Earth Scientists, Geoscientists, Geophysicists, Geologists study the earth, including its composition, structure and other physical aspects for oil discovery and production and use complex equipment to collect seismic data.  They are usually linked to the actual discovery of oil and the identification of possible oil deposits (areas underground where oil is trapped), and make the decision on where the location of drilling will occur.

An Earth Scientist’s main responsibilities include:

• Controlling the quality of the seismic data collected
• Interpreting seismic data to create maps of the build up of hydrocarbons (crude oil and natural gas).
• Examining the physical properties of rocks, as well as gathering and evaluating well data to build reservoir models.

Gas Station –  also known as a filling station, fuelling station, garage, gasbar (Canada), gas station (United States and Canada), petrol bunk or petrol pump (India), petrol garage, petrol station (Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and United Kingdom), service station (Australia, United Kingdom and United States), or servo (Australia), is a facility which sells gasoline (gas, petrol), diesel fuel, and in some cases electric energy.

Natural Gas –  is a fossil fuel formed when layers of buried plants and animals are exposed to intense heat and pressure over thousands of years. The energy that the plants originally obtained from the sun is stored in the form of carbon in natural gas. It is a nonrenewable resource because it cannot be replenished on a human time frame.  Natural gas consists primarily of methane.  In its refined state, it is often used for heating, cooking, and electricity generation, fuel for vehicles, etc.

The midstream industry processes, stores, markets and transports crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (LNGs), and sulphur.

Midstream functions:

• Transports crude oil or refined petroleum products by pipeline, rail, barge or truck from production sites to refineries and from refineries to distributers (gas stations, etc.).
• Stores oil and natural gas
• Wholesale markets crude or refined petroleum products

Midstream images

Petroleum or crude oil – a naturally occurring, odorous, yellow-to-black liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in oil reservoirs.  It is formed when large quantities of dead organisms, usually zooplankton and algae, are buried underneath sedimentary rock and undergo intense heat and pressure.  It varies greatly in appearance depending on its composition. It is usually black or dark brown (although it may be yellowish, reddish, or even greenish), and can be light, medium, heavy, or extra heavy.

Light crude oil – is liquid petroleum that has a low density and flows freely at room temperature.  Light crude oil receives a higher price than heavy crude oil on commodity markets because it produces a higher percentage of gasoline and diesel fuel when converted into products by an oil refinery.

Heavy crude oil or Extra Heavy crude oil – oil that is highly viscous, and cannot easily flow to production wells under normal reservoir conditions and has a molasses-like texture.  It is referred to as “heavy” because its density or specific gravity is higher than that of light crude oil.

Oil Sands – loose sand or partially consolidated sandstone containing naturally occurring mixtures of sand, clay, and water, saturated with a dense and extremely viscous form of petroleum technically referred to as bitumen (or tar due to its similar appearance, odor and color). Oil sands are most commonly found in Canada, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Oil Shale –  an organic-rich fine-grained sedimentary rock containing kerogen (a solid mixture of organic chemical compounds) from which liquid hydrocarbons called shale oil can be produced. It is a substitute for conventional crude oil; but extracting shale oil from oil shale is more costly than the traditional production of conventional crude.