Basin Modeling
Jolliet Field in Green Canyon 184 was discovered in 1981 in 1760 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico. Below is an animation that shows how researchers feel the sediments at the bottom of the ocean were deposited over time. The gray colors show muds, which will provide a trap for oil accumulation. The yellow colors show the deposition of sand, which is where large accumulations of oil may be found. The sediments appear to "move" because of faulting and salt migration that occurred over many thousands of years, which is typical of Gulf of Mexico deposits. By constructing models such as these, it gives petroleum geologists a better idea about how the sand and mud was deposited, and perhaps where the next big oil pocket may be found.
Loop provided by Lawrence Cathles and Mike Wizevich, researchers at
Cornell University.
Other Tools Used to Find Oil Include....
Seismic Data
Well Logs
Basin Modeling
In the coming months, check back with us and learn how geologists and geophysicists use this technology in their search for oil.
