By now, almost everyone has heard the terms "conventional" and "unconventional" oil and gas. This week we will focus on the conventional/traditional method of oil and gas exploration, which involves searching for subsurface features in porous and permeable rock layers that may have trapped accumulations of oil and gas. These "prospects" can be explored and produced using simple vertical wells, but there is substantial risk of drilling a "dry hole." Next week we will address unconventional development of shale and tight rock formations using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Click play for a description of conventional oil and gas exploration, the geoscientists that lead exploration activities, and the methods and tools that they use.

If you would like to learn more about petroleum geology and exploration, check out our eLearning course called "Petroleum Geology for Non-Geologists." This narrated course is about 10 hours long and provides thorough, media-rich coverage of the topic. You can learn more here.

If you would like to learn more about professional job functions in the oil and gas industry, check out our free videos here.