The four stages of hydrocarbon exploration

The oil industry uses specialized seismic contractors and equipment in their search for hydrocarbons. There are 4 stages of exploration:

To produce a seismic image of the subsurface, a seismic source must be generated and the resulting reflection data recorded by a field crew.

Next the data must be processed, where the raw data is put through many complex procedures using powerful computers and finally a seismic section is produced.

Making sense of the seismic image, identifying and mapping geological structures that can act as oil traps is the final stage of the seismic process.

If the results of the interpretation seem favourable, then an exploration borehole will be drilled. A well in a previously unexplored area is called a wildcat.

Land and marine seismic data is created and recorded all over the world by field crews

Seismic sections are created from the raw data recorded by the field crew

Horizons and structures are identified and the location of possible hydrocarbon reserves are mapped

Exploration wells are drilled to see if there are hydrocarbons in sufficient quantity to become a reservoir of economic viability