The oil and gas EXPLORATION process is to find oil and gas fields.  The main goal is to identify and deliver commercially viable field development opportunities.  The following geological and geophysical activities would take place:

• Conduct seismic surveys
• Process and interpret the seismic data and map the potential reservoir
• Select exploration well locations
• Drill and evaluate exploration well data:
• Core analysis to establish porosity and permeability
• Logging data to determine porosity, water and hydrocarbon saturation
• Production test data to determine flow rates and maximum production potential
• PVT to allow reservoir fluid analysis and ascertain oil/gas quality and the shrinkage or expansion factor
• Build a computer model of the reservoir and identify and where possible remove major uncertainties by further data analysis, seismic reprocessing etc