Petroleum Processing and Exploration Processes
Petroleum Exploration - Components, Time, Classification, Geology, Geophysics, Processes, Types, Publications, Rigs: Petroleum exploration or exploration is a long study involving several fields of earth studies and exact sciences. For basic studies, the research is carried out by geologists, namely people who occupy the science of earth. Gray is sand, Blue is water, Black is oil
Petroleum Exploration
Petroleum, also known as black gold, is a thick liquid, dark brown, or flammable green that is in the upper layers of several areas of the Earth's crust. Petroleum consists of a complex mixture of various hydrocarbons.
The search for or exploration of petroleum is a long study involving several fields of study of earth and exact sciences. For basic studies, the research is carried out by geologists, namely people who occupy the science of earth. They are people who have the responsibility for the search for hydrocarbons.
We need to know that the oil in the earth is not a container like a lake, but is in the pores of rocks mixed with water.
Petroleum Components
Petroleum is a complicated mixture of hundreds of hydrocarbon chains, which are generally composed of 85% carbon (C) and 15% hydrogen (H). In addition, there are also organic materials in small amounts and contain oxygen (O), sulfur (S) or nitrogen (N).
The Time It Takes to Form Petroleum
Around 30-million years in the middle of the Cretaceous era, at the end of the dinosaur era, more than 50% of the world's known oil reserves were formed. Other reserves are even expected to be older.
From a fossil found together with petroleum from the Cambrian era, it is estimated to be around 544 to 505 million years ago.
Geologists generally agree that petroleum was formed over millions of years from organisms, plants and animals, of very small size that lived in ancient oceans. Once this marine organism dies, its body is buried in the ocean floor and then buried in sand and mud, forming a layer rich in organic matter which will eventually become sedimentary rock.
This process repeats continuously, one layer closes the previous layer. Then over the next millions of years, there are oceans on earth that have shrunk or moved. Deposits that form sedimentary rocks generally do not contain enough oxygen to completely decompose the organic material.
Bacteria break down this substance, molecule by molecule, into a material rich in hydrogen and carbon. The higher pressure and temperature of the rock layers above it distills the remnants of organic matter, then slowly converts it into petroleum and natural gas.
The rocks that contain the oldest petroleum are known to be more than 600 million years old. The youngest is around 1 million years old. In general, rocks where oil is found between 10-million and 270-million years old.
Classification of Petroleum According to Age and Depth
There are 3 types of petroleum that are classified according to age and location of depth, namely:
Young-shallow
Young-shallow petroleum is usually sour, contains a lot of aromatic ingredients, is very thick and has a high sulfur content.
Old shallow
Old-shallow oils are usually less viscous, lower boiling points, and shorter paraffin chains.
Old-deep
Old-deep requires the longest time for processing, the lowest boiling point and also the thinnest viscosity. Sulfur contained can be decomposed into H2S that can be released, so the deep-deep is crude oil which is said to be the most "sweet". This kind of oil is the most desirable because it can produce the most gasoline (gasoline).
Geology Study
To determine an area that has the potential for petroleum, there are several conditions that must exist in the area. If one does not exist then the area has no potential or even does not contain hydrocarbons. These conditions are:
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Source Rock
Is a rock that is the main ingredient of hydrocarbon formation. Generally, which acts as a source rock is shale. The rock is rich in the elemental content of carbon atoms (C) obtained from fossil shells in the rock. That carbon will be the main element in the chain making up chemical bonds of hydrocarbons.