Creekology is a
petroleum
Petroleum, also known as crude oil, or simply oil, is a naturally occurring yellowish-black liquid mixture of mainly hydrocarbons, and is found in geological formations. The name ''petroleum'' covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crud ...
prospecting method which appeared in the 19th century in
US south gas-oil states. In its simplest form, it is the search for above-ground indications of oil, such as natural seeps and creeks. Creekologists also placed wells on singular points of a territory in accordance with landscape features. The placing of wells often occurred near, or on, linear objects - erosion relief forms (valleys, creeks,
etc.) - giving rise to the term ''creekology''. The success rates of some creekologists in the 19th century were very high - 80-90% of their wells gave production.
New creekology
In the middle of the 20th century some
geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes Earth and other terrestrial planets, as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists usually study geology, earth science, or geophysics, althou ...
s formed an idea about existing
fault-fold systems in the
earth's crust
Earth's crust is Earth's thin outer shell of rock, referring to less than 1% of Earth's radius and volume. It is the top component of the lithosphere, a division of Earth's layers that includes the crust and the upper part of the mantle. The ...
, in sediment cover, and this gave creekology a "scientific base". Linear forms in earth landscape connect with fault
tectonics
Tectonics (; ) are the processes that control the structure and properties of the Earth's crust and its evolution through time. These include the processes of mountain building, the growth and behavior of the strong, old cores of continents k ...
, and some folds near faults can be reservoirs of
hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and hydrophobic, and their odors are usually weak or ex ...
s. The non-fold types of traps mark by
lineation too (paleo-rivers formed on faults). Now some geologists mark probable gas-oil areas with the help of space image lineation interpreting. This activity can be defined as "new creekology".
See also
*
Oil Exploration
References
Petroleum geology
Mineral exploration
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