A petroleum geologist is an earth scientist who works in the field of petroleum geology, which involves all aspects of the discovery and production of oil and gas. Petroleum geologists are usually linked to the actual discovery of oil and gas and the identification of possible new oil deposits or gas fields. It can be a very labor-intensive task involving several different fields of science and elaborate equipment. Petroleum geologists look at the structural and sedimentary aspects of the stratum/strata to identify possible oil traps or tight shale plays.
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Petroleum geologist in the context of Ore genesis
Various theories of ore genesis explain how the various types of mineral deposits form within Earth's crust. Ore-genesis theories vary depending on the mineral or commodity examined.
Ore-genesis theories generally involve three components: source, transport or conduit, and trap. (This also applies to the petroleum industry: petroleum geologists originated this analysis.)
Petroleum geologist in the context of Hydrocarbon exploration
Hydrocarbon exploration (or oil and gas exploration) is the search by petroleum geologists and geophysicists for hydrocarbon deposits, particularly petroleum and natural gas, in the Earth's crust using petroleum geology.
Petroleum geologist in the context of Sedimentary basin analysis
Sedimentary basin analysis is a geologic method by which the formation and evolution history of a sedimentary basin is revealed, by analyzing the sediment fill and subsidence. Subsidence of sedimentary basins generates the spatial distribution of accommodation infilling sediments. Aspects of the sediment, namely its composition, primary structures, and internal architecture, can be synthesized into a history of the basin fill. Such a synthesis can reveal how the basin formed, how the sediment fill was transported or precipitated, and reveal sources of the sediment fill. From such syntheses, models can be developed to explain broad basin formation mechanisms. Examples of such basin classifications include intracratonic, rift, passive margin, strike-slip, forearc, backarc-marginal sea, fold and thrust belt, and foreland basins.
Sedimentary basin analysis is largely conducted by two types of geologists who have slightly different goals and approaches. The petroleum geologist, whose ultimate goal is to determine the possible presence and extent of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon-bearing rocks in a basin, and the academic geologist, who may be concerned with any or all facets of a basin's evolution. Petroleum industry basin analysis is often conducted on subterranean basins through the use of reflection seismology and data from well logging. Academic geologists study subterranean basins as well as those basins which have been exhumed and dissected by subsequent tectonic events. Thus, academics sometimes use petroleum industry techniques, but in many cases, they are able to study rocks at the surface. Techniques used to study surficial sedimentary rocks include: measuring stratigraphic sections, identifying sedimentary depositional environments and constructing a geological map.