organic compound (such as benzene, methane, paraffin) made of two elements carbon and hydrogen and found in coal, crude oil, natural gas, and plant life. Hydrocarbons are used as fuels solvents, and as raw materials for numerous products such as dyes, pesticides, and plastics; petroleum is a mixture of several hydrocarbons.
Offshore hydrocarbons
Natural oil and gas found in rocks beneath the seabed give us the fuel we need for cooking and heating in our homes, for power stations, motor vehicles and aeroplanes. Oil is also used to make all sorts of plastic products from bottles to mobile telephones, and for chemicals used in factories and farming. In short, our modern-day society relies heavily on a steady supply of oil and gas, generally known as hydrocarbons or fossil fuels (together with coal).
Oil and gas fields on the UK continental shelf. From Wagner, K. (Dec 2010), AAPG European Region Newsletter, Vol. 5, p4.
Oil and gas formation
Hydrocarbons are found in sedimentary rocks beneath the seabed, usually along the edges of continents where sediments (clay, silt, sand and gravel particles) transported by rivers were laid down in thick sequences in the geological past. These sediments also trap dead organic matter from plants and animals.
Over millions of years, the sediments are progressively buried and turn into rocks (sandstones and shales). The organic matter is turned into oil and methane gas (CH4), through the action of elevated temperatures and pressures. The oil and gas usually form in organic-rich shales. They then migrate through fractures and pool in highly porous and permeable rock formations, such as sandstones and limestones, creating a hydrocarbon reservoir.
Reservoir characterization
Seismic reflection amplitude (grey scale) image showing the Luva gas
A compound of hydrogen and carbon, such as any of those that are the chief components of petroleum and natural gas OR
Organic compound (such as benzene, methane, paraffin) made of two elements carbon and hydrogen and found in coal, crude oil, natural gas, and plant life. Hydrocarbons are used as fuels solvents, and as raw materials for numerous products such as dyes, pesticides, and plastics; petroleum is a mixture of several hydrocarbons.
Offshore hydrocarbons
Natural oil and gas found in rocks beneath the seabed give us the fuel we need for cooking and heating in our homes, for power stations, motor vehicles and aeroplanes. Oil is also used to make all sorts of plastic products from bottles to mobile telephones, and for chemicals used in factories and farming. In short, our modern-day society relies heavily on a steady supply of oil and gas, generally known as hydrocarbons or fossil fuels (together with coal).
Oil and gas fields on the UK continental shelf. From Wagner, K. (Dec 2010), AAPG European Region Newsletter, Vol. 5, p4.
Oil and gas formation
Hydrocarbons are found in sedimentary rocks beneath the seabed, usually along the edges of continents where sediments (clay, silt, sand and gravel particles) transported by rivers were laid down in thick sequences in the geological past. These sediments also trap dead organic matter from plants and animals.
Over millions of years, the sediments are progressively buried and turn into rocks (sandstones and shales). The organic matter is turned into oil and methane gas (CH4), through the action of elevated temperatures and pressures. The oil and gas usually form in organic-rich shales. They then migrate through fractures and pool in highly porous and permeable rock formations, such as sandstones and limestones, creating a hydrocarbon reservoir.
Reservoir characterization
Seismic reflection amplitude (grey scale) image showing the Luva gas