Oil and gas exploration in the Weald - A Case Study
Exploration History
The first interest in hydrocarbon exploration was shown as early as the 1930s, geological surface mapping and gravity surveys indicated rocks of the correct age and type and so the likely presence of hydrocarbons. Wells drilled in the area did indeed show the presence of oil and gas. However, the quantities found in the Weald were not sufficient for the area to become commercially productive at that time.
In 1973 the oilfield at Wytch farm just further south of the Weald was discovered. Here the surface geology was very different from the geology at depth, and applying this realization to the Weald, a new phase of hydrocarbon exploration commenced.
As technology and oil prices have changed, places once thought of an uneconomic can become viable reservoirs and may also be put to new uses. An example is the Humbly Grove oilfield which is also used for gas storage. The gas is pumped into the reservoir when it is cheap, such as in the summer months when demand for heating is less, and can be sold in the winter at a better price. The pressure of the gas also helps to extract more oil from the reservoir.
More detail about Humbly Grove can be found at http://www.pesgb.org.uk/events/event-39/
