This page provides a brief outline of, lists the main points of, gives links to figures for, and lists the assigned reading for a lecture in Dr. Bruce Railsback's GEOL 1121 class at the University of Georgia. This page is not intended as a set of lecture notes, and it cannot subsititute for a set of lecture notes. Familiarity with this page alone will not assure satisfactory grades on exams in the course.

Lecture 18 (Friday, March 1): Petroleum Accumulations

Brief outline of this lecture:
Were oil accumulates in earth.
     

Main points of this lecture:
Oil rises through the earth until or unless blocked by impermeable rocks.
In a petroleum accumuation, gas will rise above oil.
Various geologic geometries can trap petroleum.
Exploitation of a petroleum accumulation often involves drillng several wells in key locations. Exploitation of a petroleum accumulation can involves pumping fluids into the earth, rather than out.

Figures used in this lecture:
An Idealized Petroleum Accumulation
Basic Elements Required for a Petroleum Accumulation
Sketches of Petroleum Traps
Exploitation of a Discovered Petroleum Accumulation

Reading assignment: Pages 300-301 and Figure 13.4 on page 302.

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Email to Railsback (rlsbk@gly.uga.edu)
Railsback's main 1121 web page
Railsback's main web page
UGA Geology Department web page